Literary Terms Flashcards
theme
the central idea of a literary work ( not to be confused with the subject of the
work ) - it may be stated directly or indirectly
Example: The theme of Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, is the importance
of friendship in a cruel, competitive world
metaphor
a figure of speech in which one thing is described in terms of another (a
comparison without the use of ‘like’ or ‘as’
examp;e: He was a raging bull . / Her hair was spun sugar.
simile
direct comparison using the words *like` or ‘as’
example: He was like a raging bull. / Her hair was like spun sugar.
personification
attributing ( giving ) human qualities to inanimate objects.
example: “The moon is no door. It is a face in its own right,
White as a knuckle and terribly upset.
onomatopoeia
the formation and use of words to imitate sounds the sound reflects
the sense & is deliberately used to achieve a special effect, for example,
the clickety-clack of railway wheels on the metal rails.)
example: “crackle, moo, pop, sizzle,whiz, whoosh, zoom”
comic relief
usually found in tragedy & aimed to relieve the tension and heighten
the tragic element by contrast
example: the drunken porter scene in Macbeth
antonym
a word of opposite meaning to another
examples: fierce/mild ; ugly/beautiful; abstract/concrete
synonym
a word similar in meaning to another, not usually exactly pinpointing
the original meaning, but illustrating a ‘shade’ of meaning of the word
example: insane-mad, demented, crazy, loopy, daft, psychotic
setting
the where and when of a story or play
rising action/complication
the part of a story or play which precedes the climax;
contains the conflict
climax
the part of a story or play (of any narrative, including poetic forms ) at
which a crisis is reached and resolution achieved
turning point
the observable moment when, in a story or a play there is a definite
change in direction and one becomes aware that it is about to move
towards its end. ( a change of fortune or reversal, especially apparent
in tragedy.)
act
a main division of a drama ( Shakespeare’s plays consist of 5 acts with each act subdivided in to scenes)
allusion
reference to literary Or historical person Or event to explain a present
situation, usually an appeal to share some experience with the writer or to
enrich the work by association and give it depth ( this assumes a knowledge
of established literary tradition on the part of the reader)
example: “Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight/ with a new
Gorgon.” Macbeth
aside
a brief remark made by a character and intended to be heard by the audience
but no by other characters
atmosphere
the tone or mood estabtished by events, places or situations
example: Fair is foul and foul is fair.” ( Macbeth)
chorus
In ancient Greek drama the singing and dancing group whose words formed
commentary or interpretation of action. In Elizabethan drama, the role of the
chorus was often taken by one actor, who recited a prologue, or by several
actors who offered commentary on a situation.
foreshadowing
a hint of what is to come in the story, used to keep the audience in a
state of expectancy
imagery
the term used to describe words or phrases that appeal to the 5 senses and
which are designed to add richness to the experience of literature - images
may be literal
Irony
A contrast between what is and what appears to be. One type of irony is
verbal in which a character says one thing and means another. Another is
dramatic irony in which the audience knows that the characters do not.
Paradox
A statement which seems to be contradictory but is at the same time
profoundly logical. It may be used to emphasize a particular theme or idea.
example: So foul and fair a day I have not seen.”
Macbeth
soliloquy
a speech given by a character alone on the stage, in order to let the
the audience knows what the character is thinking and feeling.
tradgedy
a type of drama of human conflict which ends in defeat and suffering. Often
the main character ( dignified & noble ) has a tragic flaw ( weakness of
character, wrong judgement ) which leads to his or her destruction. Some
times the conflict is with forces beyond the control of the character ( fate,
evil in the world)
denouement
the event or events following the major climax of a plot, or the
unravelling of a plot’s complications at the end of a story or play.
(also called resolution)
