Literary Terms Flashcards
Pun
A play on the multiple meanings of a word, or on two words that sound alike but have different meanings
Dramatic Irony
This occurs when the audience or the reader know something important that a character in the play or story does not know
Soliloquy
An unusually long speech in which a character on stage alone expresses his or her thoughts aloud. (the audience is supposedly overhearing the private thoughts of the character
Tragedy
A play, novel, or other narrative, depicting serious and important event, in which the main character comes to an unhappy end. (luckily, the tragic hero or heroin usually win some self-knowledge and wisdom, even though he or she suffers defeat, perhaps even death)
Aside
Words spoken by a character in a play to the audience or to another character (that are NOT supposed to be overheard by the other on the stage in a scene)
Monologue
Lengthy speech that is addressed TO OTHER CHARACTERS
Blank Verse
Poetry written in an unrhymed iambic pentameter. “Blank” means the poetry is not rhymed. “limbic pentameter” means that each line contains five iambs, or metrical feet, consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable ( , )
Couplet
Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme. It is often used to express a complete thought. Shakespeare uses a couplet to give a sense of closure to each act of Romeo and Juliet
Foreshadowing
In the use in a literary work of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur. Use of this technique helps to creates suspense keeping readers wondering about what will happen next.
Character
A person or an animal who takes part in action of a literary work
Round Characters
Show many different traits faults as well as virtues (Romeo, Juliet, Friar)
Flat Characters
Only have one or two traits- they are simply good or bad, etc. (Sampson, Gregory, the apothecary)
Dynamic Characters
Develop and grow during the course of the story (Romeo, Capulets and Montagues
Static Characters
Do not change (Tybalt, the Prince)
