Literary Terms Flashcards
Third Person Limited
The narrator is outside the story and shares the thoughts and feelings of only one character.
First Person
The narrator is a character in the story and shares his/her thoughts and feelings (I).
Third Person Omniscent
The narrator is outside the story and shares the thoughts and feelings of all characters.
Third Person Dramatic (Third Person Objective)
The narrator is outside the story and shares only the actions and dialogue of the characters.
Invention
Broadly Defined - the process of developing and refining your argument. Narrowly Defined - selecting a perspective that is appropriate for your purpose and audience.
Persona
The speaker in a literary work.
Tone
The author’s implied attitude about a subject.
Irony (Verbal)
Contrast between what the speaker literally says and what they mean.
Diction
Word choice.
Connotation
The emotional associations evoked by a word.
Simile
Comparing two unlike things using a connective (e.g. like, as, resembles).
Metaphor
Comparing two unlike things directly.
Personification
Giving human qualities to objects, animals, plants, or ideas.
Imagery
Details that appeal to the senses.
Detail
Literal or factual description.
Allusion
An indirect reference, often to a person, event, statement, theme, or work.
Static
A character that does not change much.
Dynamic
A character that changes in an important way.
Character Motivation
The driving force behind a character’s action.
Internal Conflict
A struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions within a single character.
External Conflict
When a character struggles against an outside force.
Theme
Insight into the human condition.
Argument
Spoken, written, or visual text that expresses a truth.
Ethos
The use of words, images, and/or sounds to establish a reputation that will appeal to values of an audience and inspire audience to respect authority, admire integrity/motives or at least acknowledge what they stand for.
