Literary Terms Flashcards
Dynamic Character
A character that changes behaviors or belief
Flashback
A scene that interrupts the work to show a previous event
Static character
A character that doesn’t change behavior or beliefs
Irony
An unexpected twist in the story
Imagery
Descriptive words and phrases that don’t appeal to at least one of the five senses
Mood
The atmosphere remain in motion air literary work
Tone
The writers attitude towards a subject
Onomatopoeia
Words that mimic the sounds they describe (buzz, bang, pow, meow, bark)
Theme
The central message or lesson about life the author reveals through a work
Symbol
An object, person, or place to represent a larger idea or attitude (dove=peace, olive branch=friendship, white rose=death, dark clouds=
something bad to come)
Genre
The different types of literature (poem, play, novel, biography, script, etc…)
Allusion
Reference to a literary, mythical, historical, person, place, or thing (“you’re as smart as Albert Einstein.” “you’re as old as the Liberty Bell.”)
Alliteration
Beginning several consecutive words with the same sound (Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Sally sells seashells by the seashore)
Personification
Giving an object human characteristics
Plot
The sequence of events in a story or play
Protagonist
The main character in the story
(good guy)
Antagonist
The character that opposes the protagonist
bad guy
Characterization
The methods an author uses to create a character
Chronological
The order the events in the story occurred
Internal conflict
The problem or struggle within a character
External conflict
Problems outside the character
weather, finances, bullies
Foreshadowing
Hints or clues to suggest future action
Dramatic irony
The audience or readers know something that a character(s) doesn’t know
Situational irony
When even turned out differently than expected