Literary Terms Flashcards
Allusion
A brief reference to a historical or literary person, place, object, or event
Alliteration
The repetition of a consonant sound to create rhythm and aid memory
Antagonist
A person or thing that opposes the protagonist or hero/heroine of a story
Blank verse
Unrhymed, but otherwise regular verse, usually iambic pentameter
Characterization
The creation of imaginary persons so that they seem lifelike.
Coherence
The parts of a composition should be arranged in a logical and orderly manner so that the meaning and ideas are clear and intelligible
Connotation
The emotion and feelings that surround a word; they may be negative, neutral or positive, depending on their context.
Context
The environment of a word, the words that surround a particular word and help to determine or deepen it’s meaning.
Couplet
In poetry (verse), two consecutive lines that rhyme.
Denotation
The literal or basic meaning of a word (the dictionary definition)
Dialogue
The conversation between two or more characters in a work of literature
Diction
The writer’s choice of words based on their clarity and effectiveness
Drama
A story told by actors who play the characters who reveal the conflict through their actions and dialogue
Essay
A piece of prose that expresses an individual’s point of view; it is a series of closely related paragraphs that discuss a single topic
Figurative language
Language that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling
