literary terms Flashcards
preface or introduction; introduces play, foreshadows plot, and explains theme
prologue
story acted out, usually on a stage, by actors and actresses who take the part of specific characters
drama
literary work in which the central character meets an unhappy or disastrous end
tragedy
included in drama to tell actors or directors how to move or deliver lines
stage directions
conversation between two or people as a feature of a book, play, or movie
dialogue
words spoken by a character in a play, usually in an undertone, not intended to be heard by other characters on stage
aside
long uninterrupted speech that is spoken in the presence of other characters
monologue
speech, usually lengthy, in which a character, alone on the stage, expresses his or her thoughts aloud
soliloquy
humorous use of a word or phrase to suggest two or more meaning at the same time
pun
reference in one work of literature to a person, place, or event in another work of literature or in history, art, or music
allusion
comparison between two unlike things with the intent of giving added meaning to one of them
metaphor
comparison made between two dissimilar things through the use of specific word of comparison such as like, as, than, or resembles
simile
extended comparison showing the similarities between two things
analogy
character who setts off another character by contrast
character foil
use hints of clues in a narrative to suggest what action is to come
foreshadowing
kind of writing that holds up to ridicule or contempt that weaknesses and wrong doing of individuals, groups, institutions, or humanity in general
satire
placing two things side-by-side for the purpose of contrast in order to heighten differences between them
juxtaposition
figure of speech in which an animal, an object, a natural force, or an idea is given personality, or described as if it were human
personification
any object, person, place, or action that has meaning in itself and that also stands for something larger than itself, such as a quality, an attitude, beliefs, or value
symbol
verse written in unrhymed iambic pentameter, where each line usually contains ten syllables and every other syllable is stressed
blank verse
most common verse line in English poetry
iambic pentameter
humorous scene, incident, or speech in the course of a serious fiction or drama; relieves dramatic tension or heightens impact through contrast
comic relief
repetition of similar sounds, usually consonants or consonant clusters, in a group of words
alliteration
two consecutive lime of poetry that rhyme
couplet
the bringing together or two contradictory terms (wise fool, sad joy, cheerful pessimist)
oxymoron
a 14-line poem, usually written in rhymes do iambic pentameter
sonnet
