Antagonist
a character who is opposed to, struggles with, or competes with another character (typically the protagonist) in a literary work
Protagonist
the central character of a drama, novel, short story, or narrative poem
Characterization
the techniques used to create and reveal fictional personalities in a work of
literature
Alliteration
the repetition of initial identical consonant sounds or any vowel sounds in successive or closely associated syllables
Point of View
the vantage point from which the author presents the actions of the story
Conflict
the opposition between two characters (such as a protagonist and an antagonist), between two large groups of people, or between the protagonist and a larger problem such as forces of nature, ideas, public mores, and so on
Plot
The structure and relationship of actions and events in a work of fiction; the exposition is followed by the rising action and complications, which lead to the climax or turning point, followed by the falling action, and ultimately, the resolution
Cliche
an expression said so often that it has lost its ability to evoke emotion
Symbol
something concrete (such as an object, person, place, or event) that stands for or represents something abstract (such as an idea, quality, concept, or condition)
Theme
A central idea or statement that unifies and controls an entire literary work; the author's way of communicating and sharing ideas, perceptions, and feelings with readers; it may be directly stated in the work, or it may only be implied. Theme MUST be sta
Setting
the time and place in which events in a short story novel, play, or narrative poem take place
Hyperbole
A figure of speech in which conscious exaggeration is used without the intent of literal persuasion.
Metaphor
A figure of speech involving an implied comparison.
Simile
a figure of speech involving a comparison using like or as
Flashback
A method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events--usually in the form of a character's memories, dreams, narration, or even authorial commentary
Allusion
a brief reference to a real or fictional person, place, event, or work of art
Personification
attributing human characteristics to nonhuman things
Imagery
the use of language to convey sensory experience, most often through the creation of pictorial images through figurative language.
Onomatopoeia
the use of words that by their sound suggest their meaning.
Repetition
reiterating a word or phrase, or rewording the same idea, to secure emphasis
Analogy
a process of reasoning that assumes if the two subjects share a number of specific observable qualities then they may be expected to share qualities that have not been observed.
Euphemism
the substitution of an inoffensive, indirect, or agreeable expression for a word or phrase perceived as socially unacceptable or unnecessarily harsh.
Colloquial Expression
Words or phrases characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation.
Emotional Appeal
exploiting an audience's feelings of pity or fear to make a case; also known as pathos
Ethical Appeal
establishing one's credibility with the audience by appearing to be knowledgeable about one's subject and concerned about the well being of the audience; also known as ethos
Logical Appeal
using facts, statistics, historical references, or other such proofs in order to convince the audience of one's position; also known as logos
Allegory
any writing in verse or prose that has a double meaning; this narrative acts as an extended metaphor in which persons, abstract ideas, or events represent not only themselves on the literal level, but they also stand for something else on the symbolic lev
Diction
the choice of words in a work of literature and an element of style important to the work's effectiveness.
Fable
a brief story illustrating human tendencies through animal characters. The interaction of these animals or objects reveals general truths about human nature
Flat Character
Also called a static character, a simplified character who does not change or alter his or her personality over the course of a narrative, or one without extensive personality and characterization.
Round Character
character who is depicted with such psychological depth and detail that he or she seems like a "real" person; also known as a dynamic character
Syntax
the pattern or structure of the word order in a sentence or phrase: the study of grammatical structure
Irony
saying one thing and meaning another.
Juxtaposition
Poetic and rhetorical device placing normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases next to one another.
Motif
images, words, objects, phrases, or actions that appear throughout an entire work or throughout a section of a work and that tend to unify the work
Oxymoron
a form of paradox that combines a pair of opposite terms into a single unusual expression
Paradox
a phrase or statement that while seemingly contradictory or absurd may actually be well- founded or true
Pun
a play on words that are identical or similar in sound but have sharply diverse meanings EX: When Mercutio is bleeding to death in Romeo and Juliet, he says to his friends, "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find a grave man
Realistic Fiction
refers generally to any artistic or literary portrayal of life in a faithful, accurate manner; a theory or tendency in writing to depict events in human life in a matter-of-fact, straightforward manner; an attempt to reflect life "as it actually is
Rhetorical Question
a question asked solely to produce and effect and not to elicit a reply EX: "When will I ever learn?