allusion
a reference to a person, place, historical event or work of art that the reader is expected to recognize
pun
a play on words (Ex: Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.)
aside
an on-stage whisper (the audience can hear it, but some or all characters on stage pretend they cannot hear it)
oxymoron
two contradictory (opposite) terms used together (Ex: jumbo shrimp)
dramatic irony
when the audience understands more about the events of a play than the character(s)
situational irony
when what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected
foreshadowing
when the author drops clues or hints that lead the reader to predict future events
simile
a comparison of two unlike things using like or as (Ex: She was like a tiger, ready to pounce.)
metaphor
a comparison of two unlike things without using like or as (Ex: She was a tiger, viciously attacking her enemy.)
personification
the giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea (Ex: The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.)
soliloquy
a speech by a character who is alone on stage and revealing private thoughts
hyperbole
an extreme exaggeration
apostrophe
direct address (directly speaking) to someone/something non-living OR not human OR not present
foil
a character who is very different from another character; the stark contrast makes their character traits even more obvious
exposition
the first stage of plot where characters, setting, and conflicts are introduced
climax
the point of highest tension in a plot; the turning point
denouement
the final stage of plot where loose ends are tied; the resolution
tragedy
the main character, the protagonist, faces great obstacles, and the story has a disastrous conclusion (BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS END WITH DEATH)