Character
A character can be any person, a figure, an inanimate object, or animal. There are different types of characters, and each serves its unique function in a story or a piece of literature.
Characterization
Characterization is a literary device that is used step-by-step in literature to highlight and explain the details about a character in a story. It is in the initial stage in which the writer introduces the character with noticeable emergence. After intro
Direct characterization
This kind of characterization takes a direct approach towards building the character. It uses another character, narrator, or the protagonist himself to tell the readers or audience about the subject.
Indirect characterization
This is a more subtle way of introducing the character to the audience. The audience has to deduce for themselves the characteristics of the character by observing his/her thought process, behavior, speech, way of talking, appearance, and manner of commun
Character traits
Character traits: words that describe character's personality or qualities that make. them who they are. In other words, how you would describe that character to someone else
Character Traits-Motivation
In literature, "motivation" is defined as a reason behind a character's specific action or behavior. This type of behavior is characterized by the character's own consent and willingness to do something.
Character Traits-Actions
One of the most important ways that we learn about a character. It often shows us their desires, motives, or other details about them.
Character Traits-Appearance
A characters' appearance can be a very blunt way to reveal information or other traits of a character. Often, authors create appearances that link with the personality or intentions of a character. Appearance is a straightforward way authors describe or r
Character Traits-Dialogue
Dialogue means "conversation." In the broadest sense, this includes any case of two or more characters speaking to each other directly. But it also has a narrower definition, called the dialogue form. The dialogue form is the use of a sustained dialogue t
Character Traits-Private Thoughts
Private thoughts reveal vital information about characters; it can reveal their motives, more about them, and many other critical details about the character. Private thoughts can even be used to convey messages or plans to the reader that the other chara
Protagonist
A protagonist is the central character or leading figure in poetry, narrative, novel or any other story. A protagonist is sometimes a "hero" to the audience or readers. The word originally came from the Greek language, and in Greek drama it refers to the
Antagonist
In literature, an antagonist is a character, or a group of characters, which stands in opposition to the protagonist, which is the main character. The term "antagonist" comes from the Greek word antagonist?s, which means "opponent," "competitor," or "riva
Foil
In literature, a foil is a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character. The objective is to highlight the traits of the other character. The term foil, though generally being applied to a contrasting charact
Subordinate Characters
A subordinate character can be defined as a character with an important role in a story who is not actually the story's protagonist. Subordinate characters often either motivate the protagonist or set out obstacles that the protagonist must surmount.
Flat Character
A flat character is a type of character in fiction that does not change too much from the start of the narrative to its end. Flat characters are often said not to have any emotional depth.
Round Character
A round character in a novel, play, or story is a complex personality. Like real people, they have depth in feelings and passions. For instance, in the movie "Shrek," the main character says "'Ogres are like onions," which means that, what appears to them
Dynamic Character
Like a round character, a dynamic character also undergoes changes throughout the narrative, due to conflicts he encounters on his journey. A dynamic character faces trials and tribulations, and takes time to learn from his encounters, his experiences, an
Static Character
A static character is one that does not undergo inner changes, or undergoes a little change. It is a character that does not develop or grow, such as Sherlock Holmes and James Bond.
Anti-hero
Anti-hero is a literary device used by writers for a prominent character in a play or book that has characteristics opposite to that of a conventional hero. The protagonist is generally admired for his bravery, strength, charm, or ingenuity, while an anti
Cause and Effect
Human beings often try to find root causes of things, happenings and phenomena. This research leads to the discovery of effects, too. It is because human beings always desire to understand reasons for things, and why they happen. A composition written to
Monolouge
Monologue comes from the Greek words monos, which means "alone," and logos, which means "speech." It is a literary device that is the speech or verbal presentation given by a single character in order to express his or her collection of thoughts and ideas
Dramatic Monologue
Dramatic monologue means self-conversation, speech or talks which includes interlocutor presented dramatically. It means a person, who is speaking to himself or someone else speaks to reveal specific intentions of his actions. However, in literature, it i
Soliloquy
A soliloquy is a popular literary device often used in drama to reveal the innermost thoughts of a character. It is a great technique used to convey the progress of action of the play, by means of expressing a character's thoughts about a certain characte
Dialogue
A dialogue is a literary technique in which writers employ two or more characters to be engaged in conversation with one another. In literature, it is a conversational passage, or a spoken or written exchange of conversation in a group, or between two per
Cadence
Cadence is derived from the Latin word cadentia, which means "a falling." It is the term used to signal the rising and falling of the voice when reading a literary piece. In poetry, it is the momentary changes in rhythm and pitch. Cadences help set the rh
Author
An author is a person who writes books or articles, usually for money. It can also refer to the person responsible for something, like the author of a plan to overthrow the student government.
Audience
An Audience is the person for whom a writer writes, or composer composes. A writer uses a particular style of language, tone, and content according to what he knows about his audience. In simple words, audience refers to the spectators, listeners, and int
Narrator
A narrator is the storyteller in a book or movie. One of the most famous literary narrators is Herman Melville's Ishmael, who tells the story of the Moby Dick.
Credible/Trustworthy
Someone who's credible is honest and believable. A pathological liar, for example, might not be the most credible witness for your case against the bank robber.
Unreliable
Someone unreliable can't be trusted to do something. Things can be unreliable too, like a bike with a wobbly wheel.
Point of View
Point of view is the angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation. In literature, point of view is the mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers "hear" and "see" what take
First person
First person perspective means writing from the perspective of the author or main character. Such types of perspectives are mostly found in narratives and autobiographical writings. In these writings, the main character narrates his/her story, and uses fi
Third person:Limited
In this type of perspective, a narrator reports and interprets the facts and events from a single character's perspective. For instance, Katherine Mansfield has used the same perspective in her short story Miss Brill.
Third Person:Omniscient
In third person omniscient, a narrator reports the facts, as well as interpreting and relating the thoughts of a character. It is a very popular technique of storytelling, such as in George Eliot's Middle March, and E. B. White's Charlotte's Web.
Persona
In third person omniscient, a narrator reports the facts, as well as interpreting and relating the thoughts of a character. It is a very popular technique of storytelling, such as in George Eliot's Middle March, and E. B. White's Charlotte's Web.
Voice
A voice in literature is the form or a format through which narrators tell their stories. It is prominent when a writer places himself herself into words, and provides a sense that the character is real person, conveying a specific message the writer inte
Tone
Tone, in written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is generally conveyed through the choice of words, or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject.
Undertone
Undertone is an attitude that lies under the ostensible tone of a literary work. In simple words, it is an implied meaning that usually points towards the underlying theme of a work. It is because mostly writers do not express it directly as their attitud
Diction
Diction can be defined as style of speaking or writing, determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer. Diction, or choice of words, often separates good writing from bad writing. It depends on a number of factors. Firstly, the word has to be
Denotation
Denotation is generally defined as literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings.
Connatation
Connotation refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly. Words carry cultural and emotional associations or meanings, in addition to their literal meanings or denotations.
Colloquialism
In literature, colloquialism is the use of informal words, phrases, or even slang in a piece of writing. Colloquial expressions tend to sneak in as writers, being part of a society, are influenced by the way people speak in that society. Naturally, they a
Dialect
A dialect is the language used by the people of a specific area, class, district, or any other group of people. The term dialect involves the spelling, sounds, grammar and pronunciation used by a particular group of people and it distinguishes them from o
Jargon
Jargon is a literary term that is defined as the use of specific phrases and words in a particular situation, profession, or trade. These specialized terms are used to convey hidden meanings accepted and understood in that field. Jargon examples are found
Malapropism
Malapropism finds its origins in the French phrase mal a propos, which means "inappropriate." It is the use of an incorrect word in place of a similar-sounding word, which results in a nonsensical and humorous expression.
Slang
Words that are not a part of standard vocabulary or language, and which are used informally, are called "slang." These words are more commonly used in speech than in writing.
Vernacular
Vernacular is a literary genre that uses daily-used language in writing and speaking. It is different from written works, as they normally follow the formal variety of language. The word "vernacular" refers to writing or speaking of the public.
Cliche
Clich� refers to an expression that has been overused to the extent that it loses its original meaning or novelty. A clich� may also refer to actions and events that are predictable because of some previous events.
Euphemism
The term euphemism refers to polite, indirect expressions that replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite, or which suggest something unpleasant. Euphemism is an idiomatic expression, which loses its literal meanings and refers to something e
Double Entendre
A double entendre is a literary device that can be defined as a phrase or a figure of speech that might have multiple senses, interpretations, or two different meanings, or which might be understood in two different ways. Oxford Dictionary says that it "c