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Glossary of Literary Terms

Terms

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Tragedy
a literary and particularly a dramatic presentation of serious actions in which the chief character has a disastrous fate
Simile
is a comparison between two essentially unlike things using the words "like" or "as" Not many people agree with Dogberry in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing when he say that ". . . comparisons are odorous." We often use analogies and evocative similes to clarify thoughts, explain complex ideas, advertise products and generally make our writing more colorful and appealing.
Conflict
a struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of a story. The outcome of any story provides a resolution of the conflict(s); this is what keeps the reader reading. The three main types of conflict are: man versus man, man versus nature and man versus himself.
Figurative Language
is language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words in order to furnish new effects or fresh insights into an idea or a subject. The most common figures of speech are simile, metaphor, and alliteration.
Contrast
is often used by writers to define or clarify a certain idea or value judgment. Contrasting one element with another serves to highlight their respective differences and thereby brings both into a clearer focus than would have been possible if they were dealt with separately.
Chronological order
is the order in which events happen in time.
Plot
the episodes in a narrative or dramatic work - that is, what happens - of the particular arrangement (sequence) of these episodes (66-68, 124-28)
Narration
"...its purpose is to recount events...There are two forms: simple narrative , which recites events chronologically, as in a newspaper account; and narrative with plot, which is less often chronological and more often arranged according to a principle determined by the nature of the plot and the type of story intended
Sonnet
is a fourteen line lyric poem.
Lyric
is a short poem which expresses a powerful emotion or sentiment.
Connotation
words are associated with feelings and emotions. Some readers might associate "home" with such things as warmth, family, love, and security. Others might
Onomatopoeia
is a figure of speech in which a word used closely resembles the sound to which it refers. Our language is rich with onomatopoeic words such as hiss, knock, slap, buzz, fizz, snarl, whirr and splash. These words, because they are so recognizably close to the sound being described, can be used with subtle effect to enhance meaning and tone.
Refrain
a repeated phrase, line, or group of lines in a poem, especially in a ballad.
Denotation
is the exact meaning of a word, without the feelings or suggestions that the word may imply. It is the opposite of "connotation" in that it is the "dictionary" meaning of a word, without attached feelings or associations.
Climax
the turning point, point of maximum interest, and highest tension in the plot of a story, play, or film. The climax usually occurs towards the end of story after the reader has understood the conflict and become emotionally involved with the characters. At the climax, the conflict is resolved, and the outcome of the plot becomes clear.
Comedy
is a literary work which is amusing and ends happily. Modern comedies tend to be funny, while Shakespearean comedies simply end well. In modern Situation Comedies, characters are thrown into absurd situations and are forced to deal with those situations, all the while reciting clever lines for the amusement of a live or television or movie audience
Satire
is a form of literature that ridicules some aspect at human behavior customs or attitudes in an attempt to bring about a positive change. Unlike comedians, satirists do not believe in humour for its own sake but rather see it as a means to an end. They believe that one way to effect change is to get people to laugh at themselves since by laughing at ourselves, and the things we do, we take ourselves less seriously.
Paradox
is a statement that reads as being contradictory but upon closer examination reveals some truth. For example: "I lived in poverty And died rich." ("On the Way to School," p.55)
Stereotyped Character
is a character in a literary work or film who thinks or acts according to certain unvarying patterns simply because of his or her racial, ethnic, religious, or social background. A stereotype is usually an image that society projects or imposes on every member of a group as a result of prejudice or faulty information. Examples of stereotypes are the Irish drunk, the Italian mobster, the dishonest car salesman, the plain-Jane librarian, the shyster lawyer, the Machiavellian politician, and the dumb blonde.
Round Character
a many-sided character, one who does not always act predictably, as opposed to a "flat" or one-dimensional, unchanging character.
Drama
is a term that may refer to a single play, a group of plays ("Jacobean drama"), or to all plays ("world drama"). Drama is designed for performance in a theater; actors take on the roles of characters, perform indicated actions, and speak the dialogue written in the script. Play is a general term for a work of dramatic literature, and a playwright is a writer who makes plays.
Free Verse
poetry in lines of irregular length that are usually unrhymed.(173-74)
Foil
a character who makes a contrast with another, especially a minor character who helps set off a major character.
Irony
refers to a situation or to a usage of words in which there is a discrepancy between expectation and actuality. For example, we would expect a pilot to be in control of the aircraft and know its ultimate destination; it would be ironic if he or she became lost and transported us to the wrong airport. We might consider it ironic if a forest is destroyed to produce paper that will used to criticize the destruction of forests. In these cases, what actually occurs is inconsistent with what we expect, and we cannot help but laugh wryly at the turn of events.
First Person point of view
see point of view.
Aside
an actor's speech, directed to the audience, that is not supposed to be heard by other actors on stage. An aside is usually used to let the audience know what a character is about to do or what he or she is thinking. For example, in Othello, Iago gives several asides, informing the audience of his plans and how he will try to achieve his goals.
Protagonist
the main character of a story. While some protagonists may be heroes or heroines, more typically they are like people we meet in real life: they have a mixture of characteristics, some of which maybe weaknesses.
Rhythm
in poetry, a pattern of stressed and unstressed sounds.
Dialogue
two characters in conversation
Rising Action
in a story or play, the events that lead up to the climax.
Falling Action
is the series of events which take place after the climax.
Tone
is the attitude of the author toward the subject he is writing about. It is the style or manner of a piece of work, an inflection of the mood of the piece.
Static Character
does not change throughout the work, and the reader's knowledge of that character does not grow
Audience
gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
Understatement
occurs when we say less than what we actually mean, or use less force than the context requires. We hope that our audience will make up the difference through the workings of their imaginations.
Stanza
refers to a grouping of lines, set off by a space, that usually has a set pattern of meter and rhyme. See also line, meter, rhyme.
Alliteration
repetition of consonant sounds, especially at the beginnings of words (free, form, phantom)
Dynamic Character
is one who changes by the end of the story, learning something that changes him or her in a permanent way.
Allusion
is a brief reference to a person, event or thing that the writer assumes the reader will recognize. Such references may come from history, current events, the Bible, mythology, or literature. Allusions occur in many forms of communication including everyday conversation. If you refer to a person as being an "Attila the Hun," it is quite obvious to your listener precisely what you mean. Notice the economy of words possible with allusion - only three words are necessary to convey information not only about the characteristics of the person, but also about your attitude towards him or her. Movies, novels, TV shows, short fiction, and advertisements are all rich sources of and for allusions.
Mood
the atmosphere of a poem or short story.
Flashback
an interruption in a narrative that presents an earlier episode. (Looking back)
Speaker
is the voice used by an author to tell a story or speak a poem. The speaker is often a created identity, and should not automatically be equated with the author's self. See also narrator, persona, point of view.
Metaphor
involves a comparison between two essentially unlike elements. "This classroom is a zoo" is a metaphor since classrooms and zoos are quite different, and yet sometimes there are bases for comparisons. If the comparison is extended by developing further points of similarity, and extended metaphor results.
Slang
is a type of informal verbal communication that is generally unacceptable for formal writing. Slang words and phrases are often colorful exaggerations used to emphasize the speaker's point; they may also be shortened versions of an often-used word or phrase.
Style
is the way an author writes a literary work. It manifests itself in the author's choice of words and phrases, the structure of sentences, the length of paragraphs, the tone of the work, and so on. Just as painters, singers, and dancers have different styles, so too do authors. One author may use a great deal of dialogue while another author uses little. Some authors use difficult vocabulary; others use simple vocabulary.
Compare
examine and note the similarities or differences of.
Foreshadowing
suggestions of what is to come.
Colloquial
refers to a type of informal diction that reflects casual, conversational language and often includes slang expressions.
Indirect Presentation:
the writer presents the character in action, allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions about the personality of that character.
Resolution
the denouement or untying of the complication of the plot.
Narrative
a collection of events that tells a story, which may be true or not, placed in a particular order and recounted through either telling or writing
Ballad
a short narrative poem, especially one that is sung or recited, often in a stanza of four lines, with 8, 6, 8, 6 syllables, with the second and fourth lines rhyming. A popular ballad is a narrative song that has been transmitted orally by what used to be called "the folk"; a literary ballad is a conscious imitation (without music) of such a work, often with complex symbolism.
Sarcasm
crudely mocking or contemptuous language.
Personification
is a specialized form of metaphor in which human characteristics are attributed to things or ideas. Effective use of personification stimulates our imagination and increase our understanding of whatever has been given human qualities. It makes the abstract more concrete by reducing it to familiar human forms and behavior.
Antagonist
a character or force that opposes (literally, "wrestles") the main character.
Atmosphere
the emotional tone (for instance, joy or horror) in a work, often established by the setting.
Direct Presentation
is when the writer tells readers what kind of personality the character possesses rather than allowing the character to show his or her personality and allow readers to draw their own conclusions.
Suspense
is the growing of excitement felt by an audience or individual while awaiting the climax of a movie, book, play, etc. due mainly to its concern for the welfare of a character they sympathize with or the anticipation of a violent act.
Bias
is a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation.
Rhyme
can occur in various forms, and it is sometimes important to analysis of poetry to consider the kinds of rhymes used by the poetry reader to a better appreciation of the tone and purpose of the work. Rhyme create rhythm, and rhythm projects emotion and attitude.
Point of View
the perspective from which a story is told - for example, by major character or a minor character, or a fly on the all; see also narrative narrator (85-89)
Hyperbole
is deliberate exaggeration in order to emphasize a fact or a feeling. It can be used to create either a comic or serious effect but, in spite of the exaggeration, there is nearly always some truth expressed in the hyperbole.
Cliché
a type of figurative language containing an overused expression or a saying that is no longer considered original.
Jargon
potentially confusing words and phrases used in an occupation, trade, or field of study. We might speak of medical jargon, sports jargon, pedagogic jargon, police jargon, or military jargon, for instance.
Character
is an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction.
Description
is any careful detailing of a person, place, thing, or event. Description is one of the for major forms of discourse. Descriptions re-create sensory impressions: sights, sounds, smells, textures, tastes.
Theme
the central idea of the story, usually implied rather than directly stated. Theme should not be confused with moral or plot. It cannot e stated in one word, but rather in a theme statement. (I.E.: Loyalty to country often inspires heroic self-sacrifices.)
Symbolism
is the use of a concrete object to represent an abstract idea or concept. Many symbols have become so much a part of our cultural traditions that they are immediately identifiable. )A red rose/love; a dove/peace; a hawk/war; a black cat/bad luck; a rabbit's foot/ good luck)
Exposition
is the background information of a story, the story before the story
Imagery
is the technique by which a writer appeals so sensory experience through description. To communicate effectively, poets must refer to those sensory experiences which most readers have in common.
Flat character
a one-dimensional character (for instance, the figure who is only and always the jealous husband, or the flirtatious wife) as opposed to a round or many-sided character.
Persuasion
is a type of speaking or writing that is intended to make its audience adopt a certain opinion or pursue an action or do both.
Genre
kind or type, roughly analogous to the biological term species. The four chief literary genres are nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and drama, but these can be subdivided into further genres. Thus fiction obviously can be divided into the short story and the novel, and drama obviously can be divided into tragedy and comedy. These can be divided still further - for instance, tragedy into heroic tragedy and bourgeois tragedy, comedy into romantic comedy and satirical comedy.

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