Literary Terms

Alliterationthe repetition of consonant sounds

in two or more neighboring words or syllables

Example:Sally sells seashells down by the

seashore.

Allusion a figure of speech that makes brief

reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object

Example:Beowulf’s character Grendel is

introduced as a descendant of Cain. This is a reference to The Bible.

Diction

choice of words with regard to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness

Flashback

interruption of the chronological sequence of an event of earlier occurrence

past event remembered vividly

Foreshadowingto give a hint or suggestion

beforehandvarious methods may be used,

among them recollections of characters, narration by the characters, and dream sequences

Foreshadowing

to give a hint or suggestion beforehand

to prepare the reader or viewer for action to come

Hyperbole extravagant exaggeration may be used to heighten effect, or it may

be used for humor Example:

I nearly died laughing.We tried calling her a thousand times.

Irony use of words to express the opposite of what one

really means not to be confused with sarcasm; irony is usually

less harsh presence may be marked by grim humor,

unemotional detachment, a coolness in expression at a time when one’s emotions appear to be really heated

Example: He made himself sick worrying so much about

his health

Irony (continued) Situational

A persona spraying shaving cream in his own face when he was trying to spray his friend.

Dramatic Think soap operas (eww)

Verbal “Nice going, Einstein!”

Imagerya special usage of words in which

there is a change in their basic meanings

sometimes taken to be keys to a deeper meaning of a literary work

Metaphor A word for one idea or thing is used in place of another

to suggest a likeness between them Finding similarities in seemingly dissimilar things Example:

Life is a road trip. The assignment was a breeze.

Large Function as the controlling image of an entire literary

work Simple

May occur in single isolated comparisons Example:

Life is a road trip. The assignment was a breeze.

Mood

emotional-intellectual attitude of the author toward the subject

Onomatopoeia formation of words in imitation of natural

sounds Example:

buzzhisswhooshbam

Paradox a statement or proposition that seems self-

contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth

Example: Macbeth by William Shakespeare:

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”“lesser than Macbeth, and greater.”“not so happy, yet much happier.”

Personification to be the embodiment of endows animals, ideas, abstractions, and inanimate

objects with human form—human personalities, intelligence, and emotions

Example: Mirror

by Sylvia Plath

I am silver and exact.I have no preconceptions.Whatever I see I swallow immediatelyJust as it is, unmisted by love or dislike.I am not cruel, only truthful--

Satire Criticizing or calling for a change in the

way things are done (society) through humor, sarcasm, scorn…

Examples: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Utopia by Sir Thomas Moore The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark

Twain

Setting time, place, and circumstances in which

something occurs or develops Geographical location, occupants and

daily manner of living of the characters, time or period in which action takes place, general environment of the characters: religious, mental, moral, social, and emotional conditions

Simile

two dissimilar things are compared by the use of like, as, compare, like, or resemble

Example:Cheeks like roses.The water was as bright as the sun.He was as busy as a bee.

Stereotype

an idea that many people have about a thing or a group and that may often be untrue or only partly true

Example:All pitbulls are dangerous.Every Irishman drinks.

Symbol something that stands for something else something concrete that represents or

suggests another thing that cannot, in itself, be pictured

Example:Many poets use symbolism to create

beautiful, creative works of art with deeper meaning.

Theme

subject, topic, or main idea of a work, expressed directly or indirectly

Example:Love conquers allLife is short, and the world is wideImportance of loyalty to oneself and

others

Tone

general character, quality, or trendthe overall atmosphere or feeling of

a work