Literary Term Toolbox
Alliteration repetition of the same or similar sounds at the beginning of adjacent words Billy bought a box of blueberries. Donald Duck...Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.
Antagonist character, institution, or concept that stands in or represents opposition against the protagonist Example: The Grinch is an antagonist to the people of Whoville.
Allusion an indirect or casual reference to something from an external context Chocolate was her Achilles heel. (Greek Mythology) As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death / I take a look at my life and realize there s nothing left (Psalm 23)
Analogy a comparison between two things Life is like a box of chocolates. Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard. I feel like a fish out of water.
Anecdote a short and interesting story about a real event or person Example: At the beginning of a speech about fire safety, the speaker tells a short cautionary tale about a serious injury that occurred as a result of not following protocol.
Archetype a perfect example; a model or original upon which others are based; universal symbol The hero: Luke Skywalker, Beowulf The outcast: Cinderella, Harry Potter The obstacle: a dragon, Gollum
Assonance repetition of the same or similar vowel sound in stressed syllables of adjacent words The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain. The cat ran after the alligator.
Cacophony a mixture of harsh or inharmonious sounds Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!
Characterization description emphasizing qualities Characterizing a kind girl: She gently knelt down and stretched out her hand to help her friend return to her feet after her friend fell on the field.
Consonance repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in close proximity Some mammals are clammy. shush, wish, cushion, squash
Conflict competing desires or an obstacle that needs to be overcome Man vs. Man: Rafa Nadal playing Roger Federer. Man vs. Nature: Someone climbing Mt. Everest. Man vs. Self: A chocolate lover trying to stay away from sugar. Man vs. Society: Gandhi encouraging non-violent protests.
Connotation an idea or feeling that a word invokes other than its literal meaning Home could suggest warmth, comfort, and affection. Politician could imply insincerity.
Denotation the literal meaning of a word A home is literally a place where one lives. A politician is a person involved in politics.
Diction word choice; the style of speaking that an author or character uses Howdy, y all! Yo, what s up? It s a pleasure to see you again.
Euphemism a mild or indirect word or expression used to replace one that is considered too harsh or blunt You re starting to thin out of top (go bald). She s in the family way (pregnant). certified pre-owned car (used)
Euphony pleasing to the ear; an especially harmonious combination of words cellar door Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness
Flashback an interjected scene set at an earlier time than the main storyline In a story about a girl who is afraid of heights, there is a flashback to a time when she fell off of the top of a playground as a young child.
Foil a character who contrasts with the main character, usually to emphasize their characteristics Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan
Foreshadowing a warning or indication of future events FRODO: It s a pity Bilbo didn t kill [Gollum] when he had the chance. GANDALF: Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo s hand. Many that die deserve life, and some that live deserve death. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play, for good or ill, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.
Hyperbole an extreme exaggeration to make a point If I don t get the new iphone, I ll die. I had a ton of chores to do. My dad is always working.
Imagery visually descriptive or figurative language; appeals to the five senses The eerie silence was shattered by her scream. He could hear the footsteps of doom approaching. She was like a breath of fresh air.
Internal Rhyme a rhyme that occurs within a single line or between multiple internal lines Once upon a midnight dreary / While I pondered weak and weary
Irony the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of the literal meaning A cop getting his license suspended The Titanic was promoted as 100% unsinkable.
Juxtaposition two things seen or placed close together for contrast Beggars can t be choosers. All s fair in love and war.
Metaphor an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison You ain t nothin but a hound dog Don t go chasing waterfalls Cause, baby, you re a firework
Mood atmosphere or feeling of a story or scene The river, reflecting the clear blue of the sky, glistened and sparkled as it flowed noiselessly on. (peaceful)
Motif element, subject, idea, or concept repeated throughout a story A rags to riches story The coexistence of good and evil
Narrator character that recounts the events of a story Morgan Freeman
Onomatopoeia words that sound like what they describe boom, clap woof, moo, meow whoosh, crack
Paradox a statement that leads to a senseless or logically unacceptable conclusion Be cruel to be kind. Nobody goes to that restaurant because it s too crowded.
Oxymoron contradictory terms that appear in conjunction tiny giant squid awfully lucky painfully beautiful
Personification giving human-like characteristics to something that s not human The river roared. Every Disney movie where animals or plants talk, dance, clean, etc.
Plot the main events of a story
Exposition part of the story where the characters, setting, etc. are introduced
Inciting Incident the event that starts the story s problem or conflict Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take the place of her sister in The Hunger Games.
Rising and Falling Action the events leading up to and following the climax of a story
Climax the most exciting, intense, or important part of a story
Resolution the answer or solution to the conflict
Point of View the eyes through which the story is told first person (I, me, my) second person (you, your) third person (he, she, they) limited (knowledge of one or few characters) omniscient (knowledge of everything)
Protagonist leading or main character Simba in The Lion King Harry Potter
Pun a joke that explores the possible meanings of the word or phrase She had a photographic memory but it never developed.
Satire a use of humor or irony to expose or criticize someone s stupidity or vices
Setting the time or place that a story takes place Ms. Wagner s classroom at Trillium Academy in Taylor, MI at 12:00pm September 11th, 2015
Speaker the narrative voice that discusses their situation or feelings NOT the same as the author
Stanza poetry s version of a paragraph; an arrangement of lines in a pattern usually repeated throughout a poem
Symbolism representation of ideas or qualities; attributing meanings to objects, events, or relationships Black - death/evil White - good Spring - renewal, life
Syntax the arrangement of words, phrases, or punctuation to create a well-formed sentence
Theme underlying message of a story hope, change, death, love
Tone perspective or attitude in a story informal, positive, playful, serious, condescending
Tragic Hero a character with heroic or potentially heroic qualities that is doomed to suffer Romeo & Juliet Batman