Elements of Literature
Dramatic Irony
(theater) irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play
Sonnet
14 line lyric poem that is usually written in iambic pentameter and has one of several rhyme schemes.
Comic Relief
A humorous scene or speech intended to lighten the mood
Tragic Hero
A literary character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw that, combined with fate and external forces, brings on a tragedy
Tragic Hero
A privileged, exalted character of high repute, who, by virtue of a tragic flaw and fate, suffers a fall from glory into suffering.
Couplet
A rhymed pair of lines
Prologue
A speech, passage, or event coming before the main speech or event
Comic Relief
Comic scene or event that breaks up a serious play or narrative
Verbal Irony
In this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning
Pun
a "play on words" based on the multiple meanings of a single word or on words that sound alike but mean different things
Soliloquy
a (usually long) dramatic speech intended to give the illusion of unspoken reflections
Hyperbole
a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor
Aside
a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage
Pun
a play on words involving the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings (collar, color), words with 2+ meanings (plain), or words with the same sound but different meanings (sun/son)
Sonnet
a short poem with fourteen lines, usually ten-syllable rhyming lines, divided into two, three, or four sections
Aside
a short speech, delivered to the audience or to another character, that others onstage are not supposed to hear.
Couplet
a stanza consisting of two successive lines of verse
Verbal Irony
a writer or speaker says one thing but really means something completely different,
Omen
anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend a good or evil event or circumstance in the future; portent
Foil
anything that serves by contrast to call attention to another thing's good qualities
Foil
character who is used as a contrasted of another character.
Sonnet
condenses into 14 lines an expression of emotion or an articularion of idea according to one of two basic patterns: the Italian (or Petrachan) and the English (or Shakespearean)
Irony
contrast between expectation and reality
Foil
enhance by contrast
Prologue
event or action that leads to another event
Hyperbole
extreme exaggeration for effect and not meant to be taken literally
Hyperbole
figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion of to create a comic effect
Soliloquy
in drama, a character speaks alone on stage to allow his/her thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience
Omen
indicate by signs
Prologue
introduction
Soliloquy
long speech in which a character on stage expresses his or her thoughts aloud
Tragic Hero
main character in a tragedy
Verbal Irony
occurs when what is said contradicts what is meant or thought
Pun
play on the multiple meanings/soundings of words
Alliteration
repetition of the same or very similar consonant sounds usually at the beginning of words that are very close together.
Comic Relief
the inclusion of a humorous character or scene to contrast with the tragic elements of a work, thereby intensifying the next tragic event.
Alliteration
the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words
Alliteration
the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
Irony
the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or, incongruity between what is expected and what actually happens
Omen
thing or event believed to be a sign of a future accurance
Dramatic Irony
this occurs when reader knows something about present or future circumstances that a character in the story does not know.
Couplet
two consecutive lines of a poem that rhyme
Irony
when reality is different from appearance; the implied meaning of a statement is the opposite of its literal or obvious meaning
Dramatic Irony
when the audience or the reader knows something important that a character in a play or story doesn't.
Aside
words that are spoken by a character in a play to the audience or another character but that are not supposed to be overheard by the other.
