10th Grade L.A. Literary Terms FINAL
Essay
A brief composition on a single subject that usually presents the personal view of the author
Fable
A brief tale told to illustrate a moral or teach a lesson
Tragic Hero
A central character in a drama who is dignified or noble but also possesses a defect
Foil
A character who provides a striking contrast to another character. A writer calls attention to certain traits a main character has or enhances a character by contrast.
Comedy
A dramatic work that is light and often humorous
Tragedy
A dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character
Extended Metaphor
A figure of speech that compares two essentially unlike things at some length and in several ways
Metaphor
A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are unlike
Simile
A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things using the word like or as.
Memoir
A form of autobiographical writing in which a person recalls specific events
dialect
A form of language as it is spoken in particular geographic area or by a particular social or ethnic group
Stanza
A grouping of two or more lines in a pattern that is repeated throughout a poem
Comic relief
A humorous scene, incident, or speech that is included in a drama.
Figurative Language
A language that communicates ideals beyond the ordinary, literal meanings of words
Style
A particular way in which a piece of literature is written
Symbol
A person, place, an activity, or an object that stands for something beyond itself
Ballad
A poem that tells a story and is meant to be sung or recited
Meter
A regular pattern or accented and unaccented syllables in a line of poetry
Aside
A remark spoken in an undertone by one character either to the audience or to another character.
Soliloquy
A speech which a character speaks thoughts aloud; usually alone on the stage
Oxymoron
A statement that seems self-contradictory, such as "honorable villain"
First-Person Point of View
A story told from this view has a narrator who is a character in the story and uses the pronouns, I, me, and my
Speech
A talk or public address
Understatement
A technique of creating emphasis by saying less than is actually true
Biography
A true account of a person's life told by someone else. Written in third person.
Diction
A writer's or speaker's choice of words and way of arranging the words in sentences
Foreshadowing
A writer's use of hits or clues to indicate events and situations that will occur later in the plot
Falling Action
Also called the resolution, occurs after the climax of the story
Climax
Also known as the turning point in a story
Flashback
An account of a conversation, an episode, or an event that happened before the beginning of the story
Allusion
An indirect reference to another literary work or to a famous person, place, or event
Surprise Ending
An unexpected twist in the plot at the end of a story
Blank Verse
An unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter
Imagery
Descriptive words and phrases that re-create sensory experiences for the reader
Resolution
Happens after the climax of a story, also called falling action
Verbal Irony
Happens when someone knowingly exaggerates or says one thing and means another
Fiction
Has imaginary elements and includes novels and short stories
External Conflict
Involves a character pitted against an outside force, such as nature, a physical obstacle, or another character
Assonance
Is the repetition of vowel sounds within non rhyming words
Drama
Literature in which the plot and characters are developed through dialogue and action
Iambic Pentameter
Made up of two syllables, the first unstressed and the second stressed
Act
Major unit of action in a play, similar to a chapter in a book
Stage Directions
Often printed in italic type at the beginning of a play and at the beginning of acts and scenes
Conflict
Part of the story always involves struggle between opposing forces. Two types: External and internal
Character
People who take part in the action of a story, a novel, or drama
Free Verse
Poetry that does not contain a regular pattern or rhyme and meter
Voice
Refers to a writer's unique use of language that allows a reader to "hear" a human personality in his or her writing
Characterization
Refers to the techniques that a writer use to develop characters
Form
Refers to the way poem is laid out on the page
Expository Essay
Seeks to explain something and therefore fosters reader's understanding
Exposition
Sets the tone, establishes setting, introduces characters and gives the reader important background information
Rhyme
Similar or identical sound at the ends of two or more words
Repetition
Sound, word, phrase or line is repeated for the effect or emphasis
Irony
Special contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens
Novel
Tells a complex story that unfolds through the actions speech, and thoughts of the characters
Narrative Essay
Tells a story, not a novel
Narrative Poem
Tells a story. Like a short story or a novel
Tone
The attitude a writer takes toward a subject
Narrator
The character of the voice from whose point of view events are told
Rising Action
The events in a story that move the plot along by adding complications
Suspense
The excitement of tension that readers feel as they become involved in a story
Mood
The feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the reader
Protagonist
The main character or hero in a narrative or drama
Theme
The main idea in a work of literature
Rhyme Scheme
The pattern is charted by assigning a letter of the alphabet to each line
Rhythm
The pattern or flow of sound created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry
Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words
Plot
The sequence of events in a story. Tells what happens, when, and to whom
Setting
The time and place of action of a story
Speaker
The voice in poetry that talks to the reader, similar to the narrator in fiction
Structure
The way in which the parts of a work of literature are put together
Humor
Three basic types of literature, all of which involve exaggeration or irony
Author's Purpose
To express him/herself, to inform, explain, persuade, and/or to entertain
Antagonist
Usually the principal character in opposition to main character.
Dramatic Irony
When the reader or viewer knows something that a character does not know
Internal Conflict
When the struggle takes place within a character.
Poetry
When words are chosen and arranged to create a certain effect
Nonfiction
Writing that deals with real people, events, and places
Vivid imagery
Writing that helps a reader to picture scenes, events, and characters
Autobiography
Writings include personal narratives, journals, memoirs, diaries and letters. Written in first person
Dialogue
Written conversation between two or more characters in either fiction or nonfiction. Used to bring life
Scene
in a play this indicates a different time and place
Moral
the lesson taught in a works such as a fable