Riess NYS State English Regents Exam - Literary Terms/Elements

Simile

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two seemingly unlike things by using a connective word such as like or as.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two seemingly unlike things.

Personification

A kind of metaphor in which a nonhuman thing or quality is talked about as if it were human.

Symbol

A person, place, thing or event that stands both for itself and for something beyond itself and is used to develop the central idea or themes of a story.

Theme

A recurring element that enhances the central idea or meaning of a story- expressed as one or two words (i.e. love, courage)

Allusion

A reference to a statement, person, place, event, or thing that is known from literature, history, religion, myth, etc.

Conflict

A struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces or emotions.

foil

Character(s) who contrasts or parallels another to highlight certain elements of their characterization

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell).

Tone

The attitude a writer takes toward the reader, a subject, or a character. (ironic, serious, humorous, tender, angry, etc.)

Antagonist

The character or force that comes into conflict with the protagonist.

subtext

The implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature. Some writing has more, some less, some none.

Protagonist

The main character (hero) who opposes one or more forces in a story.

Characterization

The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. This can be done by describing the character's thoughts, feelings, speech and actions, revealing the reactions of other characters.

Setting

The time and place in which the action occurs in a story.

Foreshadowing

The use of clues to hint at what is going to happen later in the plot.

Flashback

When the author interrupts the action of the story in order to recreate a scene from an earlier time.

motif

an image, sound, word, or symbol that repeats in a story and forms a pattern

dynamic character

changes in an important way as a result of the conflict.

External conflict

occurs when a character struggles against some outside force.

Internal conflict

occurs when a character struggles with emotions, needs or desires within himself.

static character

remains the same for the whole story.

structure

the arrangement or framework of a sentence, paragraph, or entire work

diction

the author's choice of words and phrases

Dramatic Irony

when the audience knows something a character does not know