Literature Terms

STANZA A group of lines within a poem. A stanza is like a

paragraph.

Poem/ Poetry

A type of literature in which the author uses his

words to touch the readers emotions and

senses. It is written in a creative, imaginative way.

RhythmThe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line

of poetry. The rhythm is a reoccurring pattern that

forms a beat.

Rhyme The repetition (repeating) of sounds at the end of

words

Couplet A rhymed pair of lines in a poem

Hyperbole An extreme exaggeration or overstatement for

emphasis

IdiomAn expression that has a meaning different that what the words in the sentence/phrase say.

Jargon Specialized vocabulary used by people in a

certain group, job, or community.

Analogy A comparison between two dissimilar things in order to make a point

Style A manner of writing. How something is said verses

what is said.

SymbolismA way of representing something through a symbol or a symbolic

meaning.

Narrative Poetry

A poem that contains the story elements (plot, characters, themes, setting, etc) but is

formatted like a poem.

Figure of Speech

An expression in which the literal meaning is not used. Figurative language is expressed through, similes, metaphors, personification, idioms, and hyperboles

DescriptionWords used by the author to create a mental picture

for the reader

Atmosphere The dominate mood/tone of a story

IronyA way of wording

something to convey a meaning that is opposite

of its literal meaning. “How Nice”… being

sarcastic.

Parody Imitating another piece of writing

Satire Using irony and sarcasm to make fun of another

piece of writing

autobiographyA story about a person’s

life written by that person

Dialect A form of a language spoken by a group of people in the same geographical region

BiographyA story about a person’s life written by another

person

Dialogue A conversation between characters in a book. Set off by quotation marks.

AlliterationThe repetition of a

consonant or vowel at the beginning of words. Writers

do this to draw attention

Personification Figure of speech in which a nonhuman subject is made to have human

characteristics

InferenceUnderstanding what the writer is saying and combining it with your background knowledge to

make an educated guess

ForeshadowingWhen the writer gives

clues and hints to suggest something that is going to happen later in the book.

Use this to create suspense

Point of ViewThe perspective from which

the story is told. (who is telling the story)

NarratorA speaker or character

who tells a story

DramaA type of writing that is

meant to be performed by characters with dialogue.

Divided into acts and scenes.

TragedyA type of writing that has a serious theme where a catastrophe occurs that

involves the main character.

flashback

A scene within a story that interrupts the sequence (flow) of events to talk about something that happened in the past.

suspenseA feeling of uncertainty

about what is to come in the story. (writers do this by creating questions in

the reader’s mind)

PropagandaThe spreading of

information in order to promote something.

IronyA contradiction between

what happens and what is expected to

3 types- situational, verbal, and dramatic

MetaphorA comparison of two unlike things using a linking verb (am, is, are, was, were) to connect them together.

Imagery Words and phrases used in writing to create visual

images or to appeal to the 5 senses.

SimileA comparison of two unlike

things using a like, as, or seems to connect them

together.

Tone A way an author writes that reflects their attitude

towards audience and subject.

OnomatopoeiaA word whose sound

suggest its meaning and provides sound effects

AllusionA reference to a well known person, event, place, book, or art. It

helps to make something understandable.

FableA type of genre that is a

story (usually with animals) that teaches a moral/theme

Novel A long work of fiction that includes elements such

as: characters, plot, conflict, setting, etc.

FictionA type of writing that tells

about imaginary characters and events

Folk Tale A story that is orally passed from person to

person. They reflect cultural beliefs.

NonfictionA type of writing that

explains ideas or that tells about real people, places,

or events

Fantasy A highly imaginative writing that contains

elements not found in real life.

MythA fictional tale that explains

the actions of gods or heroes.

Short Story A brief work of fiction that presents a sequence of

events.

Setting The time and place in which a story takes place

Theme The message/moral that the author wants you to learn from reading the

story.

InternalConflict

A conflict within the character. The character

battles themselves

Rising Action Part of a story that has the events that lead to

the climax

ExternalConflict

A conflict in which a character struggles with an outside force

1. Man vs Man2. Man vs nature3. Man vs society

Antagonist A character that opposes the main character in the

story.

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces

ProtagonistMain Character

Climax

The turning point of the story where the action is at its

highest point and the author provides great tension and

suspense.

Characterization The author’s way of developing a character.

1. Direct2. Indirect

3rd Person Omniscient

A point of view in a story in which the narrator tells the reader what EACH character thinks and feels

1st person A point of view in a story that is told by a character who uses the pronoun “I”

3rd personA point of view in which a narrator tells the story using pronouns like

“he” or “she”

PlotA sequence of events where one event

leads to another. Plot has 5 parts:1. Exposition2. Rising action3. Climax4. Falling action5. resolution

Cause & Effect

An event that leads to another event.

Falling Action The events in the story that lead to the resolution

or end of the story

ExpositionPart of the plot that

introduces the setting, characters, and basic

situation

Resolution Part of the plot that pulls the whole story to a

closing.

Dynamic Character

A character that changes or grows during the story.

Static Character

A character that does not change throughout the

story.

Flat Character

A character that is one-sided and often

stereotypical

Round Character

A character that the readers fully know their personality, traits, and

characterics.