Literary Terms

LITERARY TERMS

Allegory - a symbolic representation
i.e. The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of justice.

Alliteration - the repetition of the initial consonant. There should be at least two repetitions in a row.
i.e. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Allusion – A reference to a famous person or event in life or literature.
i.e. She is as pretty as the Mona Lisa.

Analogy - the comparison of two pairs which have the same relationship.
i.e. shoe is to foot as tire is to wheel

Assonance - the repetition of similar vowel sounds in a sentence.

Climax - the turning point of the action in the plot of a play or story. The climax represents the point of greatest tension in the work.

Characterization is the method used by a writer to develop a character. The method includes (1) showing the character's appearance, (2) displaying the character's actions, (3) revealing the character's thoughts, (4) letting the character speak, and (5) getting the reactions of others.

Foreshadowing - hints of what is to come in the action of a play or a story

Flashback - action that interrupts to show an event that happened at an earlier time which is necessary to better understanding.

Hyperbole - a figure of speech involving exaggeration.

Metaphor - A comparison in which one thing is said to be another.
i.e. The cat's eyes were jewels, gleaming in the darkness.

Onomatopoeia - the use of words to imitate the sounds they describe.
i.e. The burning wood crackled and hissed.

Oxymoron - putting two contradictory words together.
i.e. bittersweet, jumbo shrimp, and act naturally

Personification - is giving human qualities to animals or objects.

i.e. The daffodils nodded their yellow heads.

Pun - A word is used which has two meanings at the same time, which results in humor.

Simile - figure of speech involving a comparison between unlike things using like, as, or as though. i.e. She floated in... [continues]

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