literary terms j. king nov. 2008. alliteration a figure of speech in which consonants, especially at...
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Literary Terms
J. King
Nov. 2008
Alliteration
A figure of speech in which consonants , especially at the beginning of words, or stressed syllables, are repeated.
Ex. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Ex. “…Hunting thee hence with hunt’s up to the day.” Romeo and Juliet (3.5.34)
Allusion
Usually an implicit reference, perhaps to another work of literature or art, to a person or an event,
Ex: “Christy didn’t like to spend money. She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities.” (A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens)
Ex: “Like the prodigal son, he returned to his home town and was welcomed by all who knew him.” (The Bible, Luke 15:11-32)
Aphorism
A terse statement of a truth or dogma; a pithy generalization, which may or may not be witty.
Ex: “Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today.”
Ex: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
“Haste makes waste.”Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin
Archetype
A basic model from which copies are made; therefore a prototype.
Ex: Character or personality types, for instance: Don Juan (womanizer), the damsel in distress, Odysseus ( the all-conquering hero).
Assonance
Consists of the repetition of similar vowel sounds, usually close together, to achieve a particular effect of euphony
“The Lotos blooms below the barren peak:
The Lotos blows by every winding creek:
All day the wind breaths low with mellower tone
Thro’ every hollow cave and alley lone,
Round and round the spicy downs the yellow Lotos-dust is blown.
Lotos-Eaters by Tennyson
Characterization
• the way the author describes a character’s personality through his or her dialogue, physical appearance and abilities, judgment of character, and actions or responses to conflict.
• revealed throughWhat the character doesWhat the character saysWhat others say about the character
Character Types
• PROTAGONIST - main character
• Ex: OthelloANTAGONIST - character who opposes
the protagonistEx. IagoTYPE / STOCK - predictable, easily
recognized familiar “type” of personality
Character Types (Continued)
ROUND - complex, realistic human-like, strengths and weaknesses
FLAT - only one or two significant traits, usually all good or all bad
STATIC - unchanged by his experiences or events in the story
DYNAMIC - learns, grows, develops, matures in response to conflict or experiences
Conflict
The tension in a situation between characters, or the actual opposition of characters.
Five main types: Man vs. ManMan vs. Fate/GodsMan vs. NatureMan vs. HimselfMan vs. Society
Conflict (Continued)
External Conflict: the main character struggles against an outside force.
Ex: The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell—Rainsford struggles against General Zaroff to stay alive.
Internal Conflict: a character in conflict with himself or herself.
Ex: Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing—Jerry struggles to overcome his fears in order to hold him breath and swim through the tunnel and ultimately transform from a child to an adolescent.
Connotation
The suggestion or implication evoked by a word or phrase
Ex: “There is a cockroach.”May inspire a shudder or distaste in one
person , but a scientific inquiry, like “What is it?” in another person.
Consonance
The close repetition of identical consonant sounds before and after different vowels.
Ex. Slip—SlopEx. Creak—CroakEx. Black—Block
Denotation
The most literal and limited meaning of a word, regardless of what one may feel about it or the suggestions and ideas it connotes.
Ex: Apartheid denotes a certain form of political, social, and racial regime. It connotes much more.
Elements of Plot
EXPOSITION - explains background information, establishes setting, introduces characters
INCITING INCIDENT - the first event indicating the main conflict
RISING ACTION - the complications that develop which increase the difficulty of resolving the conflict and add to the tension/suspense in the reader
CLIMAX - point at which the protagonist must choose/act in order to resolve the conflict
• FALLING ACTION / RESOLUTION / DENOUEMENT - the events or results caused by the protagonist’s decision, the author may clarify any remaining confusions
Foreshadowing
The technique of arranging events and information in a narrative in such a way that later events are prepared for or showed forth beforehand.
Ex: “The Cape buffalo is not the most dangerous big game.” he sipped his wine. “Here on my preserve on this island,” he said in the same slow tone, “I hunt more dangerous game.”
The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
Hyperbole
A figure of speech which contains an exaggeration for emphasis
Ex: She almost exploded with excitementEx: “There is no world without Verona
walls...” Romeo and Juliet (3.3.17)
Idiom
A form of expression, construction or phrase peculiar to a language and often possessing a meaning other than its grammatical or logical one
Ex: A Blessing In Disguise: Something good that isn't recognized at first
Ex: A Chip On Your Shoulder: Being upset for something that happened in the past.
Imagery
Occurs when language appeals to one or more of the five senses.
Ex: “How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night.” Romeo and Juliet
This line appeals mostly to the sense of ___.Ex: “O that I were a glove upon that hand
that I might touch that cheek.” Romeo and Juliet
This line appeals mostly to the sense of___.
Irony
A difference between appearance and reality3 different types of IronyVerbal Irony:This is the contrast between what is said and
what is meant. Most sarcastic comments are ironic.
For instance, the person who says, "Nice going, Einstein," isn't really paying anyone a compliment.
Irony (continued)
Dramatic Irony:This is the contrast between what the character thinks
to be true and what we (the reader) know to be true. Sometimes as we read we are placed in the position of knowing more than what one character knows. Because we know something the character does not, we read to discover how the character will react when he or she learns the truth of the situation.
It's when you know the boogeyman is hiding in the attic, but the hero of the movie doesn't know that. You want him to get a clue and stay away from the attic. "Don't open that door! Get out of the house!" The irony is that the hero thinks he is safe, when you know he's in danger. There is that element of contrast again.
Irony (continued)
Situational Irony:It is the contrast between what happens
and what was expected. Irony of situation is often humorous, such as when a prank backfires on the prankster.
It's the equivalent of a person spraying shaving cream in his own face when he was trying to spray his best friend.
Metaphor
A figure of speech in which one this is described in terms of another.
Ex: The river is a winding ribbon moving down the mountainside.
Ex: “…and Juliet is the sun.” Romeo and Juliet (2.2.3)
Ex: “…the mask of night is on my face.” Romeo and Juliet (2.2.85)
Motif
One of the dominant ideas in a work of literature; a part of the main theme.
It may consist of a character, a recurrent image or a verbal pattern.
Ex: Carpe Diem
Onomatopoeia
The formation and use of words to imitate sounds.
Ex: The tinkling sound of the bells rang out.
Ex: The tires screeched when he hit the brakes.
Ex: “…Who, nothing hurt withal, hissed him in scorn.” Romeo and Juliet (1.1.113)
Oxymoron
A figure of speech which combines incongruous and apparently contradictory words and meanings for special effect.
Ex: Dodge RamEx: Jumbo ShrimpEx: “..O brawling love, O loving hate…”
Romeo and Juliet (1.1.177)
Personification
The attribution of human qualities to inanimate objects
Ex: The arms of the rainbow stretched across the sky.
“The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night…” Romeo and Juliet (2.3.1)
Point of View
The vantage point from which a story is told.
1st person2nd person3rd person limited3rd person omniscient
Pun
A figure of speech which involves a play upon words.
Ex: “Ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave man.” spoken by Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet
The word grave is a pun because it means both_____ and ______.
Rhyme
The repetition of accented vowel sounds and all sounds following them.
Ex: Choice/Voice End Rhyme: Occurs when the rhyme is at the end of two
lines of poetry. Ex: “Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard.” Internal Rhyme: occurs when the rhyme is within a single
line of poetry Ex: “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I wandered weak
and weary.” Slant Rhyme: means that he two words are alike in some
sound but do not rhyme exactly. Ex: It little hurts me now to know.
Satire
A literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn.
Ex: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldThe elements of satire in the book include the
depiction of the nouveau riche ("newly rich"), the sense of vulgarity of the people, the parties intended to draw Daisy over, the grotesque quality of the name "Great" Gatsby in the title.
Setting
The where and when of a story or play; the locale.
Ex: Verona, Italy, 1600’s or 17th century—Romeo and Juliet
Simile
A comparison using like or as.Ex: he is as mean as a junkyard dog.Ex: “…She would be as swift in motion as
a ball…” Romeo and Juliet (2.5.13)
Suspense
A state of uncertainty, anticipation, and curiosity as to the outcome of a story or play, or any kind of narrative in verse or prose.
Ex: “ The suspense in Hamlet, for instance, is sustained throughout by the question of whether or not the Prince will achieve what he has been instructed to do and what he intends to do.”
Symbol
An object, animate or inanimate, which represents or ‘stands for’ something else.
Ex: Dove=peaceEx: Lion=strength or powerEx: Rose=beauty
Theme
The central idea of a work.Ex: Othello=JealousyEx: Romeo and Juliet=Love, Death,
Light/DarknessEx: The Odyssey=Hospitality
Tone/Mood
The reflection of a writer’s attitude (especially towards his readers), manner, mood and moral outlook in his work; even perhaps the way his personality pervades the work.
Works Cited
Cuddon, J.A. Dictionary of Literary Terms
& Literary Theory. London: Penguin,
1999.