alliteration
repetition of initial consonant sounds
allusion
a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or piece of art
antagonist
a character or force in conflict with the main character
claim
a statement used to support or prove an argument
climax
point where conflict hits its highest point
conflict
a struggle between opposing forces
dialogue
conversation between characters
dramatic irony
when a reader/audience is aware of something that a character isn't
dynamic character
a character who undergoes an important inner change, as a change in personality or attitude
evidence
factual information or proof to form an opinion
flashback
moving from the present by remembering a scene in the past
foil
a character who draws attention or acts as a contrast to another character
forshadowing
the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in the plot
genre
a category or type of literature
hyperbole
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
imagery
description that uses one or more of the 5 senses to help you imagine the scene
inferencea
a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning
juxtaposition
placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts
metaphor
a comparison of two things without using the words "like" or "as"
mood
feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader
motif
a recurring theme, subject, or idea
onomatopoeia
a word that when spoken imitates the sound it represents
personification
giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea
plot
sequence of events in a story
protagonist
the main character in a literary work
rhyme
repetition of sounds at the end of words
rhythm
a regular repeated beat made by words in lines of poetry
setting
the time and place of a story
simile
a comparison of two things using the words "like" or "as"
situational irony
an outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected
symbolism
something that stands for a bigger idea or deeper meaning
theme
central idea of a work of literature
tone
the attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character
verbal irony
a statement with underlying meanings that contrast (opposite) the literal meaning