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