Literary Terms

Literary Terms

Thirty-five terms that should have been taught in or by the 11th grade.

published on September 13, 20124 responses 3
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What is (an) imagery?

The vantage point of a story in which the narrator, see, and report whatever he or she chooses.
The use of words to create a picture in the mind of the reader. Usually relating to the five senses.
A composition that imitates the style of another composition, often for comic effect.
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What is point of view?

The central idea or ideas that a writer explores through a text.
A story can be told by one of the characters or from another standpoint.
The manner in which the author expresses and controls his or her attitude.
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What is (a) genre?

The background of a story, physical location involving time and place.
A piece of writing that tells a story.
A particular type of writing.
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What is (a) diction?

The choice of words a writer uses. Another word for "vocabulary".
A composition that imitates the style of another composition, often for comic effect.
The sequence of events in any poem, play, or story.
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What is figurative language?

Often confused with sarcasm. Sarcasm is spoken, relying on the tone of voice and is much more blunt.
Language that is symbolic or metaphorical and not meant to be taken literally.
A play on words that have similar sounds but quite different meanings.
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What is irony?

The hilighting or exposing of human failings or foolishness through ridiculing them. Can range from being gentle and light to extremely biting and bitter in tone.
Saying one thing while meaning another. Occurs where a word or phrase has one surface meaning but another, possibly opposite, meaning.
A comparison of one thing to another to make the description more vivid.
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What is (an) alliteration?

Hints or clues that suggest events yet to occur.
A composition that imitates the style of another composition, often for comic effect.
The repetition of the same consonant sound, especially at the beginning of words.
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What is "Omniscient Point of View"?

The vantage point of a story in which the narrator can know, see, and report whatever he or she chooses.
The main character or speaker in a poem, monologue, play or story.
The individual way in which the writer has used language to express his or her ideas.
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What is (a) syntax?

The way in which sentences are structured. Sentences can be structured in different ways to achieve different effects.
How a character responds to an event in a story.
Ordinary, everyday speech and language.
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What is (a) soliloquy?

A speech in which a character who is alone speaks his or her thoughts out loud.
The central idea or ideas that a writer explores through a text.
The way in which sentences are structured. Sentences can be structured in different ways to achieve different effects.
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What is (an) allegory?

A story in which people, things, or even events have another-often symbolic meaning.
The hilighting or exposing of human failings or foolishness through ridiculing them. Can range from being gentle and light to extremely biting and bitter in tone.
The way in which sentences are structured. Sentences can be structured in different ways to achieve different effects.
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What is (a) symbol?

The use of images, present things which represent something else.
Same meaning as subject.
Authors purpose for writing a story.
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What is (a) connotation?

An implication or asociation attatched to a word or phrase. It is suggested or felt rather than being explicit.
A piece of writing that tells a story.
The central idea or ideas that a writer explores throughout a text.
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What is (a) protagonist?

The main character or speaker in a poem, monologue, play or story.
The character viewed as evil or bad in a story. Always going against something and trying to cause trouble/problems.
A symbolic character who is only mentioned once or twice throughout the text.
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What is (a) stereotype?

The manner in which the author expresses and controls his or her attitude.
A conventional pattern, expression, character, or idea.
The central idea or ideas that a writer explores through a text.
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What is (a) structure?

Same meaning as plot.
Same meaning as setting.
The way a poem or play or other piece of writing has been put together.
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What is personification?

The attribution of human feelings, emotions, or sensations to an inanimate object.
The individulal way in which the writer has used language to express his or her ideas.
The hilighting or exposing of human failings or foolishness through ridiculing them. Can range from being gentle and light to extremely biting and bitter in tone.
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What is (a) tone?

The manner in which the author expresses and controls his or her attitude.
Same meaning as subject.
Same meaning as theme.
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What is (a) pun?

A play on words that have similar sounds but quite different meanings.
The manner in which the author expresses and controls his or her attitude.
The central idea or ideas that a writer explores through a text.
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What is (an) assonance?

A comparison of one thing to another to make the description more vivid.
The repitition of similar vowel sounds.
Saying one thing while meaning another. Occurs where a word or phrase has one surface meaning, but another or oppisite meaning is implied.
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What is (an) empathy?

A feeling on the part of the reader of sharing the particular experience being described by the character or writer.
Saying one thing while meaning another. Occurs where a word or phrase has one surface meaning but another, possibly oppisite, meaning.
The attribution of human feelings, emotions, or sensations to an inanimate object.
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What is (a) parody?

A parody presents things which represent something else.
A composition that imitates the style of another composition, often for comic effect.
A conventional pattern, expression, character, or idea.
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What is (an) allusion?

A play on words that have similar sounds but very different meanings.
A reference to another event, person, place or work of literature.
The use of words to create a picture or image in the mind of the reader.
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What is foreshadowing?

The central idea of a text represented in a word(s).
The hilighting or exposing of human failings or foolishness through ridiculing them. Can range from being gentle and light to extremely biting and bitter in tone.
Hints or clues that suggest events yet to occur.
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What is (a) subject?

The central idea of a text represented in (a) word(s).
The way in which sentences are structured. Sentences can be structured in different ways to achieve different effects.
The manner in which the author expresses and controls his or her attitude.
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What is setting?

The background of a story, including physical location, time, and place.
The authors intention for writing the text.
The way in which the author describes the way a certain character is feeling.
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What is (a) denouement?

A story can be told by one of the characters or from another standpoint.
A particular type of writing.
The final stage in the plot structure in which the problem is resolved.
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What is (a) theme?

The central idea of a text represented in (a) word(s).
A pattern used throughout the text.
Atmospphere or feeling by elements of the story given to the reader.
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What is "narrative"?

A piece of writing that tells a story.
The vantage point in which the narrator can know, see, and report whatever he or she chooses.
The manner in which the author expresses and controls his or her attitude.
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What is (a) metaphor?

The way in which sentences are structured. Sentences can be structured in different ways to achieve different effects.
A composition that imitates the style of another composition, often for comic effect.
A comparison of one thing to another to make the description more vivid. The metaphor actually states taht one thing is another"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse".
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What is (a) colloquial?

The vantage poing of a story in which the narrator can know, see, and report whatever he or she chooses.
A speech in which a character who is alone speaks his or her thoughts out loud.
Everyday speech and language.
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What is (a) satire?

Another word for a sarcastic word, or phrase used in or throughout text.
The hilighting or exposing of human failings or foolishness through ridiculing them. Can range from being gentle and light to extremely biting and bitter in tone.
The individulal way in which the writer has used language to express his or her ideas.
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What is plot?

The central idea or ideas that a writer explores through a text.
The background of a story, including physical location, time, and place.
The sequence of events in a poem, play, novel or short story that make up the main storyline.
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What is (a) simile?

The central idea or ideas that a writer explores through a text.
Comparing a character in the text to a real life figure.
A comparison of one thing to another to make the description more vivid. Using "like" or "as".
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What is (a) style?

The manner in which the author expresses and controls his or her attitude.
The individual way in which the writer has used language to express his or her ideas.
The use of images, present things which represent something else.