allegory
A work that functions on a symbolic level
alliteration
the repetition of initial consonant sounds
allusion
a reference contained in a work
anapest
a metrical pattern of two unaccented syllables followed by an accented syllable
antagonist
the force or character that opposes the main character
apostrophe
direct address in poetry
aside
words spoken by an actor intended to be heard by the audience by not by other characters on stage
aubade
a love poem set at dawn which bids farewell to the beloved
ballad
a simple narrative poem
blank verse
unrhymed iampic pentameter
cacophony
harsh and discordant sounds in a line or passage of a literary work
caesura
a break or pause within a line of poetry indicated by punctuation and used to emphasize meaning
catharsis
according to Aristotle the release of emotion that the audience of a tragedy experiences
character
one who carries out the action of the plot in literature
climax
the turning point of action or character in a literary work, usually the highest moment of tension
comic relief
the inclusion of a humors character or scene to contrast the tragic elements of a work, thereby intensifying the nest tragic event
conflict
a clash between opposing forces in a literature work
connotation
the interpretive level of a word based on its associated images rather than its literal meaning
convention
a traditional aspect of a literary work
couplet
two lines of rhyming petry
dactyl
a foot of poetry consisting of a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables
denotation
the literal or dictionary meaning of a word
denouement
the conclusion or tying up of loose ends in a literary work; the resolution of the conflict and plot
deus ex machina
a greek invention who appears at the last moment and resolves the loose ends of a play
diction
the author’s choice of words
dramatic monologue
a type of poem that presents a conversation between a speaker and an implied listener
elegy
a poem that laments the dead or a loss
enjambment
a technique in poetry that involves the running on of a line or stanza it enables the poem to move and to develop coherence as well as directing the reader with regard to form and meaning
epic
a lengthy elevated poem that celebrates the exploits of a hero
epigram
a brief witty poem
euphony
the pleasant mellifluous presentation of sounds in a literary work
exposition
background information presented in a literary work
fable
a simple symbolic story, usually employing animals as characters
figurative language
the body of devices that enables the writer to operate on levels other than the literal one
flashback
a device that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts, events, episodes
foot
a metrical unit in poetry; a syllabic measure of a line
foreshadowing
hints of future events in a literary work
form
the shape or structure of a literary work
free verse
poetry without a defined form, meter, or rhyme scheme
hyperbole
extreme exaggeration
iamb
a metrical foot consisting of an unaccented syllable followed by an accented one; the most common poetic foot in the English language
idyll
a type of lyric poem which extols the virtues of an ideal place or time
image
a verbal approximation of a sensory images in a work of literature
imagery
the total effect of related sensory images in a work of literature
impressionism
writing that reflects a personal image of a character, event, or concept
irony
an unexpected twist or contrast between what happens and what was intended or expected to happen
lyric poetry
a type of poetry characterized by emotion, personal feelings, and brevity; a large and inclusive category of poetry that exhibits rhyme, meter, and reflective thought
magical realism
a type of literature that explores narratives by and about characters who inhabit and experience their reality differently form what we term the objective world
metaphor
a direct comparison between dissimilar things
metaphysical poetry
refers to the work of poets who explore highly complex, philosophical ideas through extended metaphors and paradox
meter
a pattern of beats in poetry
metonymy
a figure of speech in which a representative term is used for a larger idea
monologue
a speech given by only one character
motif
the repetition of variations of an image or idea in a work which is used to develop theme or characters
narrative poem
a poem that tells a story
narrator
the speaker of a literary work
octave
an eight line stanza usually combined with a sestet in a Petrarchan sonnet
ode
a formal length poem that celebrate a particular subject
onomatopoeia
words that sound lie the sound they represent
oxymoron
an image of contradictory terms
parable
a story that operates on more than one level and usually teaches a moral lesson
paradox
a set of seemingly contradictory elements which nevertheless reflects an underlying truth
parallel plot
a secondary story line that mimics and reinforces the main plot
parody
a comic imitation of a work that ridicules the original
pathos
the aspects of a literary work that elicit pity from the audience
personification
the assigning of human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts
plot
a sequence of events in a literary work
point of view
the method of narration in a work
protagonist
the hero or main character of a literary work, the character the audience sympathizes with
quatrain
a four-line stanza
resolution
the denouement of literary work
rhetorical question
a question that does not expect an explicit answer
rhyme
the duplication of final syllable sounds in two or more lines
rhyme scheme
the annotation of the pattern of the rhyme
romanticism
a style of movement of literature that has as its foundation an interest in freedom, adventure, idealism, and escape
satire
a mode of writing based on ridicules which criticizes the foibles and follies of society without necessary offering a solution
scansion
analysis of a poem’s rhyme and meter
sestet
a six line stanza, usually paired with an octave to form a Petrachan sonnet
sestina
a highly structured poetic form of 39 lines, written in iambic pentameter
setting
the time and place of a literary work
simile
an indirect comparison that uses the work like or as to line the differing items in the comparison
soliloquy
a speech in a play which is used to reveal the character’s inner thoughts to the audience
sonnet
a 14 line poem with a prescribed rhyme scheme in iambic pentameter
spondee
a poetic foot consisting of two accented syllables
stage direactions
the specific instruction a playwright includes concerning sets, characterization, delivery, etc.
stanza
a unit of a poem similar in rhyme, meter, and length to other units in the poem
structure
the organization and form of a work
style
the unique way an author presents his ideas
subplot
a secondary plot that explores ideas different from the main storyline
subtext
implied meaning of a work or section or a work
symbol
something in a literary work that stands for something else
synecdoche
a figure of speech that utilizes a part as representative of the whole
syntax
the grammatical structure of prose and poetry
tercet
a three line stanza
theme
the underlying ideas that the author illustrates thought characterization, motifs, language, plot, etc.
tone
the author’s attitude toward his subject
tragic hero
according to Aristotle a basically good person of noble birth or exalted position who has a fatal flaw or commits an error in judgment which leads to his downfall
trochee
a single metrical food consisting of one accented syllable followed by one unaccented syllable
understatement
the opposite of exaggeration it is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended
villanelle
a highly structured poetic form that comprises six stanzas: five tercets and a quatrain. The poem repeats the first and third lines throughout.
