Topics: Entertainment › Events
Type: Narrative Essays
Sample donated: Deborah Jackson
Last updated: May 3, 2019
paradox
An apparent contracdiction that is actually true; a statement whose two parts seem contradictory yet make sense with more thought
apostrophe
A figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent or dead person, an abstract quality, or something nonhuman as if it were present and capable of responding
allusion
A reference to a statement, person, place, event, or thing that is well-known from literature, history, religion, myth, politics, sports, science, or popular culture
understatement
A figure of speech that consists of saying less than what is really meant, or saying something with less force than is appropriate
imagery
Language that appeals to the senses
hamartia
The Greek word for failure or error, to designate the false step that leads the protagonist in a tragedy to his or her downfall
tragic flaw
The defect of a character that brings about the protagonist’s downfall in a tragedy
tragedy
A play, novel, or other narrative depicting serious and important events, and which the main character comes to an unhappy end; the central figure meets with disaster or great misfortune
oxymoron
Contradiction or contradictory ideas or words that are combined
static character
One who does not change much in the course of a story
dynamic character
One who changes in some important way as a result of the story’s action
flat characters
characters who have only one or two personality traits; they are one dimensional
round characters
Characters who have more dimensions to their personalities; they are complex, solid, a multifaceted, like real people