Essential Literary TermsEssential Literary Terms

M. Groome

English Language Arts

Delta High School

Note: I don’t claim that these definitions (or list) are perfect. Please contact me if you have suggestions for revisions.

mgroome@deltaschools.com

M. Groome

English Language Arts

Delta High School

Note: I don’t claim that these definitions (or list) are perfect. Please contact me if you have suggestions for revisions.

mgroome@deltaschools.com

Suggestions for UseSuggestions for Use

Treat these slides as flash cards. Try to write/say the definition before viewing the

next slide. Pause each slide for as long as you need to read,

understand, copy, etc. Rewind and play this presentation as much as you

need. Make these terms meaningful by relating them to

examples from books, films, poetry, songs, etc. that you know.

Treat these slides as flash cards. Try to write/say the definition before viewing the

next slide. Pause each slide for as long as you need to read,

understand, copy, etc. Rewind and play this presentation as much as you

need. Make these terms meaningful by relating them to

examples from books, films, poetry, songs, etc. that you know.

protagonistprotagonist

the character who drives the action,

usually the hero/female hero

the character who drives the action,

usually the hero/female hero

antagonistantagonist

the character/force who obstructs the

protagonist or gets in the

protagonist’s way

the character/force who obstructs the

protagonist or gets in the

protagonist’s way

settingsetting

the story’s time and location

the story’s time and location

tonetone

the author’s attitude toward the subject

the author’s attitude toward the subject

moodmood

the way the text makes the reader

feel

the way the text makes the reader

feel

point of view (POV)

point of view (POV)

the perspective from which the story is

narrated

the perspective from which the story is

narrated

first person point of view

first person point of view

the narrator is a character (uses first

person pronouns)

the narrator is a character (uses first

person pronouns)

third person omniscient

point of view

third person omniscient

point of view

the narrator is not a character and knows

the thoughts and actions of more than

one character (godlike, all-knowing)

the narrator is not a character and knows

the thoughts and actions of more than

one character (godlike, all-knowing)

third person limited

point of view

third person limited

point of view

the narrator is not a character and knows the thoughts and actions of one character (narrates

from one character’s perspective)

the narrator is not a character and knows the thoughts and actions of one character (narrates

from one character’s perspective)

plotplot

the framework of events that make up a

story (exposition, rising action,

climax, falling action, resolution/denouement)

the framework of events that make up a

story (exposition, rising action,

climax, falling action, resolution/denouement)

expositionexposition

the background information readers

need to know to understand the story (usually found at the

beginning)

the background information readers

need to know to understand the story (usually found at the

beginning)

rising actionrising action

the events that build up to the story’s

climax

the events that build up to the story’s

climax

climaxclimax

the emotional high point of the story, the

turning point, the point at which the

reader knows how the story will end

the emotional high point of the story, the

turning point, the point at which the

reader knows how the story will end

falling actionfalling action

the events that lead away from the story’s

climax toward the resolution/

denouement

the events that lead away from the story’s

climax toward the resolution/

denouement

resolution or denouementresolution or denouement

the point at which the conflict is resolved, all the story’s loose

ends are tied up

the point at which the conflict is resolved, all the story’s loose

ends are tied up

conflictconflict

the force that provides a challenge for the

protagonist (man v. man/self/

society/nature)

the force that provides a challenge for the

protagonist (man v. man/self/

society/nature)

themetheme

the text’s message, the central idea, not a

cliché, not the text’s subject

the text’s message, the central idea, not a

cliché, not the text’s subject

foreshadowingforeshadowing

hints of what is to come later in the

story

hints of what is to come later in the

story

flashbackflashback

narration that provides information about an

event that has occurred before the story begins

narration that provides information about an

event that has occurred before the story begins

symbolsymbol

something that represents not only

itself but something else, usually something

larger than itself

something that represents not only

itself but something else, usually something

larger than itself

metaphormetaphor

a comparison of two unlike things without

using “like,” “as,” “than,” or

“resembles”

a comparison of two unlike things without

using “like,” “as,” “than,” or

“resembles”

similesimile

a comparison of two unlike things using

“like,” “as,” “than,” or “resembles”

a comparison of two unlike things using

“like,” “as,” “than,” or “resembles”

personificationpersonification

giving human qualities to

nonhuman things

giving human qualities to

nonhuman things

onomatopoeiaonomatopoeia

words that sound like what they mean

words that sound like what they mean

alliterationalliteration

repeating (consonant) sounds in close progression for stylistic effect

repeating (consonant) sounds in close progression for stylistic effect

repetitionrepetition

repeating words, phrases, or clauses for stylistic effect

repeating words, phrases, or clauses for stylistic effect

hyperbolehyperbole

extreme exaggeration for stylistic effect

extreme exaggeration for stylistic effect

imageryimagery

language that appeals to the senses

language that appeals to the senses

oxymoronoxymoron

two words that mean the opposite but have

new meaning when placed together

two words that mean the opposite but have

new meaning when placed together

allusionallusion

a reference to something that exists

outside the world of the text (history, literature,

religion, pop culture, etc.)

a reference to something that exists

outside the world of the text (history, literature,

religion, pop culture, etc.)

ironyirony

a twist, when the opposite of what you

expect happens

a twist, when the opposite of what you

expect happens