Lit. Terms Flashcards
(25 cards)
Antagonist
Person or thing working against the protagonist
Allusion
A reference in literature to a familiar person, place, or thing
Analogy
A comparison of two items suggesting they are alike in many aspects
Caricature
An exaggerated imitation of a person’s features or mannerisms in order to appear comic or absurd
Characterization
The method an author uses to reveal or describe characters and their personalities
Climax
The turning point of the story
Conflict
The problem in the story Person vs. person Person vs. self Person vs. fate (God) Person vs. society Person vs. nature Person vs. technology
Dialogue
Conversation carried on by characters
Antithesis
An opposition, or contrast of ideas
Hyperbole
Overstating or stretching the truth for special effect
Simile
A comparison if two items using the words “like” or “as”
Metaphor
A comparison of two items without using “like” or “as”
Personification
When an author speaks of or describes an animal, object, or idea as if it were a person
Foreshadowing
Giving hints of what is to come later
Imagery
Words/phrases that create a visual picture in the reader’s mind
Point of view
Perspective from which the story is told
Protagonist
The main character of the story
Satire
Literary tone used to make fun of human vice or weakness, often with the intent of changing the subject of attack
Setting
Time and place
Soliloquy
A speech delivered by a character when he or she is alone on stage (speaking to audience)
Symbol
A person, place, thing, or event used to represent something else
Theme
The main idea if the work
Tone
Mood of the work
Tragedy
A literary work in which the protagonist is destroyed by some character flaw and forces beyond his/her control
