Literary Elements Flashcards
OXYMORON
expression with contradictory words: a phrase in which two words of contradictory meaning are used together for special effect “wise fool” “legal murderer” “pretty ugly”
PUN
Play on words: a humorous use of words that involves a word or phrase that has more than one possible meaning
PARADOX
Statement that seems contradictory but that actually may be true
MALAPROPISM
Unintentional use of wrong word: the misuse of a word through confusion with another word that sounds similar, especially when the affect is red ridiculous
ALLUSION
References to well-known people, places or events from myths or literature
CHIASMUS
Inverted word order in phrase: rhetorical construction in which the order of words in the second of two paired phrases in the reverse of the order of the first. Am example is “ grey was the morn, all things were grey.”
FORESHADOWING
To be warning of: to indicate or suggest something, usually something unpleasant, that is going to happen
METAPHOR
Implicate comparison: describing somebody or something with a word or phrase that is not meant literally but by means of a vivid comparison express something about him, her, it, saying that somebody is a snake
SOLILOQUY
A lengthy speech on which a character expresses his or her thoughts to the audience. He or she is usually alone on the stage
ASIDE
A brief remark by a character revealing thoughts or feelings to the audience. No one else on stage can hear these comments
MONOLOGUE
Like a soliloquy but the character is addressing another character not to the audience
CHARACTERS
people or animals that take part in a literary work
ROUND CHARACTERS
Have many personality traits, like a real person
FLAT CHARACTERS
One-dimensional, embodying only a single trait. Provide comic relief
DRAMATIC FOIL
A character who highlights the traits of another character
