an implied or indirect reference to something assumed to be known, such as a historical event or 

personage, a well-known quotation from literature, or a famous work of art

a piece of dialogue intended for the audience and supposedly not heard by the other actors on 

stage 

a narrative poem, often of folk origin and intended to be sung, consisting of  simple stanzas and 

usually having a refrain

a personal and often unreasoned judgment for or against one side in a dispute; a partiality that 

prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation 

an actor's portrayal of someone in a play; an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play 

or film or story)

the major turning point of a story 

characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation 

light and humorous drama with a happy ending; a popular entertainment composed of jokes, satire, 

or humorous performance

to consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous; to examine in order to note the similarities 

or differences of

Internal Conflict 

occurs when one is confronted with a problem that presents difficult choices. One must make a 

decision one way or another

occurs when one faces someone else or some situation that is working against one's own desires 

or goals 

tension usually created by the protagonist and the antagonist. Usually written as 'Man versus Man', 

'Man versus Himself', 'Man versus Society', etc.

includes the emotions or associations that surround a word; an implied meaning of a word. 

Connotation may be either positive, negative, or neutral. For example, 'skinny' and 'slim' both mean 

'thin'. 'Skinny' is negative, while 'slim' is positive

to set in opposition in order to show or emphasize differences; to show differences when compared 

the literal dictionary meaning(s) of a word as distinct from an associated idea or connotation 

Description 

a statement that represents something in words; the act of explaining something using a variety of 

adjectives and imagery 

conversation between characters in a drama or narrative; a literary composition in the form of a 

conversation between two people 

Direct Presentation 

develops the character(s) through description, exposition, interpretation, and commentary. The 

author directly tells the reader what the character is like.

a prose or verse composition, especially one telling a serious story, that is intended for 

representation by actors impersonating the characters and performing the dialogue and action

Dynamic Character 

in literature or drama, a character who undergoes a permanent change in outlook or character 

during the story 

the first part of a composition that introduces the themes; the part of a play that provides the 

background information needed to understand the characters and the action 

Expository 

a mode of writing in which the purpose of the author is to inform, explain, describe, or define his or

her subject to the reader

Falling Action 

the events of a dramatic or narrative plot following the climax 

Figurative Language 

speech or writing that departs from literal meaning in order to achieve a special effect or meaning, 

speech or writing employing figures of speech 

First Person Point of View 

uses 'me', 'my', or 'I'; the narrator does participate in the action of the story. When reading stories in 

the first person, we need to realize that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective 

truth

a literary or cinematic device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological 

order of a narrative 

Flat Character 

a literary character whose personality can be defined by one or two traits and  

does not change in the course of the story

Foil 

a character whose behaviour and qualities set off or enhance by contrast those of another figure (a 

character in sharp contrast to the protagonist, who is used to draw out the central character) 

to present an indication or a suggestion of events beforehand 

Free Verse 

verse composed of variable, usually unrhymed lines having no fixed metrical pattern 

a category of artistic, musical or literary composition characterized by a particular form, style, or 

content

Hyperbole 

a bold, deliberate overstatement; a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or 

effect

a picture created in the reader's mind as a result of description and narration 

Imagery 

the elements in a literary work used to evoke mental images, not only of the visual sense, but of 

sensation and emotion as well; often involves the use of simile, metaphor, or personification. 

Remember: Imagery = S.M.P. 

the elements in a literary work used to evoke mental images, not only of the visual sense, but of 

sensation and emotion as well; often involves the use of simile, metaphor, or personification. 

Remember: Imagery = S.M.P. 

Indirect Presentation 

develops the character through what s/he says, does, thinks and feels. We also learn about him/her 

through what other characters in the story say and feel about him/her. We then interpret his/her 

character for ourselves. 

Irony 

a figure of speech in the form of an expression in which the use of words is the opposite of the 

thought in the speaker's mind; the opposite of what one expects to happen occurs 

a characteristic language of a particular group; specialized technical terminology characteristic of a

particular subject. For example, there is medical jargon and legal jargon 

Limited Omniscient Point of View 

a narrator whose knowledge is limited to one character, either major or minor 

of or relating to a category of poetry that expresses subjective thoughts and feelings, often in a 

songlike style or form 

Mood 

the poet's or persona's attitude in style or expression toward the subject 

Narration 

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing

or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program 

Narrative 

a construct created in a suitable medium (speech, writing, images) that describes a sequence of 

fictional or non-fictional events

Narrator 

someone who tells a story 

Objective Point of View 

the writer tells what happens without stating more than can be inferred from the story's action and 

dialogue. The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think or feel, remaining a 

detached observer.

Omniscient Point of View 

a narrator who knows everything about all the characters is all knowing, or omniscient. [Remember: 

‘Omni’ means ‘all’] 

Onomatopoeia 

strictly speaking, the formation or use of words which imitate sounds; sound words; example 

include 'buzz', 'zip', 'boom', 'woof', 'quack'

Paradox 

a statement which contains seemingly contradictory elements or appears contrary to common 

sense, yet can be seen as perhaps, or indeed, true when viewed from another angle

a type of metaphor in which distinctive human characteristics are attributed to an animal, object, or 

idea

communication intended to induce belief or action 

providing sound reasoning or argument 

Point of View 

the attitude or outlook of a narrator or character in a piece of literature, a movie, or another art form 

information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause 

the main character in a drama or other literary work 

a phrase, verse, or group of verses repeated at intervals throughout a song or poem, especially at 

the end of each stanza

the end result of a plot/story; may also be referred to as 'denouement' 

Rhyme 

a type of echoing which utilizes a correspondence of sound in the final accented vowels and all that 

follows of two or more words, but the preceding consonant sounds must differ

Rhyme Scheme 

the pattern established by the arrangement of rhymes in a stanza or poem, generally described by 

using letters of the alphabet to denote the recurrence of rhyming lines. For example, 'a,b,a,b' or 

'a,b,b,a' 

Rhythm 

the pattern or flow of sound created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in 

accentual verse or of long and short syllables in quantitative verse

Rising Action 

the events of a dramatic or narrative plot preceding the climax 

Round Character 

a complex literary character that is fully developed 

witty language used to convey insults or scorn; cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound 

Satire 

a literary work which exposes and ridicules human vices or folly. For example, 'Saturday Night Live' 

and 'The Daily Report' are satirical television shows. 

the time, place, and circumstances in which a narrative, drama, or film takes place. Setting can 

include: time and place; the historical, geographical, political, economic, social, or religious 

background; and, the atmosphere or tone of the story

a figure of speech in which an explicit comparison is made between two essentially unlike things, 

usually using like or as

informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered appropriate for 

formal occasions 

a fourteen-line poem 

the voice of a literary work 

one of the divisions of a poem, composed of two or more lines usually characterized by a common 

pattern of meter, rhyme, and number of lines

Static Character 

a literary character that remains basically unchanged throughout a work 

Stereotyped Character 

a character in a story that represents a widely held but fixed oversimplified image of a particular 

type of person or thing; a person or thing appearing to conform to generalized images of certain 

groups of people 

the poet's individual creative process, as determined by choices involving diction, figurative 

language, rhetorical devices, sounds, and rhythmic patterns

Suspense 

pleasurable excitement and anticipation regarding an outcome, such as the ending of a mystery 

novel

Symbol 

an image transferred by something that stands for or represents something else 

Theme 

Tone 

manner of expression in speech or writing 

Tragedy 

a medieval narrative poem or tale typically describing the downfall of a great person; a drama, 

usually in verse, portraying a conflict between a strong-willed protagonist and a superior force such 

as destiny, culminating in death or disaster

Understatement 

the presentation of a thing with underemphasis in order to achieve a greater effect; restraint or lack

of emphasis in expression