Literary Elements

JEOPARDY!!!!By: Madison Parrish

The Process by which the personality of a fictitious

character is revealed by the use of descriptive adjectives,

phrases, or epithets.

Direct characterizationcharacterization irony

The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of

its literal meaning

irony Indirect characterization diction

The writer reveals information about a character and his personality

through that character’s thoughts, words, and actions, along with how

other characters respond to that character including what they think

and say about him.

Indirect characterizationallegoryframe

A representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete

or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the

guise of another.

allegoryframefiction

A literary device that uses such a narrative structure

frameepic Medieval romance

Fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often of a knight errant portrayed as

having heroic qualities, who goes on a quest.

epic Medieval romances romances

An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language,

celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero

romance Satirical essayepic

A style of writing that criticizes or pokes fun at a subject. Often uses such devices as

hyperbole and irony to get his point across. Often aimed at political candidates,

celebrities or situations that are absurd. The writer often seeks to provide relevant, useful,

eye opening info within the scope of his essay.

style essaySatirical essay

The way In which something is said, done, expressed, or

performed

purposeessay style

The reason an author decides to write about a specific topic.

essay epicAuthor’s purpose

The kind intended solely to entertain

fiction Non fictionCommercial fiction

An unexpected turn in the development of a plot

Surprise ending Happy endingsurprise

A completely unexpected revelation or turn of plot at the conclusion of a story or play

endingfinaleSurprise ending

An ending in which events turn out well for a sympathetic

protagonist

Surprise ending endingHappy ending

An ending that turns out unhappily for a sympathetic

protagonist

Happy endingending Unhappy ending

The condition of a successful literary work whereby all its

elements work together for the achievement of a central

purpose

unity Unhappy endingArtistic unity

A situation in which an author gives the plot a twist or turn

unjustified by preceding action or by the characters involved

Literature manipulation ironyPlot manipulation

Usually have only one or two predominant traits

character

Basic characterFlat character

Are complex and many sided

Cool charactersComplicated characters

Round characters

Written by someone with serious artistic intentions who hopes to broaden, deepen, and sharpen the reader’s awareness of life.

fiction

Science fiction

Literary fiction

Stereotypical figures who have recurred so often in fiction that

we recognize them at once

Static character characterStock character

Remains essentially the same person from the beginning of the

story to the end.

Stock characterDeveloping character

Static character

Undergoes a distinct change of character, personality or outlook

charactertheme

Developing or dynamic character

Controlling idea or its central insight

Point of view

plot

theme

The story is told in the third person by a narrator whose

knowledge and prerogatives are unlimited

Point of view Dynamic characterOmniscient point of view

The story is told from the viewpoint of one character in the

story.

Point of view

Classic point of view Limited point of view

is a narrative mode that seeks to portray an individual's point of view by

giving the written equivalent of the character's thought processes, either in

a loose interior monologue, or in connection to his or her actions.

monologue speechStream of consciousness

The author disappears into one of the characters

Point of view 2nd person point of view

First person point of view

Something that means more than what it suggests on the

surface

plot referencesymbol

The sequence of incidents or events through which an author

constructs a story

theme

Main idea plot

is a figurative mode of representation conveying

meaning other than the verbal

plot fiction

allegory

Nonrealistic story

Sci-fi autobiographyfantasy

Any force in a story of a play that is in the conflict with the

protagonist

protagonist

Central theme antagonist

The sequential arrangement of plot elements in fiction or drama

build fantasystructure

A clash of actions, ideals, or goals in the plot of a story or

drama

plot

structure

conflict

The central character in a story or play

antagonist

flotagonist

protagonist

The quality in a story or play that makes the reader eager to

discover what happens next and how it will end

mystery Sci-fisuspense

An unusual set of circumstances for which the reader craves an

explanation; used to create suspense

suspenseconflict

mystery

The exact, dictionary meaning of a word

connotation

definitiondenotation

Emotional word associations usually based on experience

denotation

imagery connotation

Words that arouse the five senses

simile connotationimagery

Introduces like or as

metaphor

textsimile

Comparison of two dissimilar objects

simile

personification

metaphor

Repetitive pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables

rhymealliteration

Rhythm/meter

The repetition of all sounds, beginning with the accented vowel, in two or more words

meter

alliteration

rhyme

The repetition of vowel sounds within a line of poetry

consonance

alliteration assonance

The repetition of consonant sounds within a line of poetry

allusion

assonance

consonance

Reference to a well known historical or literary figure or

event

assonance paradoxallusion

An apparent contradiction that actually may contain a universal

truth

allusion

form

paradox

 can be understood as the physical structure of the poem

layout structure

form

The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of

its literal meaning

Verbal irony Situational ironyirony

A person writes one thing but means another

irony Situational ironyVerbal irony

What happens is not what is expected

situation ironySituational irony

The writer’s attitude towards the subject or audience

irony journaltone

A daily record, usually private, written down…

journal dictiondiary

A daily record or observations, occurrences

diary bookjournal

Style of speaking or writing, dependant on words

speaking ironydiction

Rules of sentences

structure dictionsyntax

Of the nature of or involving a figure of speech, especially a

metaphor; metaphorical and not literal

figuration

syntax

Figurative language

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