Overview
This lecture introduces essential English 20-1 literary terms, providing concise definitions and examples for each concept relevant to literary analysis.
Core Literary Terms
- An allegory is a story representing a broader message about real-life issues, often spanning an entire work.
- Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words.
- Allusion is an indirect reference to another literary work, person, or event.
- Anachronism refers to something placed in the wrong time period.
- Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.
- Anthropomorphism gives human traits to nonhuman entities in a literal sense.
- Asyndeton omits conjunctions in a list or series for effect.
- Colloquialism is informal language not used in formal writing.
- Epigraph is a quotation at a work’s beginning suggesting its theme.
- Epistrophe is the repetition of a word or group of words at the end of successive clauses.
- Euphemism replaces a harsh or offensive term with a milder one.
- Flashback interrupts the narrative to show an event from the past.
- Foreshadowing hints at future events in the story.
- Hyperbole is deliberate and obvious exaggeration.
- Imagery uses descriptive language to create sensory experiences.
- Irony is when language means the opposite of what is said, often for humor or emphasis.
- Juxtaposition places two elements side by side to highlight contrast.
- Malapropism is the mistaken use of a word due to its similarity in sound to another.
- Metaphor compares two unrelated things without using "like" or "as".
- Simile compares two things using "like" or "as".
- Metonym uses a related term to stand in for an object or concept.
- Mood is the atmosphere or emotional feeling in a literary work.
- Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates a sound.
- Oxymoron combines contradictory terms in a brief phrase.
- Paradox is a statement that appears self-contradictory but reveals truth.
- Personification gives nonhuman things human qualities.
- Repetition is the repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for emphasis.
- Soliloquy is a lengthy speech by a character alone on stage expressing thoughts.
- Symbolism uses objects to represent larger ideas.
- Synecdoche uses a part to represent the whole, or vice versa.
- Tone is the writer’s attitude toward the subject or audience.
- Understatement presents something as less important than it is, often ironically.
Characters and Structure
- Protagonist is the main character.
- Antagonist is the character or force opposing the protagonist.
- Narration is writing that tells a story.
- Apostrophe directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or idea.
- Antithesis is a sharp contrast or direct opposite.
- Syntax is the arrangement of words into sentences.
- Structure is the organizational method of a literary work.
- Diction is the author’s word choice.
- Shift indicates a change in position, perspective, or mood.
- Style is the distinct way an author uses language.
- Theme is the central message or underlying idea in a text.
Sound Devices
- Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within words.
- Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Allegory — A narrative with a second, symbolic meaning.
- Alliteration — Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
- Allusion — Indirect reference to other works or events.
- Anachronism — Something out of its time period.
- Anaphora — Repetition at the start of clauses.
- Anthropomorphism — Giving human characteristics to nonhumans.
- Asyndeton — Omission of conjunctions in a series.
- Colloquialism — Informal language.
- Epigraph — Introductory quotation.
- Epistrophe — Repetition at ends of clauses.
- Euphemism — Mild term replacing a harsher one.
- Flashback — Scene set in an earlier time.
- Foreshadowing — Hinting at future events.
- Hyperbole — Exaggeration for effect.
- Imagery — Descriptive language for sensory effect.
- Irony — Saying the opposite of what is meant.
- Juxtaposition — Placement for comparison or contrast.
- Malapropism — Mistaken use of a word.
- Metaphor/Simile — Comparisons between different things.
- Metonym/Synecdoche — Substitution in naming.
- Mood/Tone — Feeling or attitude.
- Onomatopoeia — Words imitating sounds.
- Oxymoron/Paradox — Contradictory terms or statements.
- Personification — Human qualities to nonhumans.
- Repetition — Repeated elements for emphasis.
- Soliloquy — Solo speech expressing thoughts.
- Symbolism — Use of symbols for deeper meaning.
- Protagonist/Antagonist — Main character and opposition.
- Narration/Structure/Style/Shift/Theme/Diction/Syntax — Elements defining how a story is told.
- Consonance/Assonance — Repetition of consonant or vowel sounds.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize each literary term and its definition.
- Find examples of each term in literature or class readings.
- Practice identifying these terms in assigned texts.