Min-Lesson: Literary Terms to Know

Mini-Lesson 2
Terms of Literature

In order to have intelligent conversations about literature and annotate accordingly, readers must have a basic understanding of the language of literature. Before you come to class, be sure you know these terms and can recognize examples of each of these terms, and tell the difference between closely related terms. We will be working with a few of these closely and more analytically throughout the year. Be prepared to do well on a test.


• prose
• fiction
• short story
• novel
• plot
• exposition, conflict, crisis/climax,
• resolution
• conflict
• protagonist
• antagonist
• foil
• internal/external
• person vs. person, nature, society,
• technology/machine, supernatural, self, etc.
• character
• static/developing (dynamic) character
• round/flat character
• direct presentation of character
• indirect presentation of character
character's words & thoughts
character's appearance
character's actions
view of other character(s)
• setting/atmosphere
• point of view
• first person
• second person (rarely used)
• third person limited
• third person omniscient
• objective point of view
• theme
• tone
• symbolism
• allegory
• metaphor/simile
• irony : verbal, dramatic, situational
• suspense
• foreshadowing
• flashback
• poetry
• narrative poetry
dramatic poetry
epic poetry
lyric poetry
sonnet
ballad
haiku
figurative language
foot
metaphor/simile
personification
onomatopoeia
hyperbole
alliteration
assonance
consonance
rhyme
approximate or slant rhyme
exact rhyme
rhythm/meter
iambic pentameter
blank verse
free verse
stanza
couplets
refrain
drama
stage directions
dialogue
monologue
soliloquy
aside
pun
prologue
epilogue
nonfiction
biography/autobiography
personal essay
journals/letters
essay (expository)
narrative, descriptive, persuasive, etc.
epic
epic hero
epic simile
myth/mythology
satire
idiom
fable
parable
jargon
denotation
connotation
subjectivity
objectivity