English literary terms

Allegory Story in which things, characters or actions represent or lead to a strong moral or lesson

Allusion Literary reference to a familiar thing

Analogy Comparison between two or more similar objects

Anecdote Short summary of a humorous event to make a point

Antagonist The character who is against the hero

Autobiography Authour writes about his or her own life

Biography Story of someone else's life

Conflict The problem of something

Dialogue A direct conversation between two characters

Epic A poem about the great deeds of a hero

Epiphany The moment of sudden understanding

Epitaph Short verse written in memory of someone

Exaggeration Stretching the truth

Fable Fictional story involving animals

Foreshadowing Giving hints or clues about what is about to come

Genre Category or type of literature

Gothic Characterized by supernatural events, castles mysteries etc.

Malapropism Play on words leading to two similar words being misused

Metaphor Figure of speech without using like and as

Mood the feeling of a story

Moral lesson of a story

Motif An often-repeated idea in a story

Narrator Person telling the story

Novel lengthy fictional story

Novella Story that is longer than a short story but shorter and less complex than a novel

Omniscient An allknowing point of view. Knowing everything about every character.

Oxymoron Combination of two contradictory things, i.e. giant shrimp

Paradox Statement that seems contrary to the truth but may be true

Parody Story that uses humorous excessive exaggeration to mock something

Personification Figure of speech which gives things human characteristics

Plot Sequence of events in a story

Protagonist Main character of the story

Quest Event in a story which is based on seeking something

Sarcasm Using false praise to mock someone or something

Satire Making fun of human weaknesses

Setting Where the action is taking place

Simile Figure of speach USING as and like to create a comparison

Symbol Person, place, or a thing that stands for somethign else

Theme main ideam the point

Tragedy Story in which the hero is destoryed

Foil a symbolic opposite to something else

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