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Aesthetic: Pertaining to art and/or beauty.

Allegory: Simply put, an allegory is a narrative that has a symbolic meaning. That is, the whole story, its plot, characters and often setting, are all elements that signify a second correlated narrative.

Alliteration: The placement of same or similar sounds near each other to draw our attention, sometimes to the sound, sometimes to meanings of the words being linked to each other by the sounds, and sometimes both.

Allusion: A work’s reference, sometimes subtle, to another work in order to “plug into” the meaning the reader associates with the other work.

Ambiguity: It is a common literary technique in both poetry and prose to use words and expressions with multiple meanings.

Analysis: Breaking down a thing or idea to its smaller parts in order to better understand the whole.

Annotate: Adding explanation or comment; to annotate a work is to make notes on it for increased understanding; annotation can also refer to the summary of a source in an annotated bibliography.

Archetype: A character-figure that is seen often in stories (such as “the hero” or “the devil”); some attribute the archetype’s symbolic power to the idea that these patterns are etched in the human psyche.

Ballad: Associated with common songs and poetry; the ballad stanza is a quatrain (a four-line stanza), and the rhythm alternates iambic tetrameter lines (featuring four iambs) with iambic trimeter lines (containing three iambs each). While there may be no rhyme with line one or line three of the stanza, line two rhymes with line four, giving the poem a “singsong” quality. A ballad is a song/story that uses this form.

Blank Verse: An iambic pentameter line (five two-foot syllables with the stress on each second syllable) but without rhyme.

Catalog: A list; often used by writers for poetic effect to produce a “panoramic view” of a scene or experience.

Central Argument: See thesis Cite: To mention or refer to a source.

Character: Character refers to the person(s) in a narrative or a play.

• A Flat character is given few traits and those traits are not well-developed. They can have interesting and unique back stories, but we will not come to know them through the story.
• A Round character is shown to be complex and traits are well developed. They can be dynamic where she/he undergoes change in traits or outlook during the course of the story. They can also be static, where she/he undergoes little or no change during the course of the story, though the character can still be complex and interesting.
• Major/Minor: most major characters in stories are round, while minor tent to be flat. Ever hear the phrase stock character? These usually come with sets of traits, like a computer geek, jock, gamer, etc.
• Protagonist: this is the central character or focus of interest (not really the hero…) or maybe even an anti-hero, an average person with good qualities. The story is about this person most of the time.
• Antagonist:  this is a character or force that works against the protagonist in some way. This opposition pushes the conflict in the story.

Characterization: Characters can be described directly (through the narrator) or indirectly (through the eyes of other characters). Authors do this in a variety of ways:

• Telling: The author tells states traits: she was bold; he was greedy; he was sly; she was kind.
• Showing: The author reveals traits through what the character says, what the character thinks (Interior Monologues), what the character does, and what other characters say. Sometimes this is incomplete and readers are left to figure things out because the showing is incomplete.
• Dialogue: This has to do with what a characters says, or what others say about her/him.
• Entering a Character’s Mind: this is usually done with a narrator who is omniscient. Think of anything you have ever read in a story where the sentence ends with “he thought…”.

Clichè: A verbal clichè is a fixed and often used expression. A structural clichè is a common and predictable element of a narrative. It can be either a character or a turn of the plot. In film and literature clichès are negative elements, since they indicate lack of creativity, both in terms of language and plot arrangements.

Climax of Plot: The point in the plot where the conflict is “brought to a head,” to its most intense moment.

Comedy: Associated with Greek drama, maintains a farcical tone and usually ends in marriage. A comedy is a play or a film that puts the audience in a good and safe mood. Certain techniques are used to create a good comedy, e.g. mistaken identity and misunderstandings. The audience will be amused and confident that things will turn out happily for the characters (at least the ones who deserve it).

Conflict: The struggle between two opposing forces/characters, with increasing intensity through the narrative. With conflict, there are a few kinds: physical, social, and internal, and usually pushes toward some sort “showdown.” This may also include a character struggling physically against another person or against nature. With social conflict, this is about the differences in how ideas/relationships/values are perceived between people and/or institutions. With internal conflict, a character is wrestling with some sort of difficult circumstance. Perhaps connected here are identity, belief, or value crises, and moment of death.

Connotation: Connotation is the same as denotation, and means that a word (mostly in poetry) has a different meaning than it has in everyday use. E.g. “cold” will in colloquial settings mean low temperature, but as a connotation it may also mean e.g. heartless or unfeeling.

Contrast: When certain opposites are juxtaposed, or put up against each other, e.g. two scenes in a film, this will highlight the contrast between them. The effect is that the two elements will mutually amplify each other.

Controlling or Extended Metaphor: A metaphor developed all the way through a work and which, through its structural role, conveys the poem’s meaning.

Conventions: Rules that govern genres, such as visual appearance, line length, subject, and plot patterns.

Couplet: Two rhyming lines of poetry in iambic pentameter.

Critical Perspective: An interpretation based on evidence gathered from a text combined with the values of the critic.

Deductive Reasoning: Conclusion based on logical equation; see syllogism and enthymeme.

Denouement: The resolution of a story where “loose ends are tied up” (in French, “the knot is untied”).

Description: Revelation of a thing’s or person’s state, usually through sensory detail or exposition.

Dialogue: Conversation related as if it were actually occurring.

Diction: Word choice.

Drama: A play in which characters “dramatize,” or act out the story.

Enjambment: Carries one poetic line into the following one, yielding two meanings—one generated by the first line alone, and the other produced by taking the finished phrase or clause as it is completed in the next line.

Enthymeme: A logical statement missing the major premise; for example, “Cynthia is mortal because she is a woman.” That she is a woman is the minor premise, and the conclusion is that she is mortal. What is missing is the major premise, that “All women are mortal.” See syllogism.

Epic: This is one of the main literary genes (epic, lyric, dramatic) and will denote a narrative which is told like a story or a plot. There are many sub-genres of epic literature.

Epigram: Originally this means some sort of inscription. It is a short, pointed poem that is often witty and well composed with a striking punch line.

Epiphany: Epiphany in Greek means “manifestation of God.” In literature it means a sudden and often spiritual awakening, like when a character suddenly sees with clarity the way out of a predicament or a dilemma.

Ethos: The appeal to ethics, or a reader’s trust in the author/speaker.

Exposition: Direct explanation rather than illumination by narrative or dialogue.

Fiction: This is a non-historical, creative story, which is invented, as opposed to a factual presentation of events that are historically true. Fiction can use historic events in the telling.

Figurative Language: As opposed to literal language, suggests meaning beyond a word’s denotation.

Foreshadow: To foreshadow is to place hints or bits of information that will lead the reader to an anticipation of the outcome of the narrative. The opening parts of a novel or a short-story will often hold elements of foreshadowing.

Form: Refers to the category and/or conventions of a work; for example, detective fiction or sonnet.

Formalism: An approach to literary criticism that came about in the 1920s and remains well-regarded by many today; holds that the art work (including literature) should be considered as an object separate from the author. Formalists feel that a text means on its own and that its meaning can be derived by analyzing its elements and their function.

Free Verse: Poetry not governed by common rules.

Genre: Refers to types or categories of literature grouped according to certain criteria.

Gothic: In architecture, Gothic means the pointed style that broke with the traditional Roman rounded form of arches and ceilings in cathedrals. In literature the word is used about the type of novels of the late 18th century, containing eerie ingredients like ghosts in derelict castles with dark hallways and hidden doors. Other elements would include violent action, occultism and sorcery.

Humanism: This is an alternative denotation of the Renaissance (1550-1650), and it signifies the human as a master of his universe; man is able to seek within himself for answers, but must also appreciate his own shortcomings and inner contradictions.

Hyperbole and understatement: Hyperbole comes from Greek and means to exaggerate, as opposed to an understatement, which is a blunt way of making a statement by giving it less significance than it really has; e.g to say “bad luck” when a disaster has struck.

Imagery: Imagery is a common term in modern literary theory; it describes poetry that is rich with suggestive images and associations.

Inductive Reasoning: Forming conclusions based on samples.

Irony: An idea turned back upon itself; in an ironic passage, the words mean something different than the literal meanings would suggest. For instance, a writer can give her/his plot a turn that can be read with a double meaning. In a short-story there may be an ironic twist at the ending to sum up the theme.

Logos: The appeal to intellect or logic.

Lyric Poem: Originated in classical poetry, following specific rhythms and rhyme schemes; these poems were often accompanied by music.

Melodrama: Originally a melodrama was a drama with song. In literature the term will denote a plot which is a bit over the top when it comes to effects. The plot will often be sentimental and not strictly credible, and the characters are more exaggerated “types” than believable persons.

Metaphor: A metaphor is a figure of speech where two or more elements of a different nature are compared with each other, but without “like” or “as”. If the comparison includes “like” or “as” it is called a simile.

Meter: Meter is a collective term for the rhythmic pattern of a poem. There are a number of metric systems. A text written in meter is called a verse.

Motif: Note the spelling. A motif is a recurring element in a literary text. It may be an incident or a phrase that occurs in different situations and settings through the text.

Myth and legend: Originally a myth is a story derived from mythology, e.g. the ancient religions of Greece and Rome, or Norse mythology. At the time the myth was believed to be true. The story of gods and supernatural beings is a myth, but if the protagonist is a man it is called a legend. Today a myth will usually mean something which is a popular claim, but it is not true.

Narrative: A story, composed of a sequence of events, often associated in a cause-effect relationship.

Narrator: The narrator is the one that relates the story, and whose information unfolds the plot. There are a variety of points of view related to this: first person and 3rd person omniscient (a non-participant with varying levels of understanding). A breakdown follows:

• First person: don’t confuse with the author, and “I” is a thing, as is “we” very often. This allows for a story to have real zoom in potential like a lens on a camera, since it’s coming from that the actual narrator of the story.
  
• Naive Narrator: “too young,” “too inexperienced” are key phrases here. That means that the narrator might not have a full knowledge of a circumstance or does not fully understand various circumstances in a story.
  
• Unreliable Narrator: These types of characters really keep you guessing. They may not be trustworthy nor should readers just accept what a narrator says unquestioningly.
• Reliable Narrator: These narrators give us “no reason to doubt or question” the details of their story. However, they also might not know the bigger picture of a story.
• Third Person Omniscient:  this narrator type has unlimited knowledge in a way that sees all, reports all, and knows all the inner workings of the characters. 
• Third Person Objective:  The narrator reports only actions and speeches, and does not have an opinion, and it’s up to the reader to draw conclusions.
• Third Person Limited Omniscient: this narrator sees, reports, but knows the inner workings of only one major character.

Novel: A novel can be defined as a substantial narrative with many characters and a plot that stretches over a long time span (not always) and may have many settings. There are many sub-categories.

One-Act Play: A drama that can usually be performed in an hour or less and in which the entire story is performed in one act as opposed to several.

Paradox: A paradox is a phrase or statement which seems self-contradictory, but turns out to have a valid meaning after all. “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Shakespeare, Macbeth) is an example of a literary paradox.

Paraphrase: Restatement of a passage in one’s own words; the retelling is roughly the same length as the original.

Pathos: The appeal to a reader’s emotions. Pathos is Greek and means deep feeling or passion. Today we associate pathos with a slightly overexposed sentimentality designed to evoke pity or compassion of the reader or a theatre audience.

Peer-Reviewed Source: A researched article or book that has been reviewed and evaluated by experts in the same field before being approved for publication.

Persona: Term for the main “character” in a poem, spoken of in third person, “he” or “she”.

Plot: The sequence of events that develops the conflict and shapes a story. Several other literary terms are connected to plot, including suspense, foreshadowing, repetition, climax, epiphany, and the ending of a story (often called the denouement).

Poetry: Literary genre by which the author expresses a story and/or ideas in verse, employing rhythm and other aesthetic qualities of language to achieve the desired effect.

Point of View: Perspective on the events or ideas of a work; common points of view are first person limited (an “I” in the story or poem who only knows what he or she thinks, experiences and observes), third person limited omniscient (speaks in third person about the characters, using “he” and “she,” but only knows the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist), and third person omniscient (is not a character in the story, thus speaks of all characters using “he” and “she”; knows what all characters think and feel as well as information the characters don’t know sometimes).

Popular Source: An article, book, newspaper, blog, website, or other source written for and marketed to the common reader, rather than to experts on the subject.

Primary Source or Primary Evidence: The thing being studied; for example, a lab report recording direct observations of an experience or a poem.

Prose: Non-poetic writing; that is, writing not broken up into distinct lines.

Protagonist: The main character of a work, generally expected to learn and mature.

Rhetoric: The art of persuasion.

Rhyme: The effect that occurs when two words ending in the same vowel sound are juxtaposed with one another.

Rhythm: Sound created by patterns of language; often based on numbers of syllables in the words of a line; sometimes based on number of stressed sounds (beats) in a line.

Satire: A satire is a narrative which will expose a questionable practice or element in a subtle and “concealed” way. A satire can be funny, but has a serious intent.

Scholarly Source: See peer reviewed source.

Script: The written version of a play, including dialogue designated for each character.

Secondary Source: A source analyzing and interpreting a primary source like a story, poem, or play.

Sensory Detail: Detail that can be observed by the senses: taste, smell, hearing, touch, sight.

Set: The backdrop and props in a play that recreate the setting for an audience.

Setting: The place that provides the context for a story, poem, or play. The setting will define where and when the plot takes place. The setting will always be strongly related to the plot, and will include description of weather and light / dark.

Short Story: A short story is exactly that – a short story. It has a condensed plot that evolves over a short time span, and has few characters.

Simile: A comparison—using “like” or “as”—of two generally unlike things in order to emphasize a particular quality that they do share.

Slant Rhyme: An “almost rhyme” with words that look like they should rhyme but don’t (like “be” and “fly”) or with words that sound alike but not exactly the same (like “room” and “storm”).

Soliloquy: This term is used in dramatic literature and means that the actor is speaking to himself, or “aside” as it also is called. It is widely used in many of Shakespeare’s plays.

Sonnet: A fourteen line poem usually following recognized rules for rhythm, line-length, and rhyme scheme. In the fourteen-line Shakespearean sonnet, each line is written in iambic pentameter, and the rhyme scheme of the poem follows this pattern: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Concluding with a couplet, the Shakespearean sonnet resolves the conflict or problem in the final two lines, and the GG rhyme enhances this feeling of completion.

Speaker: A consciousness (or person) constructed by the author to provide point of view for the work.

Stage Direction: Directions in a play’s script regarding where and how actors should stand and move, instructions regarding props, and sometimes recommendations regarding tone and speech delivery.

Stanza: Unit of text in a poem (paralleled by the paragraph in prose); many poetic forms dictate a certain number of lines in each stanza.

Stream of consciousness: Stream of consciousness means that the narrative is based on what goes on in the mind of a protagonist. It is also called interior monologue.

Style: The style is the way the writer arranges his narrative and his choice of words. The style will be closely connected to the mood and atmosphere.

Summary: A condensed reiteration in one’s own words of a passage from another source.

Syllogism: A three part logical statement including

• A general statement, or major premise: All women are mortal.
• A minor premise: Cynthia is a woman.
• And a conclusion: Cynthia is a mortal.

Symbol: A symbol is an object, expression or event that represents an idea beyond itself. The weather and light/darkness will often have a symbolic meaning. For example, for many people, an American flag symbolizes freedom and a red rose symbolizes love.

Tag words and phrases: Words and phrases attributing credit to an author for an idea or original wording (“according to,” “claims,” “asserts,” “argues,” etc.).

Tension: Intensity generated by two conflicting forces.

Textual evidence: Examples from a text (conveyed through direct quote, paraphrase, or summary) that can be used to interpret the work as a whole.

Theme: The theme of a narrative, poem, or play is the general idea or underlying message that the writer wants to expose. For example, fear of death or the dangers of pride.

Thesis: The central argument of a text which controls the text as a whole.

Tone: The feeling, atmosphere, or mood of a work.

Tragedy: In a tragedy an innocent protagonist will be involved in escalating circumstances with a fatal result. The tragic development is either caused by a flaw in the character’s personality or by events that evolve beyond her/his control.

Working thesis: A tentative thesis for use while composing an essay; refined and crafted over time into its final form.

Villanelle: Poetic form requiring nineteen lines, distributed into five tercets and a quatrain, and also requiring that the first and third line of the first stanza be repeated alternately in the last lines of the stanzas that follow it. In the final quatrain, the two repeated lines conclude the poem.

LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTIONS
CC LICENSED CONTENT, ORIGINAL and REMIXED

• Glossary from Writing and Literature: Composition as Inquiry, Learning, Thinking, and Communication (2018)  by Tanya Long Bennett at https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/english-textbooks/15  License: CC BY: Attribution
• Literary Terms by Jan-Louis Nagel. at: http://ndla.no/en/node/91060?fag=71085. License: CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Narration, Point of View, and Character by Bryan Hiatt at unlinked ENGL102 Blackboard course. License: CC BY: Attribution
• Composition and Literature (2021)-License: CC BY: Attribution