Glossary of Literary Vocabulary
Welcome to the official literary term guide from Magic in the Library. This free resource puts common language arts terms and phrases into everyday language to better help students and teachers alike in school! If you quote this guide in any kind of academic paper or school report, please make sure that your bibliography (works cited) references this web page!
A
accent
In poetry, an "accent" is an emphasized syllable in a word which creates a rhythmic pattern that repeats itself in future lines giving an almost musical beat quality to the passage. Imagine the beat or drumline of a song when reading accented poetry aloud:
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"Da-da de-de-de, da-da de-de-de;
"Da-da de-de-de, da-da de-de-de;
For example: in the following poem there is an "accent" (or an almost musical rhythm) in each of three lines. See if you can hear the beat in your head as you read.
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My dog in the field she runs and she skips
With the grasshoppers she jumps and she trips
All the morning long flies my big pup, Pip!
At eve over fence does she aim and zip!
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Helpful hint: there are various patterns for creating accents. See "iambic pentameter."
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adjective
a word that describes details to give the reader further insight into a situation.
For example: "Tanya sampled the cold, fruity ice cream." In this example "cold" and "fruity" are both adjectives to describe the ice cream.
However, the same passage could have been modified with different adjectives to give a very different spin on the same passage: "Tanya sampled the creamy, chocolate ice cream." In this situation the words "creamy" and "chocolate" describe the ice cream completely differently, giving us a different mental picture as to the flavor and color of the ice cream.
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adverb
a word that adds emphasis to another word.
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For example: "The magician reluctantly pulled a rabbit from out of the hat." In this example, the word "reluctantly" gives further detail to the situation. If you remove the word "reluctantly" from the sentence, then you end up with a much less descriptive phrase: "the magician pulled a rabbit from out of the hat."
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Helpful hint: It's easy to confuse adverbs with adjectives because both words add additional detail to the words or phrases already on the page. Very often though, an adverb ends in "ly," but this isn't always the case though.
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For example: The magician walked onto the brightly lit stage" In this example the word "brightly" is the adverb.
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Helpful hint: Unlike adjectives, adverbs cannot be used on their own. "The magician walked onto the brightly." This sentence doesn't make sense because the adverb can only accent the words or phrase that are already there.
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For example: In the previous sentence we read "The magician walked onto the brightly lit stage" and the word "brightly" describes the "lit stage."
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alliteration
When a writer repeats the sound of a certain word elsewhere in a sentence or passage, usually for poetic effect.
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For example: "Jack jingles the janky keys, justifying his job on stage."
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In this example the alliteration is with the letter "J" and the sound "juh" at the beginning of several words.
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For example: She swiftly switched one card for another, Sarah swapped them without notice.
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In this example the alliteration is with the letters "sw"and create the repeated sound "swuh" sound.
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Helpful hint: In the above example the words "she" and "Sarah" do not apply to the alliteration of the words "swiftly," "switched," and "swapped" because the words "she" and "Sarah" sound completely different.
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allusion
When a writer makes a reference or hint to something else, they are alluding.
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For example: "The old wizard aggressively extinguished the fire from his robes. It had been many years since a similar embarrassing situation took place in magic school in his youth!"
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In the example above, we read about a wizard who has had an accident with fire before. The author is alluding to an event that happened in the past without going into great detail.
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For example: "The sat down in her seat in the theater. Though she had never been to the theater before, echoes of plays and musicals from decades past tumbled across her imagination."
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In the example above, the allusion is to things that have happened in the past in the theater where the girl now sat.
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ambiguity
When a writer does not leave enough information for the reader to have a clear picture of what's happening in the passage. A passage that is too generic or vague is one implementing ambiguity.
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For example: "The man stood up amidst the crowd of people."
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In this example we don't have enough information to know whether or not the crowd of people noticed the man standing or as to the reason the man stood up.
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Helpful hint: Sometimes writers will intentionally be vague or generic in an effort to use ambiguity to their advantage for dramatic effect later on in the story. This writing technique is common mystery novels where the reader does not know the exact situation surrounding the characters and must draw conclusions until the writer makes the details clear later on in the story.
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analogy
to equate one thing to another or to compare two things.
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For example: "The man was as strong as an ox!"
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Helpful hint: It's easy to confuse analogies with metaphors or similes. Be sure to look up the definitions for those words as well!
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anecdote
a story based on real-life events (nonfiction) in which the writer or storyteller uses to share wisdom or a lesson learned.
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For example: "After I got my report card that day, I knew from there on out I never wanted to see a bad grade again on any of my report cards for the rest of my life!"
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antagonist
the bad guy! An antagonist is someone who "stirs the pot"and gives purpose to the story so that the protagonist has someone to defeat or survive.
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anthropomorphism
when a writer gives literal human-like characteristics to a non-human character (such as an animal) or an object.
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For example: "The teapot looked up at me with a reassuring smile, humming a song, as it filled my cup."
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Helpful hint: It's easy to confuse anthropomorphism with personification. Just remember that anthropomorphism is literal while personification is figurative. See personification.
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anticlimax
a false pinnacle in a story. When the writer makes it look as though the pinnacle of a story has arrived only to make the story continue to the actual pinnacle.
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Helpful hint: An anticlimax is commonly confused with a false ending. The different in an anticlimax and a false ending is that while a climax is is the "top of the mountain" moment in a story when all the events come together they don't necessarily make up the end of the story. After a climax, a story goes on to the "resolution" portion of the story that make up the actual ending. Therefore, an anticlimax is the false pinnacle while a climax is the actual pinnacle. Likewise, a "false ending" of a story is when the writer makes it seem that the end of the story has arrived (after the climax) but the actual ending is made clear later.
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antithesis
a literary gimmick to describe when a writer uses extreme opposites.
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For example: It was the brightest day; and it was the darkest night.
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antonym
a word that means the opposite of another word.
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For example: "Heavy" is an antonym for "lightweight" or "pretty" is an antonym for "ugly."
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archaism
when a writer deliberately uses vintage vocabulary or vintage writing style to help set the mood and take the reader back in time.
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For example: instead of saying "the man opened the gate to release the dog" an archaic expression may say "the man opened the gate to release the hound." The word "hound" is an archaic word for "dog" but most readers would agree that the word "hound" has a more old-fashioned and potentially even frightening tone to it than the word "dog."
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archetype
a rather typical version of a character or object.
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For example: the character of Smaug (the dragon) in JRR Tolkien's is not the only dragon to appear in literature, but it's a prime example of how the character of a dragon would talk and act, making it the archetype for other dragon characters in the future. Smaug wasn't just "a dragon," he was "the dragon."
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article
a small work of writing intended to go into a larger work such as passage in a newspaper or magazine. Generally speaking, an article is usually a work of nonfiction.
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articulate
(1) As an adjective, someone who speaks or writes very clearly with no trouble communicating.
(2) As a verb, the action of communicating clearly with language.
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aside
A comment made from the author of a story to the audience to help clear up details of a story to help readers better understand the passage. A side remark.
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assonance
In poetry, when a writer repeats a sound in non-rhyming words.
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For example: "The cat cannot have candy." In this example the "ahh" sound of the letter "a" is repeated, leading to a pattern of assonance.
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author
the creator of a written work. An artist who uses language to create literature.
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autobiography
a nonfiction story of the account of one's own history and perspective.
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B
background
the situation surrounding an event or character.
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ballad
(1) A slow song, usually romantic in nature
(2) a long poem with short stanzas that tell a story. In history, many ballads are passed down orally without being written down lending them to a musical quality.
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Helpful hint: a good ballad is like a good song on the radio. The song is repeated on the radio and if you really like the song you have a tendency to what to repeat it by singing it! The song then catches the attention of someone else and they then may also repeat it. Unlike a good song on the radio, however, a ballad is usually passed down for so long that the original author of the ballad is unknown.
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beat
(1) in writing, a beat is a moment in which the story makes a major definition. Beats can be as obvious as a character dying, or as subtle as a knock at a door.
(2) in theatrical productions, especially in screenplays, a beat is a moment written in the script when the actor is supposed to pause to allow time for the audience to laugh, clap, or otherwise react to events on stage or on screen.
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beside
when a writer adds in a comment changing the meaning of a sentence or phrase.
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For example: The audience had never seen a more thrilling magic trick, except for the time they saw a show performed by The Great Zanzibar.
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In the above example, the "beside" comment is activated when we see the word "except." Other adverbs that indicated a "beside" could include "also," "as well as," "however," and other transitional words.
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bibliography
a document attached to the end of a written work that explains the sources for facts and quotes referenced in the
written work. A works cited.
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Helpful hint: When writing an essay or other academic paper, a bibliography is used to show where you learned the information necessary for creating your paper. A bibliography can reference any written work, video, lecture, or other source for information. It allows readers the option of referring to your sources if they wanted to learn more about your topic.
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biography
a nonfictional account written about a specific person.
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For example: The classic book Roots by Alex Haley is a biography about Kunta Kinte.
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brainstorm
the process of taking a topic and writing out all of one's thoughts on the topic without any formal writing pattern.
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Helpful hint: brainstorming is basically letting your mind vomit out thoughts onto paper! If I am brainstorming the phrase "boats in the ocean" I would take a piece of paper and quickly jot down every phrase, situation, or story I can think of without rhyme or reason. My brainstorm paper on this topic may have words or phrases like "ships in the sea," "fishing," "storm on the water," and virtually anything else that may come to mind.
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C
cadence
the rhythmic change in the pitch of the voice for an almost musical quality of reading.
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caesura
a brief pause in the middle of a line of text
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catalog
(n) a reference book of items listed out
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For example: a product catalog
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(v) to list items into a database or directory
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cause and effect
the reason for an event and the result for the event
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character
a person in a story
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characterization
to describe or attribute qualities to a person in a story
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cliché
a pattern found frequently across various stories in a way that is predictable or drab.
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For example: the detective put on his hat and lit his tobacco pipe and began questioning the family in the parlor.
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In this example, we see a classical style police detective in a setting that's been seen over and over again in a variety of different stories. While it's not wrong to use a cliche, such patterns should be avoided when writing for academic purposes.
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climax
the pinnacle result or "mountaintop moment" of a story that all the preceding events have been leading to during the story.
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colloquialism
a word or phrase that is used in casual conversation but not in formal writing.
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For example: "Hey, what's up, Mr. Smith? What do you want?" is a colloquialism because you wouldn't use that type of informal speech when addressing someone of authority such as school. Instead you would say, "Hello, Mr. Smith. How can I help you?"
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compare
To compare the details of two or more things and see how they are the alike.
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compose
to write something
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connotation
a feeling behind a word or phrase with a hidden tone behind it in addition to the original meaning.
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For example: "I'm going to send you to the office to see the principal."
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In this example, the connotation is negative since many students associate seeing the principal with being in trouble at school, when in reality the speaker never says that anyone is in trouble.
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consonance
similar to alliteration, consonance repeat the sound of consonants in the beginning OR the middle OR the end of a word.
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For example: "The mystical monster was thrashing through the forest thrilling everyone with mirth and panic."
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context
the details surrounding a situation or character.
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For example: "Sprinting about from one place to another, the man worked hard to complete all his tasks."
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In the above example, we have little context to know what's really going on. Below is the same example but with context added in:
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"The house was soon to be ablaze. Thankfully everyone had already been rescued, so the firefighter had only to extinguish a few flames here and there to keep the house from being completely destroyed. Sprinting about from one place to another, the man worked hard to complete all his tasks."
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Now we know that the man in the first story is a firefighter and that his tasks consist of putting out fires in a house.
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context clues
The process of using words around an unknown word or situation to help teh reader make an educated guess as to the meaning of the unknown word or situation.
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For example: "The witness took the stand and unwaveringly told the truth with great pride."
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In the example we may not know what the word "unwaveringly" means but we see that the character being described "told the truth" and did so with "great pride." We can therefore guess that the word "unwaveringly" means that the character didn't stall or hesitate to tell the truth.
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contrast
to identify the details of two or more things and see how they are different.
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couplet
in poetry, two things that rhyme to go together as a pair or set
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For example:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
The game is over
and we start anew.
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In the above example, the two red lines are considered to be a couplet since each line ends with a sound that rhymes.
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critical thinking
to concentrate hard on something and considering all the details from every possible point of view.
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crossover
a situation where characters or situations from one story join the characters or situations of another.
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Helpful hint: Crossover stories are common in superhero stories, comic books, and films. When the DC Comics character The Flash meets various versions of Batman, that story is a crossover. It's combining multiple stories and characters together to create something new.
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D
debate
a formal argument in which two sides are given equal opportunity to state an opinion on a given topic.
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denotation
the most basic definition or meaning of a word or phrase without any emotional context surrounding that word or phrase.
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denouement
the actions in a story after the climax and the falling action.
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deus ex machinae
literally meaning "saved by the machine," a deus ex machinae is when a hopeless situation takes place and a supernatural or other highly unexpected power comes to save the day.
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Dewey Decimal System
also known as the Dewey Decimal Classification, this is a system by which books are grouped together an organized in a library.
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Helpful hint: Not all libraries use the Dewey Decimal System. Some libraries now use other systems to organize books, including alphabetical, or by author's last name. Formal libraries on college campuses and major city libraries still use the Dewey Decimal System today and it's still widely considered the best way to organize a vast number of books by most librarians.
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dialect
a way that a character speaks in a story that represents a geographical location or a subculture for that character
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For example: "The old cowboy grimaced at the site of the dust storm. 'Marne!' He cried out. 'Buckle down dat der wagon! Storm's a brewin!'"
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In the example, the cowboy speaks in a way that gives more context to the the character of the cowboy by his use of improper grammer and slang words.
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dialog
the speech between two or more characters in a story
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diction
the level of clarity by which a person communicates.
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Helpful hint: When a person has good diction, they are speaking or writing in a way that is clear and concise.
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dictionary
a reference book designed to give the definition of virtually every word in a specified language.
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dirge
a song intended to be used at a funeral to allow people to better mourn. Dirges are less common in American culture than in other countries.
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drama
a serious story with little to know comical moments.
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dramatic irony
when the reader knows something that the characters of the story do not know.
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dynamic character
a person in a story that learns a life lesson or otherwise has a change of heart.
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Helpful hint: When a "bad guy" type of character who has served as the villain in a book becomes a "good guy" or hero in the end of the story, this person is a dynamic character.
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dystopian story
a surreal work of fiction in which the writer portrays the world as it should be but chooses to change some details in order to recreate the literary environment in portray a "fallen world." Examples include 1984 by George Orwell, The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick, or The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.
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E
edit
to change something or improve upon something.
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educated guess
when a person doesn't have all the facts surrounding different options but has to choose an option anyway, that person will make the best decision possible with what they do know. This is a called an "educated guess."
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elegy
a poem or song of deep consideration and pondering. Elegies are often written surrounding themes of death.
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Elizabethan literature
written works from the time of Queen Elizabeth I, written between 1558 - 1603.
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encyclopedia
a reference book, usually split across multiple volumes, that explores a wide range of introductions to virtually every major topic known to man.
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epic
a long poem that tells a story. Most epics are passed down orally rather than in print.
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epic hero
a respectable hero in a story that accomplishes amazing feats far beyond average average ability
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For example: Consider Hercules in Greek myth
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epilogue
an additional chapter of a book after the final chapter that gives further details to a story
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epiphany
a sudden idea
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epitome
the greatest example of a topic
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For example: "The great wizard Merlin was the epitome of all magic enthusiasts in the village of Camelot."
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essay
a document written for nonfictional purposes to educate the audience, usually on a single topic
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etymology
the origin of a word
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euphemism
a substitution word that is used when the actual, more direct word, is too abrupt, harsh, or impolite.
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For example: "Bob is a rather disorganized person." is a more polite way (euphemism) of saying "Bob is a very sloppy guy."
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euphony
a combination of words pleasing to the ear or easy on the mind. Words that paint a "pretty picture" in the mind.
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expletive
a word that is considered impolite or foul language.
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exposition
a detailed description of a character or situation to help provide greater context for the reader.
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extended metaphor
on ongoing figure of speech developed throughout a story where the author develops symbolism to deliver a message to the audience. Similar to allegory.
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external conflict
a struggle a character has with an outside force, thus creating or deepening the plot.
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F
fable
a story that teaches a message of morality.
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Helpful hint: Most fables showcase animals as characters. Fables are often geared towards children as audiences.
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fact
a statement that is grounded in reality and backed by empirical evidence.
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fairy tale
a work of fantasy fiction where the main character is surrounded by situations themed around magic or the supernatural.
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Helpful hint: Fairy tales are always considered to be works of fantasy fiction, but not all works of fantasy fiction are considered fairy tales. Loosely speaking, fairy tales are those stories passed down over many decades or even centuries. If a work of fantasy fiction has survived this test of time, most people will consider the story to be a fairy tale.
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falling action
the events in a story immediately following the climax.
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fantasy fiction
a written work of imagination centered around themes of magic, or the supernatural
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fiction
a type of story written based on situations or events that are imagined
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figurative language
symbolic or non-literal words or phrases used by an author.
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Helpful hint: metaphors, similes, puns, idioms, oxymorons, etc. are all examples of figurative (non-literal) language.
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first person
a point of view in writing from the eyes of the main character.
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flashback
when the author briefly pauses the story to take the audience back in time in order to provide background and details surrounding characters or situations
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flashforward
when the author briefly pauses the story to take the audience to a scene in the future to show the audience how certain events play out.
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folktale
a story spread by word of mouth within a single culture.
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For example: The story of Johnny Appleseed is an American folktale; a story based on a literal historical figure by the same name.
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Helpful hint: Generally, folktales are started rooted in actual facts. Once a local story grows to a certain point it becomes more entertaining the more frequently it is repeated. Folktales are often difficult to tie back to the actual facts behind a story the more time passes by. If the facts behind the story are forgotten entirely then the folktale could potentially turn into legend or myth. Common examples of folktales include American stories such as Johnny Appleseed. Similar to urban legends.
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foreshadowing
when the author of a story offers hints of things to come.
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foreword
a passage written by a third party and placed at the start of a book to introduce readers to what they will be reading and to introduce the author.
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frame story
two stories nestled together, one inside another.
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Helpful hint: the work that is most frequently referenced as the best example of a frame story in literature is Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. When reading a frame story, you'll likely read the first half of a story, a main story, and then the second half of the first story. At some point the two stories will show something in common with each other to justify their being paired together.
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free verse
a type of poetry in whcih the author is not limited to specific rhyming schemes or patterns
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G
genre
a topical category of literature.
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Helpful hint: The four major genres are fiction, nonfiction, plays, and poetry. Within those four categories, countless other genres (sub-genres) exist such as "fantasy fiction" or "young romance." Oftentimes genres merge to create new sub-genres. For example, if the "horror" and "romance" sub-genres of fiction were to merge, you would have a work of "horror romance."
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Globe Theater, The
a world-famous theater that once stood in England that helped make modern theater a validated performance art form. Home of the production of plays by William Shakespeare.
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glossary
a miniature-dictionary typically located in the margins or appendix of a book with the definitions of relevant words to help the reader understand the text better.
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gothic literature
written works that portray "dark," or potentially spooky themes.
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Helpful hint: Gothic literature can contain supernatural or magical themes, but this isn't always the case.
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H
historical fiction
a literary sub-genre to categorize an imaginative piece based on the characters or situations from factual events in history.
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horror
a literary sub-genre to categorize an imaginative piece themed around scary, thrilling, or nightmarish qualities.
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humor
writing of a comical nature with the intent on making someone laugh
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hymn
a type of song used in worship.
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Helpful hint: in the Christian church, the word "hymn" usually refers to an older style of faith-based song. Therefore, not all Christian songs are considered to be hymns, but all Christian hymns are considered to be Christian music. Contemporary Christian songs by artists such as Toby Mac or Newsboys are not considered hymns, but traditional worship songs from a much older time period such as "How Great Thou Art" is considered a hymn.
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hyperbole
an exaggerated expression not mean to be taken literally.
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For example: "That kid is stronger than an ox!" In this example it's safe to say that the child in question isn't actually stronger than an ox, but it carries the point across that the child is considered to be physically strong.
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hypothesis
an opinion expressing one's working theory as to something not yet proven or tested.
I
iambic pentameter
a type of poetic rhythmic pattern that uses stressed and unstressed syllables in patterns of five.
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Helpful hint: accent patterns like iambic pentameter are fairly uncommon and may be difficult to understand at first. Consider The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer as a prime example of this accent. One way to understand iambic pentameter is to imagine a horse trotting to give the rhythmic pattern necessary to understand the rhythm of iambic pentameter. It is then that you can imagine a "da-de-da-de-da-de-da" effect.
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idiom
a type of figurative language where words or phrases are used in ways other than their literal meaning to communicate an idea.
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For example: "He's not the brightest crayon in the box." In this (somewhat insulting) example, we se know the writer isn't actually talking about crayons or a box, but rather a person who is demonstrating either poor intellect or the lack of wisdom.
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imagery
a type of writing that lends itself to strong graphic pictures in the mind when read by the audience.
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For example: "The crimson red sky glowed above murky waters while the silhouettes of trees and clouds stood still amidst the background."
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implied metaphor
a type of figurative language tool in which the author compares to unlike things, but doesn't identify one of the things
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For example: "Sam's teacup brimmed over with bubbling lava." Clearly, the author did not mean that Sam's teacup was literally filled with lava, but instead with very hot tea. This creates a much stronger mental image than if the author wrote "Sam's teacup was filled with very hot tea."
inductive reasoning
using patterns from very general information to conclude a reasonable specific expectation
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For example: "Every year it snows all throughout February, therefore we will probably see snow next Valentine's Day." In this example we go from general information (snow during the month of February) to a conclusion about something more specific, even if it's not proven information (while it's not guaranteed, it's likely to snow during Valentine's Day, which is on February 14).
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internal conflict
a struggle between a character and things happening within the character's own mind. This is the "man vs. himself" plot format.
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internal rhyme
a type of rhythmic pattern where the middle of a line rhymes with the middle or end of another line.
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For example:
Jill paddled across the lake fervently without hesitation.
Each stroke of the ore with triumph she did take.
irony
when the author of a passage leads the audience to believe one thing is said or happening but the opposite is true.
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Helpful hint: There are three major types of irony in literature, and each one is vastly different. This includes verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony. Think of irony as a riddle where what the author says may not necessarily be all of what the author means, in fact the opposite may be true.
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For example: "There's nothing quite so freeing as being stuck in a jail cell" At first you may think that the author is talking about being actually free, but then you see the truth of the statement in that the author is talking about the lack of freedom.
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For example: "'Don't run out in traffic like that!' said the man in the busy street as car horns blared wildly." In this example we have a man who seemingly would be a very safe person in light of the fact that he's offering safety advice, but then the irony of the situation comes to light when we realize that he, himself is standing in the middle of a busy street with cars driving by and honking.
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For example: "I'm proud to say that I'm the most humble person in the room." In this humorous example we see that the character speaking is indeed proud and not at all humble, considering that in order to be humble, one cannot also be proud.
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J
Jacobean literature
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Works of English literature that were written during the reign English king James I between the years of 1603 - 1625. The Jacobean literature movement followed that of the Elizabethan movement. It consisted of some works of William Shakespeare, Francis Bacon, and John Webster. Furthermore, during this time the King James version of the Bible was produced in 1611.
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jargon
technical words pertaining to a specialized topic or field of which the average reader has little knowledge.
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Helpful hint: Sometimes science fiction writers used technological jargon to help communicate an idea of sophistication.
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journal
(1) a personal record of events, thoughts, and feelings. A diary.
(2) a regular publication of articles on a particular subject or field of study. Journals are typically peer-reviewed, meaning that articles are submitted to experts in the field for review and approval before being published. Sometimes journals are referred to as "the trades" (slang) in some business fields.
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juxtaposition
literary device that places contrasting or opposing ideas, images, or elements close together in order to highlight their differences or similarities.
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K
L
language arts
a broad term that encompasses the study and development of language skills, including reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and visual representation.
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legend
a traditional story or group of stories told about a particular person or place. Legends are typically based on historical events or figures, but they are often embellished with fictional elements. They are often passed down orally from generation to generation, and they can vary greatly from one telling to the next.
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letter
a written or printed message that is typically sent from one person or entity to another. It can be used for a variety of purposes, such as communicating with friends and family, conducting business, or expressing personal thoughts and feelings.
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library
a variety of written works gathered together in one location for the purpose of ready access to information and ideas. A library need not necessarily be a building full of books. For example, an individual may have a private library at home that may consist of only a handful of books or other written works.
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limerick
a humorous five-line poem with a rhyme scheme of AABBA. The first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with each other, and the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other. The meter of a limerick is typically anapestic, meaning that each line has three metrical feet, which are groups of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable.
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litotes
a figure of speech that uses understatement to emphasize a point. It is often used to create a humorous or ironic effect. For example, saying "I'm not dead" is a litote that means "I'm alive."
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loaded language
also known as emotive language, loaded language is a type of language that uses words and phrases with strong emotional connotations in order to influence an audience. This type of language is often used in advertising, political rhetoric, and propaganda.
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lore
a body of knowledge or tradition that is passed down among members of a culture, usually orally. It can be about anything from history and mythology to everyday customs and beliefs. Lore is often passed down through stories, songs, and poems, and it can be a powerful tool for preserving cultural identity. Lore is in the same family of works of folklore, legend, or myth.
M
man vs himself
a type of plot when a character struggles with their own self. One of the three basic type of conflict in literature.
man vs man
a type of plot when one character confronts another. One of the three basic type of conflict in literature.
man vs nature
a type of plot when a character confronts the forces of nature. One of the three basic type of conflict in literature.
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manual
a comprehensive guide or instructional booklet that provides detailed information on how to operate, use, or maintain a particular product, device, or system.
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medium
a format of written work. Mediums can include books, brochures, magazines, newspapers, other periodicals, letters, and a wide number of other things that are designed to be read. Mediums can also be of a digital format such as email or web articles.
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metaphor
a figure of speech that compares two things that are not alike in order to highlight their similarities. A metaphor is similar to a simile but not necessarily the same thing.
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meter
Not to be confused with accent, meter refers to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of verse. It provides a rhythmic structure to poetry, creating a sense of musicality and flow. Meter is often described using metrical feet, which are groups of syllables with a consistent pattern of stressed and unstressed beats.
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metonymy
a figure of speech that uses a word or phrase associated with something to refer to that thing itself. It is a common tool used in language to create a more vivid and concrete image in the reader's or listener's mind.
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for example: "let's toss the pigskin" is a slang expression for saying "let's play football"
mode
encompasses both broad approaches or methods used to convey meaning and evoke emotions, as well as specific genres or categories of literature with distinct styles and forms. Basically, "mode" is similar to "tone" and indicates the specific audience to whom the author is writing and part of the identity of the author.
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for example: "You, my dear child, need to learn to stand up straight." In this example we see an "authoritative mode" that indicates the relationship between a parent and a child.
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monologue
words spoken aloud or "thought aloud" by a character.
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mood
the emotional quality of a written work to indicate the feelings of the author or characters. Writers can use various techniques to explain how the reader should feel even if the subject matter is the same.
For example: "It was a stormy and drab evening in New York with cars fighting for space in the cold and misty streets below." This example describes a somewhat sad perspective on stormy weather in crowded New York City. Alternatively, the writer could have changed the mood and perspective while still providing the same factual information in order to communicate a different and more positive feeling: "Drops of rain applauded in the streets of New York. Traffic signals and car headlights danced in the mist of the hustle and bustle of the city.
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motif
a recurring idea, image, or symbol that appears throughout a work of literature.
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motivation
(1) the reason for an author writing.
(2) the reason for a character doing or saying things in a narrative.
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mystery
form of literature that captivates readers with its puzzles, riddles, suspense, and the thrill of uncovering hidden truths.
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myth
a type of folklore consisting of narratives that attempt to explain the origins of the world, natural phenomena, or human behavior. Myths are often based on the beliefs and traditions of a particular culture, and they can reflect the values, beliefs, and worldview of that culture.
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N
narrative
a story
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nonfiction
a written work designed to inform the reader of facts. Biographies and how-to books are both works of nonficiton.
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noun
a word that describes a person, place or thing
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novel
a lengthy work of fiction usually within a single volume
a short novel designed to be read within a brief period of time but with chapters, therefore making it longer than a short story.
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O
ode
a type of poem that is written with a specific theme and message in mind. Oftentimes an ode is meant to be sung aloud or read in a musical manner. Odes tend to have certain rhyming patterns that make them stand out from other forms of poetry. See accents.
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old English
English language from centuries before the 1800s. For instance, Shakespeare plays are written in old English, as is the King James version of the Bible. It's common to see archaic words in old English texts such as "thee," "thou," or "ye." It can be a little difficult to follow old English when reading but it is sometimes easier to understand when spoken aloud.
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omniscient
all-knowing
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omniscient point of view
Unlike the common first or third person point of views, the omniscient point of view gives a "bird's eye" perspective allowing the reader to see all the details of a location and the thoughts and actions of characters at once.
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onomatopoeia
a word or phrase that makes a special sound effect to explain what one may hear in a story.
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opinion
information that may not be rooted in reality; information that reflects the views or beliefs of an individual and potentially not verifiable through scientific means.
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oxymoron
a form of irony and a figure of speech when seemingly opposite or contradictory language is used to describe an otherwise normal or truthful situation.
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For example: "the bright sky shadowed darkly"
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Q
query
a question asked in an official capacity with a procedural process designed to discover specific answers
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R
reading comprehension
the practice of reading and pausing to make sure that you as the reader understand what has been written and what the author is trying to communicate
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realism
a writing style that represents the world as it truly would be if the story were true without exaggeration, often revealing the harsh realities of life.
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realistic fiction
a literary sub-genre in which the events in the story are imaginative and made up by the author, but are within the realm of possibility
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Helpful hint: realistic fiction is grounded in real-life possibility, so you won't find examples of magic or supernatural qualities in these types of stories.
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recipe
a specific formula intended to be read and repeated exactly by the reader.
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Helpful hint: The most common intention of a writer who composes a recipe is in giving directions for the preparation of food but not all recipes are food-related. Recipes are designed to be followed with precision and leave little room for interpretation.
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recite
to repeat information out loud either word-for-word written by another person, or loosely interpreted by the speaker
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reference
(1) a source cited for the information provided by a writer
(2) an allusion
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reference book
a work of nonfiction designed to present raw information. This includes how-to books, manuals, dictionaries, and other lists of information.
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refrain
a refrain is a phrase or line that is repeated throughout a poem, song, or piece of prose. It is a device used to create emphasis, rhythm, and memorability, often serving as a unifying element that ties the work together. Similar to the chorus of a song.
repetition
a writing technique where an author presents the same or similar information, words, or ideas over and over to drive a point home.
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report
a work of nonfiction where the writer provides information, usually without imparting their own opinions.
research
the process in which a writer gathers information for the later purpose of writing a work.
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resolution
in typical plot structure, a resolution is the step following a climax.
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rhyme
when two words match in sound
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rhyme scheme
a device used by a writer for matching rhyming words together in a repetitive pattern.
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rhythmic device
a technique or pattern used to create rhythmic variation and interest. Rhythmic devices add complexity, excitement, and expressiveness to both written and spoken language, as well as to musical compositions. Common rhythmic devices include syncopation, meter, alliteration, assonance, repetition, and parallelism.
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rising action
in typical plot structure, a rising action is the step before a climax where the plot thickens and details are added to the story creating an air of suspense.
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romance
stories of love or passion between characters
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S
satire
a genre of literature and other forms of art that uses irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. Parodies are a type of satire, but not all satire is parody
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scanning
The process in which a reader quickly examines a text for a specific detail in order to answer a question.
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science fiction
a literary genre that tell a story through themes of technology, space travel, biology, time, nature and similar themes.
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script
a written work meant to be acted out or otherwise read aloud
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second person point of view
a writing perspective in which the reader becomes the main character.
for example: "You are having a nightmare. You dream that you are driving a car into a narrow mountain pass in the dead of night. Suddenly you see a monster in the road."
Helpful hint: The second person perspective is a rare and unique writing style. Most writers prefer to write from the first person or third person perspective.
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setting
the location in which a story takes place.
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short story
a narrative (usually fiction) that is designed to be read all at once.
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simile
a figure of speech that compares two things using the words "like" or "as." Similar to a metaphor, but not the same thing.
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situational irony
One of the three major types of irony where the audience thinks one thing is going to happen when something else happens entirely; an unexpected outcome, a gap between expectation and reality, a sunrise. Situational irony is often presented as comedy, but not always. Situational irony preys on the expectations of the audience and often feeds into stereotypes.
skimming
the process in which a reader quickly reads a text not for specific details but to get a good and general idea of a written work.
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slang
a type of informal writing that usually disregards grammar to communicate ideas in casual conversation.
For example: "I ain't never gonna drive that car again, so help me." This sentence uses slang such as the nonsense word "ain't" and "gonna" and would be inappropriate for formal writing (such as on a school report) but is ideal for some casual conversation in the real world or to communicate the attitude of characters in a narrative.
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soliloquy
a monologue delivered by a character who is alone, essentially speaking to themselves. It is a device used to reveal the character's inner thoughts, feelings, and motivations, often providing insights into their personality and the complexities of their situation.
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Helpful hint: the most famous example of a soliloquy is the "to be or not to be" monologue of Hamlet.
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song
a genre in which the written work is meant to be read or recited aloud with vocal inflection and a musical quality
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sonnet
a poem of fourteen lines that follows a specific rhyme scheme and meter.
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southern gothic literature
a genre of American literature that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by its exploration of the American South's dark history, social tensions, and psychological complexities. It often features grotesque and macabre elements, blending elements of realism, Gothicism, and Southern culture.
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speaker
the person or character speaking
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spoof
see "parody"
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stage direction
in a play or similar script in which the reader is to act out the role, stage direction is where the writer tells the actor where to stand, where to set up props on stage, etc. and is not meant to be read aloud to the audience. Stage direction is often notated as "upstage" which means towards the back of the stage and away from the audience, "downstage" towards the front of the stage close to the audience, "stage left" which is the left side of the stage when facing the audience and "stage right" which is the right side of the stage when facing the audience.
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Helpful hint: oftentimes writers use abbreviated characters to indicate stage direction.
For example: "SL" is short for "stage left" and "DSR" is short for "down stage right."
stanza
a grouping of lines in a poem. A stanza looks like a paragraph and often consists of a single thought to create a clear mental image for the reader.
static character
a character that changes very little in a story and does not experience significant internal growth as a result of changes in the story.
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stream of consciousness
a type of writing where the author has almost no writing plan and composes a work based on ideas as they come to mind. Writing in stream of consciousness is a great way to help formulate a writing plan but is a bad way to write an academic paper or a good story.
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style
the artistic expressions used by an author in a written work to communicate stories or ideas.
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suspense
a writing genre that is designed to make the reader anticipate the unfolding of events with an air of anxiety. Scary stories are often in the category of suspense.
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syllable
the "beats" in a word.
For example: the word "happy" has two syllables. The word "medallion" has three syllables. The word "cat" has only one syllable.
symbol
A word or phrase that is representative of something else.
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For example: the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom and the American way of thinking.
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synesthesia
when a writer communicates the sensation that should be experienced through an alternative sense
For example: "Her laughter was a symphony of sweet bells, echoing through the room."
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In the above example we see a heightened and exaggerated description of laughter, where the writer describes the sound of laughter as music.
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For example: "The taste of each velvety chocolate cascaded put a glow on her face."
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In the above example we see someone is eating chocolates but the flavor is described as "velvety" which is a feeling one would experience through touch, not through taste.
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synonym
a word that has a similar meaning to another word
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For example: The word "sofa" is a synonym for the word "couch." These words are synonyms because they mean almost the same thing, but not quite. There are "couches" that are not necessarily "sofas" therefore the words are a little different, but not much.
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T
text
(1) the words on a page.
(2) a book or other written work
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theater
(1) a venue for theatrical storytelling productions on a stage
(2) the art of acting
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Helpful hint: This word can be spelled different ways including "theatre" and "theater." Both are correct, however the spelling "theatre" is more common in Great Britain than in the United States and some other English-speaking countries. Some people argue that the word "theater" refers to a building while the word "theatre" refers to the art of acting, but this tradition is not grounded in fact and is only a novelty within the acting community.
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theme
a central idea or message that the author conveys through a story
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thesaurus
a reference book, similar to a dictionary, that provides synonyms for virtually every word in the English language.
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thesis
a central argument or claim that the author of an essay or research paper intends to prove or develop.
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third person point of view
a writing style where the writer tells the story from a "bird's eye" perspective.
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For example: the girl meandered through the halls frantically looking for the room with the green door.
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tone
the emotional attitude of the writer that is reflected in the writing style
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tragedy
a story with a sad ending that puts the main character(s) in a positive light, ultimately benefitting other characters or situations for the greater good.
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Helpful hint: Romeo and Juliet is the classic example of a tragedy because while the main characters die in the end of the story, the death of the two heroes bring about a new era of peace for the secondary characters.
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Helpful hint: Not all written works with a sad ending can be considered to be tragedy. In order for the work to qualify as tragedy, there must be a greater good that is accomplished by the sadness within then narrative.
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tragic hero
a character within a narrative that suffers but brings about a greater good.
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transition
connecting text that helps change from one scene or subject matter to another
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understatement
a writing technique that gives only a partial image of the whole in an effort to make the reader think harder about what is being said.
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For example: "Outer space is big." This is an understatement because mankind does not even have a way to comprehend the vastness of outer space and the unknown universe.
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V
verb
a word that describes an action.
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verbal irony
when a writer or character says one thing, but means another.
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For example: Sarah strolled into the crowded restaurant, her smile as wide as her hips. "I'm so glad everyone could make it to my surprise party," she declared flatly, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
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Victorian literature
the body of literature produced during the reign of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, from 1837 to 1901. It was a period of great social, political, and economic change, and these changes are reflected in the literature of the time.
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volume
the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of verse. Volume is similar to accent and meter.
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vulgar
​inappropriate or obscene language. Vulgar language can refer to specific "swear words" or to language that does not necessarily consist of swear words but creates an obscene mental image in the mind of the audience.
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