Literary Terms and Definitions

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Dictionary Definition of a word

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Denotation

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Feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

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Connotation

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To combine different ideas or information to form a coherent whole.

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Synthesize

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Clear, direct meaning of something, stated outright.

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Explicit meaning

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The hidden or suggested meaning, not directly stated but inferred.

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Implicit meaning

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The central idea or message in a work of literature, often about life or human nature

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Theme

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The process of revealing a character's personality through their actions, speech, thoughts, or how others respond to them.

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Indirect Characterization

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When the author directly describes a character’s traits or qualities.

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Direct Characterization

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Universal, recurring symbols, characters, or themes that appear in literature and storytelling across cultures and time.

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Archetypes

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The reason an author writes a text, such as to inform, entertain, persuade, or explain.

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Author’s purpose