Literary Terms and Concepts

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Direct characterization

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Direct statements about a character. Example: “There was a Knight, a most distinguished man...”

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Indirect characterization

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Presentation of a character’s actions, thoughts, or words, and appearance. Example: “Speaking of his equipment, he possessed/Fine horses, but he was not gaily dressed.”

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Social commentary

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Writing or speech that offers insights into society. In fiction and nonfiction, authors express views about the societies in which they live.

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Primary sources

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Offers an eyewitness or contemporary view of an event; includes diaries, speeches, official records, chronicles, etc.

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Secondary sources

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Interprets and analyzes primary sources; includes textbooks, commentaries, encyclopedias, and histories.

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Anecdote

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A brief story about an interesting event, often appearing within a larger text, told to make a specific point.

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Cause-and-effect organization

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Links events to explain why things happen; often begins with a specific event to “hook” the reader, then backtracks to explain causes.

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Words with multiple meanings: Bow

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Example: Pierre slung the bow and arrows over his shoulder. Mae bows to greet her grandparents.

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Closed couplet

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The meaning and syntax are completed within the two lines.

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Enjambment

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A poetic structure where the grammatical structure and sense continue past the end of the line.