Literary Terms

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Dramatic Irony

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A situation in a story where the audience knows more about the events than the characters, leading to a contrast between the character's understanding and the actual situation.

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Diction

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An author's choice of words, which can convey tone, mood, and meaning.

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Situational Irony

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A situation where the opposite of what is expected occurs, and neither the characters nor the audience sees it coming.

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Direct Characterization

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The author explicitly tells the reader about a character's traits.

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Example of Direct Characterization

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Jeff was compassionate when it came to taking care of his nephews.

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Indirect Characterization

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The author shows a character's traits through their actions, speech, and interactions with others.

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Theme

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The central idea or message in a literary work, often reflecting on human nature or society.

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Symbolism

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The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, adding deeper meaning to the text.

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Metaphor

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A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.

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Simile

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A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.