Literary Terminology

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Allegory

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A story where characters and events symbolise deeper moral, political, or spiritual meanings.

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Alliteration

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Repeating the same starting consonant sounds (e.g., Peter Piper picked...).

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Allusion

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A reference to another story, myth, or historical event.

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Antagonist

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The character or force that opposes the protagonist.

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Archetype

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A common character type or story pattern found in many stories (e.g., hero, villain).

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Characterisation

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How an author shows what a character is like through what they say, do, think, and how others respond.

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Cliché

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An overused phrase or idea that has lost its impact (e.g., time will tell).

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Climax

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The most intense or dramatic moment in the story, often a turning point.

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Conflict

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A struggle between opposing forces can be internal or external.

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Dialogue

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The spoken words between characters.