Literary Terms

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alliteration

Back

repetition of initial consonant sounds

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allusion

Back

a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize

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antagonist

Back

The character or force that opposes the protagonist; cause of the conflict.

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aside

Back

remark spoken in an undertone to another character

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comic relief

Back

A humorous scene, incident, or speech that is included in a serious drama to break the tension and allow the audience to prepare emotionally for events to come.

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conflict

Back

struggle between opposing forces that moves the plot forward

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connotation

Back

an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning

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couplet

Back

pair of rhyming lines of poetry

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denotation

Back

the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.

Front

dramatic irony

Back

When the audience knows something the characters don't, making what the characters say or do funny, sad, or suspenseful because we see the bigger picture.