Literary Terms

Irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected

• Dramatic irony

• Situational Irony

• Simile

• Parallelism

The author states or describes a character's traits

• Direct characterization

• Indirect characterization

• Dramatic irony

• In media res

A piece of writing that begins in the middle of the action

• Man vs. Man conflict

• Man vs. Society conflict

• In media res

• none of the above

A reference to another work of literature, person or event

• Analogy

• Allusion

• Metaphor

• Puns

Irony involving facts or events are unknown to a character in a story but are known to the reader, audience, or other characters

• Dramatic irony

• Situational irony

• Bildungsroman

• Tragic Flaw

A writer's attitude, which is revealed through word choice

• Mood

• Idiom

• Puns

• Tone

When one character has a problem with a group of people, large or small, and/or has conflict with a societal force, such as in a dystopia.

• Man vs. Society conflict

• Man vs. Man conflict

• Man vs. Nature conflict

• Man vs. Self conflict

Repeating a word, phrase, or clause intentionally to create rhythm or structure.

• Personification

• Mood

• Parallelism

• Simile

Figure of speech comparing two things using "like" or "as"

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Allusion

• Mood

When one character in a story has a problem with one or more of the other characters

• Man vs. Man conflict

• Man vs. Self conflict

• Man vs. Society conflict

• Man vs. Nature conflict