Literary Terms

A central message or insight into life revealed through a literary work. A lesson about life or people.

• Theme

• Characterization

• Point of View

• Simile

A type of character, action, or situation that occurs over and over in literature; a pattern or example that occurs in literature and life.

• Archetype

• Characterization

• Metaphor

• Imagery

The methods used by an author to create a character.

• Characterization

• Setting

• Protagonist

• Symbolism

The time and place of the action of a literary work.

• Setting

• Theme

• Antagonist

• Paradox

The character opposing the protagonist; can be a person, idea, or force

• Antagonist

• Protagonist

• Man vs Manv

• Tone

The central character, and focus of interest; who is trying to accomplish or overcome adversity, and has the ability to adapt to new circumstances

• Protagonist

• Antagonist

• Setting

• Metaphor

It is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story, or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea.

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Tone

• Irony

A comparison of two different things or ideas through the use of the words like or as.

• Simile

• Imagery

• Irony

• Symbolism

Language that appeals to the senses; the use of figurative speech or vivid description to produce mental images.

• Imagery

• Setting

• Theme

• Mood

The perspective from which a story is told.

• Point of View

• Man vs Nature

• Tone

• Symbolism