More English Literary Terms

A joke using the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.

• Puns

• Allusions

• Alliteration

• Comic relief

Referencing something else from outside of the story

• Puns

• Allusions

• Alliteration

• Comic relief

Jokes or funny skits that balance out the serious sections.

• Puns

• Allusions

• Alliteration

• Comic relief

When a sentence uses words that start with the same letter.

• Puns

• Allusions

• Alliteration

• Comic relief

A solo monologue said by a character on stage alone.

• Soliloquy

• Monologue

• Aside

• Apostrophe

 A long speech said by one character.

• Soliloquy

• Monologue

• Aside

• Apostrophe

A comment said only to the audience; the other characters on stage do not hear the comment.

• Soliloquy

• Monologue

• Aside

• Apostrophe

A speech or address to someone who is not there.

• Soliloquy

• Monologue

• Aside

• Apostrophe

When the audience understands something about a character’s actions or an event but the other characters do not.

• Dramatic irony

• Verbal irony

• Double entendre

• Malapropism

When someone says something that means the opposite of the literal meaning.

• Dramatic irony

• Verbal irony

• Double entendre

• Malapropism