Frankenstein Key Terms

A reference to a person, place, thing, event, or literary or other artistic work outside of the text.

• epistolary

• allusion

• imagery

• irony

A novel or other literary work structured in the form of letters.

• frame narrative

• allusion

• foil

• epistolary

A character who contrasts with another character, highlighting their contrasting traits.

• foil

• irony

• allusion

• symbolism

Details authors provide that hint at an event that will happen later in the story.

• Irony

• Symbolism

• Foreshadowing

• Frame Narrative

A story that frames, or surrounds, another story; the other narrative usually ties together, comments on, or further develops the themes of the inner narrative(s).

• Foreshadowing

• Foil

• Frame Narrative

• Allusion

Vivid description of how something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels.

• Irony

• Imagery

• Mood

• Tone

An absurd or extreme difference between the way things are and the way they are expected to be; or a statement that means the opposite of what it appears to mean

• Irony

• Imagery

• Theme

• Foil

The emotional atmosphere of a narrative

• Tone

• Setting

• Imagery

• Mood

The time and place in which a narrative takes place.

• Setting

• Mood

• Tone

• Imagery

The use of signs, shapes, or objects to represent ideas or emotions.

• Theme

• Symbolism

• Mood

• Tone