Literary Elements and Their Definitions

Imagery

• Writing that uses the five senses to create a vivid image of what is going on in the text.

• A type of poetry that focuses on rhythm and sound.

• A narrative technique that involves a flashback to an earlier event.

• A form of writing that emphasizes dialogue over description.

Hyperbole

• exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken seriously.

• a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things.

• a statement that is literally true and not exaggerated.

• a type of metaphor that uses 'like' or 'as' to compare two things.

flash fiction

• A very short story.

• A type of poetry.

• A long novel.

• A genre of drama.

Theme

• The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.

• A recurring symbol or motif in a story.

• The sequence of events in a narrative.

• The emotional response evoked by a piece of literature.

Simple Character

• A character that undergoes significant development throughout the story.

• A character that is complex and multifaceted.

• A boring character who doesn't change.

• A character that is always the hero of the story.

mood

• The emotional atmosphere created by the text.

• The author's attitude towards the subject.

• The main idea of the text.

• The setting of the story.

Analyze

• To summarize the main ideas of a text.

• To break down and carefully examine the author's choices and the text's meaning.

• To express personal opinions about the text.

• To memorize the text for future reference.

Diction

• Word choice; language used

• A type of poetry

• A literary device for exaggeration

• The main theme of a story

extended metaphor

• A brief comparison between two unlike things.

• A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph, lines of a poem, or throughout a story.

• A type of metaphor that only appears once in a text.

• A comparison that uses 'like' or 'as' to make a point.

tone

• The feeling the author is trying to create.

• The main character's personality.

• The setting of the story.

• The plot's main conflict.