Literary Terms for Lord of the Flies

inference

• a logical conclusion that can be made from hints and/or textual evidence

• a statement that is always true

• a fact that can be proven with evidence

• an assumption made without evidence

archetype

• recurring character types (such as the Hero, the Outcast, or the Villain) that represent universal human experience

• a specific plot device used in storytelling

• a type of narrative structure that follows a linear progression

• a character that serves as a foil to the protagonist

allusion

• A direct quote from a source

• A reference to something well-known to add understanding through comparison

• A detailed description of a character

• An expression of personal opinion

theme

• the main message, moral, or point in a narrative

• a recurring symbol in a story

• the setting of the narrative

• the character's development throughout the story

characterization

• direct and indirect elements that bring to life a person in a story

• a method of narrating a story through dialogue

• the setting and time period of a story

• the moral lesson conveyed by the characters

symbolism

• an object, person, or idea represents something else

• a type of literary device that uses exaggeration

• a method of storytelling that involves a moral lesson

• a technique for creating vivid imagery in writing

dialogue

• exact words of characters in a story

• a narrative summary of events

• the background information of characters

• a description of the setting

motif

• a recurring theme or element

• a single occurrence of an event

• a random pattern without meaning

• a unique design element

parody

• a work that imitates something else, usually in a humorous way

• a serious piece of literature

• a type of musical composition

• a form of visual art that critiques society

allegory

• a story in which every element is a symbol to represent a hidden, second meaning

• a narrative that is purely fictional with no deeper meaning

• a type of poem that uses rhyme and meter

• a historical account of real events and figures