A woman noted for courage and daring action or the female protagonist.

Used in Greek tragedies, refers to excessive pride that usually leads to a hero’s downfall

A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or comic/dramatic effect.

Language that avoids meaning of the words. For example, if two characters are discussing a storm on the surface it may seem like a simple discussion of the weather, however, the reader should interpret the underlying meaning-that the relationship is in turmoil, chaos, is unpredictable.

The use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas.

A story that begins in the middle of things.

In poetry is an intentional digression from ordinary word order which is used to maintain regular meters. For example, rather than saying “the rain came” a poem may say “came the rain”. Meters can be formed by the insertion or absence of a pause.

When one thing should occur, is apparent, or in logical sequence but the opposite actually occurs. Example: A man in the ocean might say, “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”

Stressed extra syllable at the end of a line.

An account of the personal experiences of an author.

The measured arrangement of words in poetry, as by accentual rhythm, syllabic quantity, or the number of syllables in a line.

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison; this comparison does not use like or as.

The use of a word or phrase to stand in for something else which it is often associated.

A dominant theme or central idea