Literary Terms

1
Literary Terms
Take notes on these literary terms. Do not write
everything word for word!
2
Simile

• Comparing two things that have something in
  common using the words Like or As.

3
Simile Example

• Life is like a box of chocolates
• He is cold as ice.

4
Metaphor

• Any comparison between two things/objects that
  have something in common, using is or are.

5
Metaphor Example

• The class is a zoo!
• All the world is a stage.

6
Allusion

• Any indirect reference to history, literature, or
  the Bible with which the authors believes the
  reader will be familiar

7
Allusion Example

• Coolios song Gangstas Paradise (As I walk
  through the valley of the shadow of death)
• Holden referring to Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet
  in The Catcher in the Rye

8
Flashback

• An interruption of the action to present a scene
  that took place before the work began

9
Flashback Example

• Movie Titanic
• Book The Great Gatsby

10
Irony

• A contrast between what is expected and what
  actually happens

11
Irony Example

• The pickpocket getting robbed
• The police officer is arrested

12
Satire

• Humor used to improve society and pokes fun at
  items needing change. Used to make a point.

13
Sarcasm

• A form of satire that is mixed with hostility or
  a negative tone

14
Sarcasm Satire Example

• TV Show South Park
• TV Show Saturday Night Live
• Holden Caulfield and his attitude towards
  phonies

15
Symbolism

• A person, place, object, or action that stands
  for something beyond itself.

16
Symbolism Example

• Bald Eagle United States
• Dove Peace
• Movie Schindlers List black and white movie
  except for the red coat
• TCITR The carousel and/or the kings from the
  checkers game.

17
Psychological Characterization

• A characters inner thoughts, feelings, or
  beliefs that are used to expose a characters
  true nature.

18
Psychological Characterization Example

• A monologue during a play.
• A soliloquy
• Dialogue
• Any thoughts of a character

19
Social Characterization

• A characters behavior and attitudes towards
  society or other characters.
• Showing what other people think about a character

20
Social Characterization Examples

• Stereotypes (i.e. dumb jock, phony, geek, how
  you dress, etc.)

21
Foreshadowing

• Giving hints or clues that suggest or prepare you
  for events that occur later in the work.

22
Foreshadowing Example

• Romeo and Juliet Prologue Star crossed lovers
  take their life.
• The very beginning of TCITR

23
Hyperbole

• A highly exaggerated statement used specifically
  for dramatic effect.

24
Hyperbole Example

• That is so expensive, it costs a hundred million
  dollars.
• Im so hungry I could eat a horse.