Essential Literary Terms
HAVERLING HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH DEPARTMENT'S OFFICIAL LIST
As it says, this list is official. Except for the first five terms, which belong in a group, it is alphabetized.
There is a link to a printable version of this list at the bottom of the page. Exposition- The essential background information at the beginning of a literary work
Rising action- the development of conflict and complications in a literary work
Climax- the turning point in a literary work
Falling action- results or effects of the climax of a literary work
Resolution/denouement- end of a literary work when loose ends are tied up and questions are answered
Alliteration – repetition of the initial consonant sounds of words: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”
Allusion – a reference to something well-known that exists outside the literary work
Antagonist- character that is the source of conflict in a literary work
Aside – a dramatic device in which a character makes a short speech intended for the audience but not heard by the other characters on stage
Assonance – repetition of vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds: “Anna’s apples,” “the pond is long gone”
Characterization- The manner in which an author develops characters and their personalities
Conflict - struggle between two or more opposing forces (person vs. person; nature; society; self; fate/God)
Dialogue - direct speech between characters in a literary work
Diction - word choice to create a specific effect
Figurative Language –language that represents one thing in terms of something dissimilar (non-literal language). Includes simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, symbol)
Flashback- the method of returning to an earlier point in time for the purpose of making the present clearer
