Literary Terms

East of Eden

Stuff you already know• You will be reviewing literary terms

that you have already learned. • If you know the term and can think of

an example, do not write the definition

• Write the term and your original example. (that is evidence that you indeed know it so well that you can create your own!)

Stuff you should know• There will be a few terms that are

new to you or you haven’t though about in a while.

• Write the term, definition and the teacher example.

• To solidify it in your own mind, try creating your own.

Make a Lil’ Book• Put your name on the front page• Put the title Literary Terms Review

Literary Terms – panel 1Simile• A comparison of two

unlike things using the linking words like or as to make the connection.

• She was like an eagle watching over us to be sure we were safe.

Metaphor• A comparison of two

unlike things

• Francis was a small fish in an ocean teeming with sharks

Literary Terms – Panel 2Litotes• a deliberate

understatement, often expressed negatively

• My but your Busby is quite small for your head, isn’t it?

Hyperbole• Exaggeration

• I am so hungry I could eat a horse.

Literary Terms – Panel 3Metonymy• a figure of speech in

which an attribute of something is used to stand for the thing itself, e.g. "laurels" when it stands for "glory“

• The office said we couldn’t have food in class.

Literary Terms - Panel 4Allegory• the symbolic

expression of a deeper meaning through a story or scene acted out by human, animal, or mythical characters

Genre • one of the categories,

based on form, style, or subject matter, into which artistic works of all kinds can be divided

• Drama, poetry, non-fictionCain and

Abel

Literary Terms - 6Euphemism• the use of a word or

phrase that is more neutral, vague, or indirect to replace a direct, harsh, unpleasant, or offensive term

Juxtaposition to place two or more things together, especially in order to suggest a link between them or emphasize the contrast between them

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Literary Terms – panel 5Oxymoron• the use of wit,

especially irony, sarcasm, and ridicule, to criticize faults

Paradox• a statement,

proposition, or situation that seems to be absurd or contradictory, but in fact is or may be true

• The character Tom Hamilton is paradoxical – can you see why?

Jumbo Shrimp

Literary Terms – panel 7Assonance• the similarity of two or

more vowel sound

• The old cold man sold his son.

Alliteration • Repetition of

consonant sounds for effect

• Wind whistled wildly through the willows.

Flip your book inside outContinue with terms

Literary Terms – Panel 8Exposition• the part of a literary or

dramatic work in which the basic facts of setting and character are made known

Denouement • a final part of a story

or drama in which everything is made clear and no questions or surprises remain

Literary Terms – Panel 9Flashback• a scene or event from

the past that appears in a narrative out of chronological order, to fill in information or explain something in the present

Allusion• an indirect reference

to somebody or something – often literary, Biblical, or historical

Literary Terms – Panel 10Protagonist• a major character in a

book, play, or movie whose values or behavior are in conflict with those of the hero

Antagonist• opposition between or

among characters or forces in a literary work that shapes or motivates the action of the plot

Literary Terms – Panel 11Diction• choice of words to fit

their context

Anecdote • a short personal

account of an incident or event

Literary Terms – Panel 12Tone• the general quality or

character of something as an indicator of the attitude or view of the person who produced it – a part of establishing setting

Oxymoron• a phrase in which two

words of contradictory meaning are used together for special effect, e.g. "wise fool"

Literary Terms – Panel 13Zeugma• a figure of speech in

which an adjective or verb is used with two nouns but is appropriate to only one of them or has a different sense with each, as in "During the race he broke the record and his leg"

Aphorism• a succinct statement

expressing an opinion or a general truth

Literary Terms – Panel 13Pun• a humorous use of

words that involves a word or phrase that has more than one possible meaning

Personification• the attribution of

human qualities to objects or abstract notions

Now what• Look through your

little booklet – scan both sides.

• All the terms you were able to create your own “fresh” examples – give yourself a star.

• You know them and you will not need to do much but look them over prior to our test.

Next• Place a check on

any panel that you think you need to review and before you see these terms again.

Last Panel• Jot down the list of

terms you will be studying before we take the test on book one.

Exit Response• Use a half sheet of paper

and answer the following three questions in complete sentences.1. What is one literary

term I know well?2. What is one literary

term I will have to think about?

3. Why were checking and listing the terms I may need to review and important part of the study process?