Literary Terms Continued
narrative – writing or speech that tells a story.
narrator – the speaker or character who is telling the story.
non-fiction - writing that tells about real people, places, objects, or events.
objective details – details that are factual and true to life.
oxymoron – the close placement of words having opposite or near opposite
meanings in order to create a unique description.
parable – a short tale that illustrates a universal truth, a belief that appeals to all
people of all civilizations.
personification – a type of figurative language in which a non-human subject
is given human characteristics.
plot – the sequence of events in a literary work.
point of view – the perspective from which a story is told.
pun – a humorous play on words.
repetition – the repeated use of words or phrases in order to emphasize a point.
resolution – the events that occur in the falling action of a story’s plot.
setting – the time and location of the events described in a literary work.
simile – a comparison between two things, using “like� or “as�.
speaker – the imaginary voice assumed by the writer of a poem, the one
describing the events in a poem.
stanza – a group of lines in a poem.
static character – a character who does not undergo a change over the course of a story
subjective details – details that reveal the author’s feelings, attitudes, or judgments.
symbol /symbolism – anything that stands for or represents something else.
theme – a central message, idea, or concern that expressed in a literary work.
tone – the attitude of an author toward the subject that he/she is writing
about.
character - refers to what someone is like – what their qualities are
(Someone’s character refers to their character traits.)
narrative poetry - poetry that tells a story
subject - what the story or poem is about (the topic)