Source: Provincial Exam Specifications
Scroll down for Glossaries of Literary Terms with Examples
BEST ENGLISH DEPARTMENT LITERARY TERMINOLOGY HANDOUTS
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A
active voice
allegory
alliteration
allusion
analogy
antagonist
anti-climax
antithesis
apostrophe
argumentative essay
anecdotal evidence
archaic language
aside
assonance
atmosphere
audience
autobiography
B
ballad
ballad stanza (more)
bias
biography
blank verse
C
cacophony
caricature more
case study
catastrophe (more)
cause and effect
character
characterization
character foil
chorus
chronological order
cliché
climactic order
climax
colloquialism
colloquial language (diction)
comedy
comic relief
compare and contrast
comparison
conflict (more)
connotation
consonance
contrast
couplet
D
denotation
dénouement
descriptive essay
dialect
dialogue (more)
diary
diction
didactic
dilemma
direct presentation
dissonance
drama
dramatic irony
dramatic monologue
dramatic form
dynamic character
E
editorial
elegy
emotional appeal
epic
epiphany
epigram
epitaph
euphemism
euphony
expert testimony
exposition
expository essay (models)
extended metaphor (conceit)
external conflict
F
fable
falling action
fantasy
farce
figurative language (more)
first person point of view
flashback (theatre)
flat character
foil
foreshadowing
form
formal essay
formal language (diction)
free verse
G
genre
graphic text
H
hero
historical reference
hyperbole
I
iambic pentameter
idiom
image
imagery
indeterminate ending
indirect presentation
informal essay (more)
informal language
interior monologue
internal conflict
internal rhyme
irony
J
jargon
juxtaposition
L
legend
limited omniscient point of view
literal language
lyric
M
melodrama
metaphor
metre
metonymy
mood
mystery
myth (more)
N
narrative
narration
narrator
O
objective (language tone etc.)
objective point of view (more)
octave
ode
omniscient point of view
onomatopoeia
oxymoron
P
paradox
parallelism
parody
passive voice
pastoral
pathos
personal essay
personification
persuasive essay (more)
persuasive technique (more)
plot
point of view (more)
pro and con argument (more)
prologue
propaganda
protagonist
proverb
purpose
pun
Q
quatrain
question and answer
R
refrain
repetition (more)
research (essay)
resolution (also)
rhetorical question
rhyme
rhyme scheme
rhythm
rising action
round character
S
sarcasm
satire
sestet
setting (set)
simile
slang
soliloquy
sonnet
speaker
stanza
style
stream of consciousness
statistical evidence
static character
stereotype
stock / stereotyped character
style (more)
stylistic technique (style)
subjective (language tone etc.)
surprise ending
suspense (more)
symbol
symbolism
synecdoche
T
theme
thesis
thesis statement
third person point of view
tone
tragedy
U
understatement
V
voice
W
wit
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RESOURCES:
Glossaries of Literary Terms with Examples
Bob's Byway: Glossary of Poetic Terms
Enormous list of terms from 'ABCEDARIAN POEM' to 'Zeugma'. Each entry has a full definition and links to other words where necessary. Almost fifty different poets have their work on display which is used to highlight some of the poetic terms from the glossary.
A Glossary of Literary Terms
This site has definitions of a number of literary terms. Some entries have titles of examples of works illustrating the terms.
UVIc Writer's Guide, from the University of Victoria
[ Narrative Genres ] [ General Literary Terms ] [ Rhetorical Language ] [ Poetic Tools ]
Gale Glossary of Literary Terms
All American: Glossary of Literary Terms
University of North Carolina at Pembroke