Literary Terms Vocabulary #1 ©Mrs. A. Rotker

Literary Terms Vocabulary #1 ©Mrs. A. Rotker

Characterization –The act of creating and developing a character. There are two types: direct characterization and indirect characterization.

Diction- Author’s word choice. Choice of vocabulary and vividness of language contribute to the imagery and affect its ultimate forcefulness. Pay attention to unique or interesting words that contribute to an image and vivid or intense language that paints a clear picture.

Foreshadowing – The use in a literary work of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur. This technique helps create suspense, keeping readers wondering what will happen next.

Jump into work head first

Figurative Language- Language that means more than it says literally, is often used to create vivid impressions by introducing comparisons between dissimilar things. Vivid language that implies more than its literal meaning.

Setting – The time and place of the action. Time can include a historical period and a year. Place may involve a geographical place.

Universal Theme – A message about life that can be understood by most cultures. Universal themes include the importance of courage, the effects of honesty, or the danger of greed.

Mood- Feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage. It is often suggested by descriptive details. Mood can often be described in a single word, such as lighthearted, frightening or despairing.

Point of View - Writer’s choice of narrator determines the story’s point of view, which directs the type and amount of information the writer reveals.

Symbolism- A symbol is an object, person, or idea that stands for or represents something else.

Imagery- Picture-painting words which help you experience their ideas with all your senses— touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight.

Theme – A central message or insight into life revealed through a literary work. It may be stated directly or implied. When it is implied, readers think about what the work suggests about people or life.

Irony - The general term for literary techniques that portray differences between appearance and reality, or expectation and result.

THE END Review words for 15 minutes each night. ©Mrs. A. Rotker