LITERARY TERMS

Adage
*n. a short but memorable saying that holds some important fact or
Experience that is considered true by many people or has gained
Some credibility through its long use.
Ex. time is gold
The Golden Rule (Do unto others what you want others to do
Unto you.)
Murphys Law (Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.)
Alliteration

*n. a figure of speech formed by repeating the same initial

Consonant sound in several words in close succession
Ex. Shining shimmering splendid

Allusion

*n. a reference in a literary work to a person, place or thing in history

Or another work of literature.
*Often indirect or brief references to well-known characters or events
Ex. You were ROMEO, I was a SCARLET LETTER. And my daddy
Said, stay away from JULIET.
I know SAINT PETER wont call me

Assonance

*n. a figure of speech which the same accented vowel is repeated

Through several words in succession
Ex. Beauty queen of only eighteen (e)
Do you like blue? (oo)
Ninety miles outside Chicago (i)

Conflict

*n. a struggle between opposing forces. ( Man vs. Man, Society,

Himself, Nature, Supernatural, God, machines)

Inference

*n. reading between the lines

*figuring out what the author does not tell us
*educated guess, prediction or conclusion based on:
> clues on the story/text
> what we know
*Inference vs. Hypothesis: both guesses
: hypothesis: more scientific, less biased,
tested with an experiment
: inference: not tested, no experiment
: hypothesis: experiments: right or wrong
: inference: there is no right or wrong
because it is based on a
persons POV.
* The use of sensory words to describe an idea or a concept.
* Describing an abstract noun using senses and concrete ideas
* Does not necessarily need to be abstract.
* a word or phrase is being applied to an object or action which is
Not literally applicable. There is no comparison (the use of like)
* A figure of speech wherein one idea/ concept is substituted by

Imagery

Metaphor
Metonymy

Another word that is closely related to it.

*Metonomy vs. Metaphor: Metonymy: association, Metaphor: similarities
Ex. Hollywood
: American cinema
Mother Tongue :
Native language
Mood

Tone
Archetype

Juxtaposition

* The readers response to a text

Ex. It was a dark and stormy night.
- scary, haunting
Birds were chirping in the early morning light.
- happy, optimistic
* The authors attitude towards his/her story or text
*A universally understood symbol or pattern of behavior upon which
Others are copied
*Ex. White hair, old man = wisdom
* Related concepts:
-Stereotype
-Trope
*hero: selfless; integrity
superhero: superpowers (batman, superman..etc.)
epic hero: adventurous, brave, specific area/place (lam-ang)
tragic hero: has a fatal flaw; weakness; flaw leads to his downfall
(Macbeth)
comic hero: saves the day in unexpected ways (Johnny English)
Christ-hero: sacrifices his life for the benefit of all (Jose Rizal)
*PROTAGONIST: ANTI-HERO
: not an antagonist/villain
BYRONIC HERO:
mad, bad and dangerous

attractive, seductive
smart, arrogant
worldly (not innocent)
cynical (bad outlook in life)
moody; outcast of society
self-critical; self-destructive
* using 2 ideas, characters, actions, settings, or words side-by side for
Comparison, contrast, suspense, or story development (ex. Zita vs.
Zita)