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Literary Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Metaphor | a comparison without using "like" or "as" |
| Simile | a comparison using "like" or "as" |
| Personification | Making an inanimate (nonhuman) object seem like a human being |
| Symbolism | the use of an object to represent an idea beyond itself |
| Hyperbole | a dramatic, exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally |
| Figurative Language | Language used to create a special effect; Language opposite of the literal meaning |
| Point of View | the angle of vision from which a story is narrated(told) |
| First Person Narrator | a character who tells the story from his/her own point of view (perspective) |
| Third Person Narrator | a voice telling the action from outside the story (not a character) |
| Prose | everyday writing in sentences and paragraphs |
| Poetry | a special kind of writing, often using rhymes, stanzas, and figurative language, such as similes and metaphors |
| Irony | opposite of what is expected |
| Foreshadowing | hints of what is to come later in the story |
| Theme | the author's message |
| Imagery | language that appeals to the five senses |
| Mood | the overall feeling or atmosphere in a literary work created by the author's details |
| Tone | the author's attitude toward the subject matter |
| Characterization | the direct or indirect revealing of character's traits: physical description, thoughts and feelings, actions, and reactions |
| Plot | events in a story |
| Setting | time and place of a story |
| Conflict | a struggle between opposing forces |
| Antagonist | opponent (or enemy) of the protagonist |
| Protagonist | the main character |