English Literature & Language Glossary

A figure of speech that describes something as if it literally is something else, creating a direct comparison without using 'like' or 'as'.

A metaphor that is developed and sustained over several lines, sentences, or even an entire text, building a deeper comparison.

A comparison between two things using 'like' or 'as' to highlight a shared quality.

Giving human qualities, emotions, or actions to non-human things such as objects, animals, or abstract ideas.

A type of personification where weather or the natural environment reflects or mirrors a character's mood or the atmosphere of a scene.

Deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for emphasis, humour, or dramatic effect. Not intended to be taken literally.

A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens (situational), what is said and what is meant (verbal), or what the audience knows and what a character knows (dramatic).

Placing two contrasting ideas, images, or concepts side by side to highlight their differences or create tension.

A figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms in a single phrase for effect.

The use of an object, person, colour, or situation to represent a deeper meaning or abstract idea beyond its literal sense.

A story, poem, or image that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden moral, political, or spiritual meaning beneath the surface narrative.

An indirect reference to a well-known person, event, text, or work of art, relying on the reader's knowledge to add layers of meaning.

A mild or indirect expression used to replace one that is considered too harsh, blunt, or offensive.

A literary device in which hints or clues are given about what will happen later in the narrative, building suspense and anticipation.

A recurring element -- such as an image, symbol, phrase, or idea -- that runs through a text and contributes to its themes.

A statement that appears to contradict itself but may reveal a deeper truth upon reflection.

The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words, used to create rhythm, emphasis, or a particular mood.

The repetition of 's', 'sh', 'z', or soft 'c' sounds, often creating a hissing, sinister, soothing, or whispering effect.

The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words to create internal rhyming or a musical quality.

The repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of nearby words (distinct from alliteration, which occurs at the start).

Words that imitate or suggest the sound they describe, creating a sensory, auditory effect.

The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause or punctuation at the end of the line.

A pause near the middle of a line of poetry, usually created by punctuation. It can disrupt rhythm, create emphasis, or signal a shift in thought.

A line of poetry that ends with a natural pause, usually marked by punctuation such as a full stop, comma, or semicolon.

A grouped set of lines within a poem, separated from other groups by a space. Stanzas function like paragraphs in prose.

A pair of successive rhyming lines, usually of the same length. Often used at the end of a sonnet for a concluding statement.

A turn or shift in thought, argument, or emotion in a poem. Often found between the octave and sestet of a Petrarchan sonnet, or before the final couplet of a Shakespearean sonnet.

The ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines of a poem, usually represented by letters (e.g. ABAB, AABB, ABBA).

Poetry that does not follow a regular rhyme scheme or metrical pattern, giving the poet freedom in rhythm and structure.

A line of verse with five metrical feet, each consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (da-DUM). Common in Shakespeare.

A 14-line poem, usually written in iambic pentameter. The two main types are Petrarchan (8+6 lines) and Shakespearean (3 quatrains + couplet).

A poem in which a single character speaks to a silent listener, revealing their personality, motives, and perspective. The speaker is not the poet.

A narrative poem or song that tells a story, traditionally using a regular metre and rhyme scheme, often with a refrain.

A speech in a play in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud while alone on stage, allowing the audience direct access to their inner mind.

A short remark made by a character to the audience that other characters on stage cannot hear, often revealing hidden thoughts or creating dramatic irony.

When the audience knows something that one or more characters do not, creating tension, suspense, or humour.

Instructions in a play script that indicate movement, positioning, lighting, sound effects, or how lines should be delivered.

An introductory section at the beginning of a play (or novel) that establishes the setting, context, or backstory before the main action begins.

A concluding section at the end of a play or novel that comments on or summarises the events, sometimes addressing the audience directly.

A form of drama in which the protagonist -- usually a noble or admirable figure -- is brought to ruin or suffering through a combination of fate, character flaws, and circumstances.

A character trait or error in judgement that leads to the downfall of a tragic hero. Often identified as hubris (excessive pride).

The emotional release or purging experienced by the audience at the end of a tragedy, typically through feelings of pity and fear.

In classical drama, a group of performers who comment on the action. In modern usage, a single narrator figure who addresses the audience directly.

A long speech by one character, addressed to other characters on stage (as distinct from a soliloquy, which is spoken alone).

Excessive pride or arrogance, often leading to the downfall of a character in tragedy. A specific form of hamartia.

A story told from the perspective of a character within the narrative, using 'I' or 'we'. The reader sees events through this character's eyes.

A story told by an external voice using 'he', 'she', or 'they'. Can be omniscient (all-knowing) or limited (restricted to one character's perspective).

An all-knowing narrator who can access the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of all characters in the story.

A narrator whose account of events cannot be fully trusted, whether due to bias, limited knowledge, immaturity, or deliberate deception.

A narrative technique in which the story shifts to an earlier point in time, interrupting the chronological flow to provide backstory or context.

A narrative technique that begins the story in the middle of the action, rather than at the beginning, to create immediate engagement.

A narrative structure in which the ending mirrors or returns to the beginning, creating a sense of completeness, inevitability, or entrapment.

A story told in chronological order, from beginning to middle to end, following the natural sequence of events.

A story told out of chronological order, using techniques like flashbacks, flash-forwards, or fragmented timelines.

The part of a narrative (usually the beginning) that introduces essential background information -- characters, setting, situation -- before the main action begins.

The point of greatest tension or dramatic intensity in a narrative, where the central conflict reaches its peak.

The final part of a narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are resolved or explained.

A novel that follows the moral and psychological growth of a protagonist from youth to adulthood.

A group of words that relate to the same topic or theme, used together in a text to reinforce a particular idea or atmosphere.

The associations, feelings, or ideas that a word suggests beyond its literal (denotative) meaning.

The literal, dictionary definition of a word, without any associated feelings or secondary meanings.

The overall attitude or mood conveyed by a writer's choice of words and style. Tone can be formal, informal, angry, mocking, reflective, etc.

The level of formality in language, determined by the context, audience, and purpose. Ranges from formal to informal.

Words and phrases deliberately chosen to provoke an emotional response in the reader, often used in persuasive or argumentative writing.

A question asked for persuasive effect rather than to receive an answer. It encourages the reader to agree with the implied point.

The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences for emphasis and rhetorical effect.

A rhetorical device using a series of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses for emphasis and completeness.

The placing of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses to create emphasis through opposition.

A command or instruction, using the base form of the verb. Creates a direct, authoritative tone.

A verb that expresses possibility, obligation, or certainty (e.g. could, should, must, might, will). Used to convey degrees of confidence.

A sentence that makes a statement or expresses an opinion. The most common sentence type, used to convey information directly.

A sentence that expresses strong emotion or surprise, ending with an exclamation mark.

A sentence that asks a question. In persuasive writing, interrogatives can engage the reader or challenge assumptions.

A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Types include common, proper, abstract, and collective nouns.

A noun that refers to an idea, quality, or state rather than a physical object. Often used in literature to express themes.

A word that describes an action, occurrence, or state of being. Verbs can be dynamic (action) or stative (state).

A word that describes or modifies a noun, giving more detail about its qualities, size, colour, or character.

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, often indicating how, when, where, or to what degree something happens.

A word used in place of a noun to avoid repetition. Types include personal (I, he), possessive (my, their), and relative (who, which).

A word that connects clauses, sentences, or words. Coordinating (and, but, or), subordinating (because, although, when), and correlative (either...or).

A word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence, often indicating position, direction, or time.

A word that introduces a noun and identifies it in terms of quantity, possession, or specificity (e.g. the, a, this, my, some).

A group of words containing a subject and a verb. Main (independent) clauses can stand alone; subordinate (dependent) clauses cannot.

A sentence containing a single main clause with one subject and one verb. Often used for emphasis, clarity, or impact.

A sentence made up of two or more main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so) or a semicolon.

A sentence containing one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses, allowing for more detailed and nuanced expression.

A sentence construction in which the subject performs the action of the verb. Creates a direct, clear, and dynamic tone.

A sentence construction in which the subject receives the action of the verb. Can create a sense of detachment, formality, or evasion of responsibility.