Literary Terms

From LitWiki

Every discipline has its own technical vocabulary; the study of literature is no different. In order to discuss fiction in an intelligent and competent manner, a familiarity (or literacy) with this vocabulary is crucial. Define each of the following words calling from various sources — reference books, lectures, your own reading — making clear your own understanding of the vocabulary. This project was started by my Introduction to Literature class at USF, during the fall of 2000. Feel free to define or add your own terms.

Allegory to Atmosphere

Canon to Convention

Deconstruction to Diatribe

Epic Poetry to Exposition

Flashback to Freytag’s Formula

Genre to Irony

Melodrama to Myth

Narration to Oration

Pace to Protagonist

Reader Response to Rising Action

Satire to Syntax

Text to Zeugma

External Links

Bibliography