Literary terms Matching Test
1. Antagonist the person who opposes or competes with the main character; the bad guy
2. Climax the high point in the plot where the reader is most intrigued & does not yet know the outcome
3. Conflict a struggle between opposing forces, man vs. man, etc.
4. denouement the outcome or resolution of the plot
5. fable as story with a moral lesson about life, often with animal characters with human-like qualities
6. figurative language a figure of speech, usually a simile comparing dissimilar objects
7. foreshadowing hints during the narrative about what will happen later in the story
8. Imagery creation of mental pictures through pertinent word choice & heightened description
9. metaphor a comparison of unlike things, without using the words like or as
10. personification a figure of speech in which inanimate objects/abstract ideas are given human qualities or actions
11. point of view perspective from which the story is written; (omniscient, 1st person, etc.)
12. protagonist the main character or hero
13. resolution clarification, solution or outcome of a conflict in a story
14. sarcasm a form of irony which seems to praise, but really criticizes
15. setting time and place of a story
16. simile a comparison of unlike things using the words like or as
17. stereotyping an overgeneralization
18. symbolism a word or object that stands/represents something else
19. theme the moral of the story; the message the author is trying to get across to the reader
20. tone the mood of the story
21. Allusion A reference, without explanation, to previous well known literature, character or common knowledge
22. Denouement Outcome, resolution, solution of the plot
23. Relevant Useful, pertinent, or significant to a particular event or to solving a problem
24. Moral a lesson the literature is teaching
25. Fallacy false or inaccurate argument
26. Analogy comparison in which similarities are noted between two or more situations
27. Analysis the separation of a whole into its component parts
28. Assumption fact or condition taken for granted without proof or evidence
29. Cause a condition or event that makes something happen
30. Effect the outcome or result created by a cause
31. Flashback Jumping backward in chronology of a narrative, often through a dream sequence
32. Legend story handed down, generation to generation, often at least partially true historically
33. Romance story about heroic deeds, mysterious settings, or love
34. Satire literature that makes fun of social conditions or conventions often for the purpose of creating change
35. Summary A short restatement of the main points of a book or chapter
36. Frame of Reference the way a person perceives the world based on factors such as: environment, culture, emotion
37. Inference a conclusion that evidence or facts do not absolutely establish
38. Prediction proposing possible consequences for an event or series of events
39. Archetype symbolic figures passed down in stories whose characters and events are strikingly similar
and used in literature throughout the world i.e. villain, hero, the witch, monster, the
innocent, the underdog
40. Rhetorical Question question asked without expecting and answer, used for effect
41. Relevant Useful, pertinent, or significant to a particular event or to solving a problem
42. Hero character, usually the protagonist, who rises above & conquers a series of problems in the story
43. Hero’s journey the steps the protagonist goes through on their path to success, glory, vindication, or victory
(call to adventure, road of trials, rescue from without, the ultimate boon, etc.)
44. Moral reasoning hierarchal theory of moral thinking; how people come to make judgments based on their stage
of moral development
45. Socratic seminar a discussion where group members share opinions, answer questions based on others’
responses, and draw conclusions based on dialogue and arguments presented
46. Logos Logical: This type of appeal uses inductive or deductive reasoning by citing
statistics, facts, experts, and evidence.
47. Pathos Emotional: This is when you appeal to the emotions of your audience by describing
in detail the effect of a particular situation. This arouses a sense of pity, anger, fear,
or other emotions in your audience.
48. Ethos Ethical: This type of argument requires that you establish yourself as morally trustworthy and
respectful of the audience. You do this by demonstrating that you have evaluated your topic
through research, which establishes your credibility and moral reasoning on the subject.
49. Rationalization the presentation of a false reason for doing something in order to cover the real reasons
against doing it
50. Shift a change in character or actions brought about by events in the story
51. Parallel comparable, equivalent, similar in content
52. Contrast noting differences in objects, ideas, events or people
53. Opinion personal belief, judgment, or appraisal
54. Inductive reasoning conclusions drawn from inferences and facts)
55. Deductive reasoning conclusions drawn from inferences and facts, in which the conclusion is necessarily
follows from the premise(s)
56. Compare noting similarities in objects, ideas, events or people
57. Media bias partiality, favoritism and/or prejudice shown toward a person or one side of an issue
58. Generalization oversimplification, sweeping statement, the formulation of a rule or frame of
reference that is applied to a whole group or situation
59. Conclusion main idea derived from judgments made about information, reasons, or facts
60. dialogue speaking and conversation between characters
61. Falling action The part of the play following the climax.
62. Fiction any literature about imaginary events or people
63. Genre, literary kind or type of literature, literary classification
64. Irony A device by which a writer expresses a meaning contrary to the stated one; possibly the
opposite of the literal or intended meaning; a discrepancy between what is expected to happen
or be said and what actually happens
65. Paraphrase restatement of writing, keeping the basic meaning but using one’s words
66. Plagiarism using other people’s work as one’s own without crediting the true author (illegal)
67. Propaganda Any systematic, widespread dissemination or promotion of particular ideas, doctrines, practices,
etc. to further one’s own cause or to damage an opposing one.
68. Redundancy repetition that is unnecessary and awkward as opposed to repetition for effect.
69. Stream of consciousness The flow of inner experiences; a technique for the depiction of the thoughts and
feelings which flow, with no apparent logic, through the mind of a character.
Usually written in italics in the text.