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Glossary of Literary Terms
A
Allegory
A narrative in which characters, settings, and events represent abstract ideas or moral qualities beyond their literal meaning. Dante's Inferno is one of the most famous examples of allegory.
Alliteration
The repetition of beginning consonant sounds in nearby words. Alliteration is a defining characteristic of Old English poetry, including Beowulf.
Allusion
An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work that readers are expected to recognize.
Ambition
A strong desire to achieve power, success, or honor. Ambition often motivates characters in Renaissance literature, including Hamlet.
Archetype
A recurring character, symbol, image, or situation found across many cultures and literary traditions, such as the hero, the mentor, or the journey.
B
Bildungsroman
A coming-of-age story that follows a character's intellectual or moral development.
C
Characterization
The methods an author uses to develop a character's personality, motivations, and relationships.
Close Reading
A careful examination of a literary text that focuses on language, imagery, symbolism, and other literary techniques to interpret meaning.
Conflict
The central struggle within a literary work. Conflicts may occur between individuals, society, nature, or within a character's own mind.
Context
The historical, cultural, political, religious, or social circumstances surrounding a literary work.
D
Dharma
In Hindu philosophy, one's moral duty or responsibility. Dharma is a central concept in the Bhagavad Gita.
Dialogue
Conversation between characters.
Dramatic Irony
A situation in which the audience knows more than the characters.
E
Epic
A long narrative poem describing the adventures of a heroic figure whose actions shape the destiny of a people or civilization.
Epic Hero
A larger-than-life protagonist possessing exceptional courage, strength, intelligence, or leadership.
Epic Simile
An extended comparison commonly used in epic poetry.
F
Fate
The belief that events are predetermined by forces beyond human control.
Foreshadowing
Hints or clues suggesting future events.
Frame Narrative
A story that provides the structure for other stories within it. The Canterbury Tales is a classic frame narrative.
Free Will
The ability to make independent choices rather than being controlled entirely by fate or destiny.
G
Genre
A category of literature based on shared characteristics, such as epic, tragedy, comedy, or satire.
H
Heroic Code
A system of values emphasizing courage, loyalty, honor, and reputation. It is especially important in Beowulf.
Humanism
A Renaissance intellectual movement emphasizing education, reason, classical learning, and the value of human potential.
Hubris
Excessive pride or arrogance that often leads to a character's downfall.
I
Imagery
Descriptive language appealing to the senses.
Irony
A contrast between expectation and reality.
J
Journey Motif
A recurring pattern in literature in which travel represents personal growth or transformation.
K
Kenning
A compound metaphor used in Old English poetry, such as "whale-road" for the sea.
Karma
In Hindu philosophy, the principle that actions have consequences that influence future experiences.
L
Literary Analysis
The process of interpreting how and why a literary work creates meaning.
Literary Criticism
The study and interpretation of literature using analytical methods and theoretical approaches.
M
Metaphor
A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as."
Motif
A recurring image, phrase, symbol, or idea that contributes to a work's meaning.
O
Oral Tradition
The practice of passing stories, histories, and cultural knowledge through spoken performance before they are written.
P
Paradox
A statement that appears contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.
Personification
Giving human qualities to nonhuman objects or ideas.
Point of View
The perspective from which a story is told.
Protagonist
The central character in a literary work.
Q
Quest
A journey undertaken to achieve an important goal while often resulting in personal transformation.
R
Renaissance
A period of cultural and intellectual revival in Europe emphasizing classical learning, artistic achievement, and human potential.
Rising Action
Events leading toward the climax of a narrative.
S
Satire
A literary technique using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize individuals, institutions, or society. Don Quixote and The Canterbury Tales both contain satire.
Setting
The time and place in which a literary work occurs.
Soliloquy
A speech delivered by a character alone on stage that reveals thoughts and emotions. Hamlet's soliloquies are among the most famous in literature.
Symbol
An object, person, or event representing a larger idea.
Symbolism
The use of symbols to communicate deeper meaning.
T
Theme
The central idea or message explored throughout a literary work.
Tone
The author's attitude toward the subject.
Tragedy
A literary work in which a central character experiences suffering or downfall because of personal flaws, difficult choices, or circumstances.
Tragic Hero
A protagonist whose downfall results from a combination of admirable qualities and a tragic flaw.
V
Virtue
Moral excellence or ethical behavior.
W
Works Cited
The MLA page listing every source referenced in an academic paper.
Wyrd
The Old English concept of fate or destiny, especially important in Beowulf.
X
Xenia
The ancient Greek concept of hospitality toward strangers and guests. Hospitality plays an important role in The Odyssey.
Key Terms by Unit
Unit I: Origins of Storytelling and Epic Traditions
- Archetype
- Epic
- Epic Hero
- Myth
- Oral Tradition
- Quest
- Symbolism
- Theme
- Xenia
Unit II: Classical Greece, Rome, and Eastern Philosophies
- Allegory
- Dharma
- Fate
- Free Will
- Karma
- Philosophy
- Tragedy
- Tragic Hero
- Virtue
Unit III: Medieval Worlds
- Allegory
- Alliteration
- Frame Narrative
- Heroic Code
- Kenning
- Pilgrimage
- Satire
- Wyrd
Unit IV: Renaissance Humanism
- Characterization
- Humanism
- Irony
- Renaissance
- Satire
- Soliloquy
- Symbolism
- Theme
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