Literary Terms page 2
ANTIHERO Central character who lacks all the qualities traditionally associated with
heroes. may lack courage, grace, intelligence, or moral scruples.
ANTHROPOMORPHISM attributing human characteristics to an animal or inanimate
object (Personification)
APHORISM brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life,
or of a principle or accepted general truth. Also called maxim, epigram.
APOSTROPHE calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, or to a place or
thing, or a personified abstract idea. If the character is asking a god or goddess for
inspiration it is called an invocation.
Josiah Holland ---“Loacöon! Thou great embodiment/ Of human life and human history!”
APPOSITION Placing in immediately succeeding order of two or more coordinate
elements, the latter of which is an explanation, qualification, or modification of the first
(often set off by a colon). Paine: “These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer
soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country;
but he that stands it Now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
ASSONANCE the repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant
sounds especially in words that are together.
ASYNDETON Commas used without conjunction to separate a series of words, thus
emphasizing the parts equally: instead of X, Y, and Z... the writer uses X,Y,Z.... see
polysyndeton.
BALANCE Constructing a sentence so that both halves are about the same length and
importance. Sentences can be unbalanced to serve a special effect as well.
CHARACTERIZATION the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a
character.
INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION the author reveals to the reader what the
character is like by describing how the character looks and dresses, by letting the
reader hear what the character says, by revealing the character’s private thoughts
and feelings, by revealing the characters effect on other people (showing how
other characters feel or behave toward the character), or by showing the character
in action. Common in modern literature
DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION the author tells us directly what the
character is like: sneaky, generous, mean to pets and so on. Romantic style
literature relied more heavily on this form.
STATIC CHARACTER is one who does not change much in the course of a
story.