Overview

Familiarity with literary terms and forms strengthens your ability to analyze texts, write about literature, and interpret passages on exams. From the structure of a sonnet to the meaning of irony, these tools are essential for literary discussion and understanding.

Essential Literary Terms

• Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unrelated things ("time is a thief").
• Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as" ("quiet as a mouse").
• Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human entities.
• Irony: A contrast between expectations and reality—verbal, situational, or dramatic.
• Symbolism: Using objects or actions to represent broader ideas (e.g., a rose = love).
• Allusion: A reference to history, religion, or literature.
• Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
• Foreshadowing: Hints about future events in a narrative.
• Theme: The central idea or message of a work.
• Tone: The author's attitude toward the subject or audience.

Common Literary Forms

• Sonnet: A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and thematic structure.
• Ballad: A narrative poem, often with a musical rhythm and dialogue.
• Ode: A lyrical poem that addresses and praises a particular subject.
• Elegy: A mournful poem, usually written to honor the dead.
• Tragedy: A dramatic form dealing with human suffering, usually ending in downfall or death.
• Comedy: A drama that ends happily, often with marriage or reconciliation.
• Satire: Writing that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to critique society or human behavior.
• Epic: A lengthy narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events.

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