Literary Terms

Literary Terms

Flat and Round Characters:

Flat Characters: These are characters in a story who lack depth and are often defined by one or two simple traits. They don't change much throughout the story. 

For example, in a fairy tale, the evil stepmother is usually flat.

Round Characters: These are more complex characters with many traits and emotions. They often change and grow in a story. 

For example, in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge is a round character who goes from being a miserly old man to a generous and kind one.

Confidant:

A confidant is a character in a story who the main character (usually the protagonist) confides in and shares their thoughts, feelings, and secrets. This character often serves as a sounding board and helps the protagonist work through their problems. 

For example, in "To Kill a Mockingbird," Atticus Finch serves as a confidant to his daughter, Scout.

Anagnorisis/Recognition:

Anagnorisis is a moment of realization or discovery in a story, often when a character suddenly understands something important. It's like a "eureka" moment. 

For example, in Shakespeare's "Othello," Othello has an anagnorisis when he realizes the truth about his wife Desdemona.

Poetic Justice:

Poetic justice is when characters in a story get what they deserve, whether it's a reward for their good actions or punishment for their bad ones. It's like karma in storytelling. 

For example, in "Romeo and Juliet," the feuding families' feud leads to the tragic deaths of the young lovers, serving as a form of poetic justice for their senseless hatred.

Heroic Couplet:

A heroic couplet is a type of rhyming pattern in poetry. It consists of two lines that rhyme and are written in iambic pentameter (ten syllables per line). They often convey a complete thought or idea.

 For example, Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Man" is written in heroic couplets.

Paradox:

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or goes against common sense but may reveal a deeper truth. 

For example, the paradoxical statement "less is more" suggests that simplicity can be more effective than complexity.

Pastoral:

Pastoral literature portrays an idealized and often rural or natural setting, focusing on the simplicity of rural life. It often celebrates nature, shepherds, and rural landscapes. 

An example is Shakespeare's play "As You Like It," set in the Forest of Arden.

Poetic Diction:

Poetic diction is the use of elevated or stylized language in poetry. It includes archaic words, metaphors, similes, and other figurative language to create a more artistic or emotional effect. 

In John Keats' poem "Ode to a Nightingale," he uses poetic diction to create vivid and expressive imagery.