Ncfe Literary Terms

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Diction

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a style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer

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Denotation

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literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings

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Connotation

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a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly

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Symbolism

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the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense

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Foreshadowing

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a literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story

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Inference/Infer

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a literary device used commonly in literature and in daily life where logical deductions are made based on premises assumed to be true

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Tone

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an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience

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Mood

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a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions

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Figurative Language

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using figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive and impactful

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Metaphor

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a figure of speech which makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics

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Simile

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a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things

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Exposition

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a literary device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters etc. to the audience or readers

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Plot

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a literary term used to describe the events that make up a story or the main part of a story

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External Conflict

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a struggle that takes place between the main character and some outside forces

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Internal Conflict

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psychological struggle within the mind of a literary or dramatic character, the resolution of which creates the plot's suspense

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Dialogue

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a literary technique in which writers employ two or more characters to be engaged in conversation with each other

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Rhyme Scheme

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the pattern of rhyme that comes at the end of each verse or line in poetry

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Assonance

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takes place when two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sound but start with different consonant sounds

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Alliteration

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a commonly used style of figurative language that most people don’t even realize they are using

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Stanza

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a group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse

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First Point of View

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a point of view (who is telling a story) where the story is narrated by one character at a time

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Third Person Limited Point of View

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the narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character. All characters are described using pronouns, such as 'they', 'he', and 'she'. But, one character is closely followed throughout the story, and it is typically a main character

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Third Person Omniscient Point of View

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a point of view where the narrator knows all the thoughts, actions, and feelings of all characters. The author may move from character to character to show how each one contributes to the plot.