BASIC LITERARY TERMS
Allegory: The term ‘Allegory’ comes from a Latin word meaning “disguised language”. In literature, allegory means the use of certain characters or situations which have two meanings. It is a story within a story. It has one superficial story which gives us one meaning and the other hidden story which gives us a deeper and more serious meaning. Stories of ‘Panchtantra’ by Vishnu Sharma are allegorical stories. John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ also narrates the journey of human life in an allegorical manner.
Allusion: Allusion means references to olden myths, scriptures etc. The author gives references to other popular works of ancient mythical stories from the Bible etc while narrating a story. Use of such references to other stories, legends or myths is called allusion in literature.
Antagonist: Antagonist is often termed as a villain, an opponent of the protagonist or the main character. The action in the story arises from a conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist.
Art for Arts’ Sake: “Art for Arts’ sake” is a 19th century literary movement which gives importance to aesthetic pleasure instead of moral, didactic or utilitarian function of literature.
Black Comedy: Black comedy is a humorous work of art in which laughter is aroused from human suffering and grief.
Blank Verse: Blank verse is a form of poetry that is written in iambic pentameter but un-rhymed lines.
Blank verse Vs Free verse: Blank verse follows the fix meter like iambic pentameter and un-rhymed but Free verse is un-rhymed and does not follow the fix meter.
Chorus: The term “Chorus” was first used in the mid 16th century. The word comes from a Greek term “Koros” via Latin language. Chorus means a group of singers. It is an ancient device used in the olden Greek plays.
Complex Plot: It is a plot having one main plot and one or more sub-plots. A complex plot according to Aristotle has ‘peripeteia’ (reversal) and ‘anagnorisis’ (denouement) without which it is a simple plot.
Conflict: Life is full of conflict. Literature represents this life. So conflict is the integral part of any work of art. Conflict is a problem or struggle in a story or play. In literature it has rising action, climax and falling action. It creates suspense and excitement in the story or play.
Drama Vs Play: Drama is always in the written form (in prose or poetry) which is read by the readers whereas the drama which is enacted or performed on the stage is called a play.
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Epic: “Epic is a long narrative poem written in a dignified style about the deeds of traditional or historical characters.” Epic has universal theme, supernatural elements, superhuman characters and very lofty language. It conveys some serious religious or philosophical ideas.
Epistolary Novel: In Epistolary novel the story is narrated through letters sent by the observer or by those who participate in the events. Example: 18th century’s novel Richardson’s ‘Pamela’ and ‘Clarissa’ etc.
Flat Character Vs Round Character: A round character is complex and dynamic. In this character improvement and change occurs during the course of work but flat character is typical and remains unchanged through the course of work.
Gothic Novel: Gothic Novel is a type of novel. Here, cruel passions and supernatural terror is presented. The novel is usually set in middle ages.
Hamartia: It is a Greek term used by Aristotle. It means “fatal flaw”. In tragedy, Hamartia or some inherent weakness or demerits of the protagonist causes his downfall or decline. For example, procrastination (too much thinking) was the Hamartia of Hamlet which brings tragedy in his life.
Imagism: Imagism is a movement of Anglo-American poets which started in early 19th century in which they emphasized the use of clear images and simple and sharp language. The literature of imagism ignored the subject matter and moral preoccupations.
Interior Monologue: Interior monologue is the expression of internal thought, feelings and emotions of a character in dramatic or narrative form.
Irony: Twisted use of words in which we mean something different than what we say is called irony. Irony is mostly found in comedies. It creates humorous situations. There are three types of irony – situational, dramatic and verbal.
Metaphysical Poetry: Metaphysical poetry is a highly intellectualized poetry with the use of wit, imagery, conceits and paradox etc. It was a reaction against the Romantic poetry of the Elizabethan age. It appeals more to the readers’ intellect than emotions. It is obscure and rigid. John Donne is considered as the pioneer of metaphysical poetry.
Mock-epic: Mock-epic is a poem in which satire, exaggeration, irony and sarcasm is used to mock the subject. It uses the epic style for the trivial subject.
Neo-classicism: Neo-classicism is an eighteenth century western movement of art, literature and architecture. They got inspiration from ancient Greece and ancient Rome. They strictly followed the rules of writing literature as devised by the ancient Greek and Roman critics.
Novel Vs Novella: Difference between novel and novella is about the length of the narrative work. Novella is shorter than novel and longer than short story but novel is a long narrated work.
Open Form Poetry Vs Closed Form Poetry: Closed form poetry uses the fix pattern of stanza, rhyme and meter etc. For example: sonnet, limerick, haiku and sestina etc. Open form poetry does not use these fix patterns.
Oxford Movement: Oxford movement started during the 19th century. It aimed at the revival of Catholic doctrine in Anglican Church. It is against the conventional understanding of the religion.
Pastoral Elegy: Pastoral elegy is a poem about death. In this poem the poet expresses his grief for the dead. The poem is set in some rural background.
Plot: Plot is a logical arrangement of a series of events in a story or a play. The exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution are the five elements of plot.
Point of View: The author expresses his ‘Point of view’ in his works. It is an opinion, judgment or attitude on a matter.
Protagonist: Protagonist is often known as a hero or heroine, the main character around whom the action revolves. The protagonist wins sympathy and love of the readers.
Puritanism: Puritanism is the religious movement which started during the 17th century. The goal of the movement was to purify the church of England from its Catholic practices.
Round Character: Round character is complex and dynamic. In this character improvement and change occurs during the course of work.
Satire: Satire is a device in which the author ridicules or criticizes the follies or weaknesses of a person or society in his works. It creates laughter. It aims at reforming the society. Satire is widely used in Comedy of Manners. There are three types of satire – Horatian, Juvenalian and Menippean.
Setting: Setting includes time, place and social background. The characters and the story in literature are set in some specific time, at some specific places and social background. All these three give the touch of reality to the works.
Soliloquy: Soliloquy is a device used in drama in which a character speaks to himself or herself (thinking aloud) by showing his/her feelings or thoughts to audience.
Spenserian Stanza: Spenserian stanza consist of nine lines, eight lines are in iambic pentameter and followed by single line in iambic hexameter. The last line is called Alexandrine.
Stream of Consciousness: Stream of Consciousness is a technique of narration in which the series of thoughts in the mind of the character are presented. It gives psychological presentation of the characters.
Theater of Absurd: Theater of the absurd is a kind of drama in which absurdity or meaninglessness of life of the modern man is presented. Harold Pinter’s ‘The Birthday Party’ is a nice example of the theater of absurd.
Theme: Theme is the central idea or subject matter of any work of art. No work can exist without a theme. It is the heart and soul of the work of art. The author expresses his vision or philosophy of life through his novels, short stories, poetry or plays which is known as theme.
University Wits: It is a phrase used to name a group of late 16th century English playwrights educated at the universities of Cambridge and Oxford. Here, the term “Wits” means “Scholars”. They broke the tradition of religious drama and started writing purely aesthetic kind of plays. They were the predecessors of Shakespeare. Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Kyd, John Lyly, Robert Greene, George Peele, Thomas Lodge and Thomas Nasche were known as University Wits. Click to watch a video lecture.
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