Literary Elements

Allegory- A narrative that has 2 meanings one literal or surface meaning and the
other metaphorical (the characters and settings represent abstract ideas or moral
qualities

Allusion- Any reference, direct or indirect, to a person, place, event, or character in

history, literature, mythology, etc.
That have the opposite power to Saint Peter (Act 4, scene 2, line 106)
As Dians visage(Act 3, scene 3, line 442)

Catastrophe- The concluding action of a tragedy, where the principal character

meets with death or other significant defeat.
Catharsis- Purgation or purification of the emotions of pity and fear from the viewing
of a tragic drama
Characters- Living beings in a work of fiction

Comic Relief- A humorous scene, incident or speech in the course of a serious fiction
or drama
In Act 3 scene 1 the clown makes fun of the musicians who were bad.

Conceit- An ingenious and fanciful notion or conception through an elaborate

analogy showing striking parallel between two dissimilar things.

Connotation- The suggested or emotional meaning of a word as compared with its

dictionary definition Context The setting or frame of reference in which an event
takes place
Effect- The impression made by a literary work on a reader or society
Hamartia- The tragic flaw or error of judgment

Invocation- An address to a god or muse whose aid is sought

Socratic Irony- Pretending to be ignorant when in fact the character is being

cautious or tentative Verbal Irony Contrast between what is stated and what is
suggested
Mood- The atmosphere or emotional effect generated by the words images
situations in a literary work Plot The action that which happens in a literary work

Complication- smaller actions or events which confound and compound the original
problem

Crisis- The turning point for better or worse in a play

Climax- A point of high emotional intensity often the protagonist and antagonist
clash for the last time

Denouement- Falling action, the conclusion of a plot, the resolution

Recognition- The moment at which a chief character recognizes the happy or awful
truth.

Reversal- The thrilling change of luck for the protagonist at the last moment

Setting- A combination of locale, historical period, season or hour, and spiritual,

ethnic and cultural background

Tone- The writers or speakers attitude toward his subject, audience, or himself

Tragedy- A serious fiction involving the downfall of a hero or heroine

Tragic Flaw- In a tragedy, the defect in the hero that leads to a downfall

Tragic Irony- the most noble and most deserving person, because of the very
grounds of his or her excellence, dies in defeat.
Simile-

Wears out his time, much like his master`s ass (Act 1, scene 1, line 50)
The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts" (Act 1, scene 3, line 391-392)