Hamlet Literary Terms

Hamlet

Key Literary Terms

exposition

where the characters and setting are

introduced

rising action

where conflicts arise and suspense builds

climax

the point of highest tension or excitement

falling action

events that result after the climax

resolution

final outcome

subplot

stories that run parallel to the main plot

foil

a minor character who provides a striking

contrast to another character, thus

emphasizing the other character’s traits

conflict

a struggle between opposing forces

soliloquy

a long speech in a play in which a

character talks to himself or herself

allusion

a reference to something in previous

history, art, literature, or culture that the

author believes the audience will relate to

figurative of speech

language that is not literally true

metaphor

a direct comparison between two

otherwise unlike things (not using like or

as)

simile

a direct comparison between two

otherwise unlike things using the words

like or as

personification

giving human traits to something

nonhuman

imagery

using words to create mental pictures,

often invoking the five senses

diction

word choice

paradox

a statement that seems to contradict itself

but may suggest an important truth