Plot and Structure
Hints about what will happen later in a story.
What is foreshadowing?
Telling the reader directly what a character is like.
What is direct characterization?
The difference between mood and tone
What is: Mood is the reader's feeling; tone is the author's attitude.
The difference between a topic and a theme?
What is:A topic is a subject; a theme is the author's insight about it.
"Her voice was music to his ears."
What is a metaphor? (also an idiom)
The five parts of Freytag's pyramid, in order.
What are exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution?
The STEAL acronym for indirect characterization stands for...
What are speech, thoughts, effects on others, actions, and looks?
Name two tone words more precise than "happy."
Examples: jubilant, nostalgic, whimsical, lighthearted.
What is wrong with "Don't judge a book by its cover" as a theme?
It's a cliché and a command.
"Sweet sorrow," "jumbo shrimp."
What is oxymoron?
A scene that interrupts the present to show earlier events.
What is flashback?
A character who is complex, changes over time, and fully developed
What is a round/dynamic character?
The literary term for word choice.
What is diction?
A theme that appears across cultures and time periods.
What is a universal theme?
Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
What is alliteration?
A character struggles with guilt over a decision. Name the conflict type.
What is internal conflict (character vs. self)?
A character who contrasts with another to highlight their traits.
What is a foil?
How can setting act as an antagonist? Give an example.
Example: in a survival story, the wilderness itself works against the character.
Name two literary elements authors use to develop theme.
Character change, conflict, symbols, setting, title, the ending. (any two)
A reference to a well-known person, myth, or work.
What is allusion?
The French term for the final unraveling, where loose ends are tied up.
What is the dénouement?
A protagonist whose flaw leads to their downfall. Bonus: the Greek word for the flaw.
What is a tragic hero? (hamartia)
A recurring image, symbol, or idea throughout a work.
What is a motif?
How can two readers find different themes in the same story and both be right?
Texts support multiple themes; each is valid if backed by evidence.
Saying the opposite of what you mean. Sarcasm is one kind.
What is VERBAL irony?