English Terms
This is when an author indirectly hints at—through things such as dialogue, description, or characters' actions—what's to come later on in the story. This device is often used to introduce tension to a narrative.
True or false: The first American literature began in the 1600s when the Europeans came to the Americas.
False: there is a lengthy tradition of oral story telling and history that existed way before Europeans came to America.
Which majors/minors does ENG 353 count for?
What are English and Creative Writing, Media and Society, and American Studies.
The Turn of The Screw is written by this American-born author that England also claims.
Who is Henry James
This term is where a story takes place.
What is the setting?
This is an exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for comedic effect and/or emphasis.
What is hyperbole?
This American author wrote short stories and poems that were terrifying. His list includes The Cask of Amontillado, The Black Cat, The Raven, The Gold Bug, and The Pit and the Pendulum.
Who is Edgar Allan Poe?
This 1860s novel was recently adapted into film and features Meryl Streep.
What is Alcott's Little Women
Known for being the original American writer, we read his story centered around Ichabod Crane in class.
Who is Washington Irving
This term is used when an author gives non-human things human characteristics.
What is personfication?
This is an interruption in a narrative that depicts events that have already occurred, either before the present time or before the time at which the narration takes place. This device is often used to give the reader more background information and details about specific characters, events, plot points, and so on.
What is a flashback?
This American author wrote stories of survival including The Call of the Wild and White Fang.
Who is Jack London?
This writer is the TRIAS-WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE this year at Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Who is Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
This Mary Shelley character is commonly mistaken for another character.
Who is Victor Frankenstein
This term is used when an author uses the same consonant at the beginning of each word.
What is alliteration?
This is when an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from outside the text. Many of these make reference to previous works of literature or art.
What is an allusion?
This is a tony winning Broadway play that uses rap as the main mode of signing. It was written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
What is Hamilton?
The Lion King Movie recently came out, while not American, what piece of famous literature is this story based on.
What is Shakespeare's Hamlet
Safe in their __________ -
Untouched by Morning -
and untouched by noon -
Sleep the meek members of the Resurrection,
Rafter of Satin and Roof of Stone -
What is their Alabaster Chambers
This character in a story is often opposite of the protagonist or main character. They are usually the "bad" guy or someone who challenges the protagonist.
What is antagonist?
This is a genre of writing that criticizes something, such as a person, behavior, belief, government, or society. It often employs irony, humor, and hyperbole to make its point.
What is satire?
This American poet was the first to really use Free Verse as a major style of poetry. He wrote a collection of poems titled Leaves of Grass and is often spoke of as one of the most important American poets.
Who is Walt Whitman?
After leaving his prep school, this protagonist became a fan favorite in Salinger's 1951 novel.
Who is Holden Caufield
A type of monologue that's often used in dramas. This is when a character speaks aloud to himself (and to the audience), thereby revealing his inner thoughts and feelings and is a major feature of Shakespeare's plays.
What is a soliloquy?
This is a style of poetry that uses no rhymes and is usually set in iambic pentameter.
What is blank verse?