Plot, Character, & Setting
This key element of plot refers to the sequence of events immediately following the climax where the tension begins to ease.
A. Climax
B. Rising Action
C. Falling Action
D. Conclusion
What is the falling action? (C)
Unlike a topic, which is a single word like "friendship," a theme must be expressed as this complete structure.
What is a statement or full sentence?
"The wind whispered through the dark forest" is an example of this figurative language device.
A. Metaphor
B. Personification
C. Alliteration
D. Hyperbole
What is personification? (B)
The Latin root "aud" (as in audience or audible) means this.
What is to hear?
The literal, dictionary definition of a word, stripped of any emotional association.
A. Connotation
B. Denotation
C. Condemnation
D. Denominator
What is denotation? (B)
The time and place in which a story occurs, which often creates mood and directly drives character decisions.
What is the setting?
When two different characters view the exact same event in opposite ways, the author is highlighting differences in this.
What is perspective (or point of view)?
Language that appeals to the five senses to create vivid visual images or sensory experiences for the reader. (Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste, Touch)
What is Imagery?
The Latin root "vis" or "vid" (as in vision or invisible) means this.
What is to see?
The emotional connection, feelings, or implied cultural meaning associated with a word (e.g., frugal vs. cheap).
A. Connotation
B. Denotation
C. Condemnation
D. Denominator
What is connotation? (A)
This term describes a character who undergoes significant internal change or growth throughout the narrative.
A. Dynamic Character - one that changes inside
B. Static Character - one that stays the same
C. Round Character - one that is complex
D. Flat Character - one that is simple
What is a dynamic character? (A)
Point of view where the narrator is outside the story and knows the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of all characters.
A. First-Person
B. Second-Person
C. Third-Person Limited
D. Third-Person Omniscient
What is Third-Person Omniscient? (D)
An object, person, or situation that has a literal meaning in the story but represents a deeper, abstract concept.
A. Personification
B. Allusion
C. Symbolism
D. Onomatopoeia
What is symbolism? (C)
The Greek root "chron" (as in chronological or chronic) relates to this concept.
What is time?
Words in a text surrounding an unfamiliar word that provide hints to help determine its meaning.
What are context clues?
An author uses this technique when the historical or physical environment directly forces a character to reveal their underlying traits or motivations.
A. Point of View
B. Theme
C. Internal Conflict
D. Character Development
What is character development? (D)
An author develops two contrasting themes in a single text primarily through these two plot elements or character actions.
What are character choices and resolution of conflict?
The repetition of initial consonant sounds in close proximity, often used in poetry to create rhythm or mood.
A. Alliteration
B. Allusion
C. Rhyme
D. Imagery
What is alliteration? (A)
Combining the Latin root "cred" (to believe/trust) with the suffix "-ous" (full of) creates a word meaning "too trusting or easily tricked." Is it:
A) Credible
B) Credulous
C) Incredible
D) Creed
What is Credulous? (B)
"While the initial instructions were ambiguous, the teacher's detailed explanation made the assignment clear." Which word pair shows the context clue relationship used here?
A) Definition (ambiguous = initial)
B) Example (ambiguous = assignment)
C) Synonyms (ambiguous / clear)
D) Antonyms (ambiguous / clear)
What is Antonyms? (D)
When a setting acts almost as a character itself by creating obstacle after obstacle for the protagonist, it is creating this type of conflict.
What is External Conflict?
To individualize a character's perspective, authors often alter these specific language elements, such as word choice, speech patterns, and internal monologue.
What is voice (or diction/dialogue)?
The overarching difference between a metaphor and a extended metaphor in a poetic structure.
What is that an extended metaphor develops the comparison across multiple lines or throughout the entire poem?
Adding the prefix "un-" or "dis-" to a root word changes the word's meaning in this way.
What is making it opposite, negative, or "not"?
When writing an expository essay, transitioning smoothly between paragraphs requires using logical organizational words known by this term.
What are transitional phrases (or transitions or signal words)?