Hinsdale
Olean
Cuba
Allegany
Franklinville
100
dictionary definition of a word
What is denotation
100
A character whose personality traits contrast sharply with those of the main character, thereby better illuminating the main character’s qualities
What is a foil character
100
The methods an author uses to build a character’s personality
What is characterization
100
comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as”
What is simile
100
literature meant to be performed; literature in play form
What is drama
200
Main idea of a work of literature; perception about life or human nature the author shares with the reader. Usually not stated directly – must be inferred
What is a theme
200
a brief comment by a character meant to be heard only by the audience or certain other characters
What is an aside
200
A strong character, usually of noble birth or upbringing, who causes his/her own downfall because of a character flaw (called a tragic flaw)
What is a tragic hero
200
writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events/situations that will occur later in the plot
What is foreshadowing
200
when a person, place, object or idea represents something beyond itself
What is symbolism
300
Conversation, episode or event that occurred before the beginning of the story. This often interrupts the normal chronological flow of events in a book, in order to give us information that helps us understand the character’s current situation
What is a flashback
300
comparison between two unlike things NOT using “like” or “as”
What is a metaphor
300
Story with two meanings; an extended metaphor in which objects, persons, and actions in a story are equated with meanings that lie outside the story itself. The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters often represent abstract ideas such as charity, greed, or envy.
What is an allegory
300
dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character or characters involved in significant events. The events usually are set in motion by a bad decision the hero makes. Subsequent events are linked by cause and effect, and lead inevitably to a disastrous conclusion, usually death
What is tragedy
300
repeating a sound, word, phrase, line, stanza, for emphasis or effect
What is repitition
400
when a character/author says one thing but means another
What is verbal irony
400
extreme exaggeration for humor or emphasis
What is hyperbole
400
a long speech delivered by a character that explains his/her innermost thoughts and feelings. The character is usually alone on stage; if not, the other characters cannot “hear” what he/she is saying
What is a soliloquy
400
Struggle between opposing forces
What is conflict
400
a play on words that have similar sounds but more than one spelling or meaning
What is a pun
500
language that means something beyond its literal sense
What is figurative language
500
when the audience knows something a character doesn’t
What is dramatic irony
500
when something happens the audience doesn’t expect
What is situational irony
500
a brief reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature
What is allusion
500
emotional or cultural meaning we give a word
What is connotation
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