Literary Terms-A
When words in a group of words begin with the same consonant sound. For example: Fred's frozen french fries.
What is alliteration?
A scene in a story that occurred before the present time in the story. This may be presented as memories, dreams, or stories of the past told by characters.
What is flashback?
Clues or hints about something that is going to happen later in the story. Authors use it to build suspense and to prepare the reader for what happens later.
What is foreshadowing?
The comparison of two unlike things without using "like" or "as." For example, "Karen was a ray of sunshine."
What is metaphor?
A tendency to believe that some ideas are better than others; to allow experiences, values, and beliefs to impact decisions and/or research.
What is bias?
The opponent or enemy of the protagonist (main character).
What is antagonist?
A common expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words. For example, "It's raining cats and dogs."
What is idiom?
Extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.
What is hyperbole?
Words or phrases that appeal to the reader's five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
What is imagery?
Using or closely imitating the words/thoughts/ideas of another.
What is plagiarism?
The sequence of events in a story. This includes the exposition, the rising action, the climax, the falling action and the resolution.
What is the plot?
The environment in which a story takes place, including time period, the location, and the surroundings.
What is setting?
The main or central character of a work of literature.
What is protagonist?
When two unlike things are compared- using like or as. For example, "Randy's voice is like melted chocolate."
What is simile?
When a character is struggling with a mental decision.
What is internal conflict?
A struggle between opposing forces. It may be external or internal.
What is conflict?
The means through which an author reveals a character's personality.
What is characterization?
The point in the play, novel, short story, or narrative poem at which the conflict reaches its greatest intensity and is then resolved.
What is climax?
The conversation between characters in a work of literature.
What is dialogue?
A root that means "to pull"
What is tract?
An object, setting, event, animal, or person that on one level is itself, but that has another meaning as well. For example, in a story or play, rain could represent sadness or leaving the past behind.
What is symbol?
The author's attitude toward the subject matter or toward the reader or audience. _______ is conveyed through the author's word choices and the details that he or she includes.
What is tone?
The feeling the reader gets from a work of literature. For example: creepy, calm, romantic, sad, or tense.
What is mood?
The use of words whose sounds imitate the sounds of what they describe, such as hiss, murmur, growl, honk, buzz, woof, etc.
What is onomatopoeia?
A word has a positive or negative meaning.
What is connotation?
When something happens that is the reverse of what is expected; A twist in the plot.
What is situational irony?
When the name or description of something implies the opposite of the truth. Sometimes similar to sarcasm. (for example calling a very tall person "Tiny").
What is verbal irony?
A story's main message or moral.
What is Theme?
When the reader or audience member is aware of something that the characters are not aware of
What is dramatic irony?
When a character is struggling with an outside force within the story.
What is external conflict?