Literature Terms
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
Alliteration
The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.
Diction
Denotation is the dictionary meaning of a word.
________________ is the emotional meaning of a word.
(hot = temperature hot=good looking)
Connotation
No matter where you go, the Internet is following you. Almost every portable device is being made with an Internet connection. Most new TVs and many other appliances come with Internet connections as well. The Internet is truly ubiquitous. If something is ubiquitous, __________.
a. it can harm you
b. it is everywhere
c. it costs money
d. it is abstract
B. it is everywhere
The writer's position on an issue or problem.
Claim
An underlying message about life or human nature that a writer wants the reader to understand
Theme
In a plot, the point of maximum interest or tension
Climax
A word that uses opposites to express an idea.
Example: unbiased opinion
Oxymoron
Wherever he goes, the esteemed Dr. Sanchez is applauded for his life saving research. What does “esteemed” mean?
a. held over boiling water
b. very old
c. confident
d. greatly admired
D. Greatly Admired
A brief account of a text’s central or main points, themes, or ideas that is free of bias, prejudice, and personal opinion and does not incorporate outside information.
Objective Summary
An indirect reference to a famous person, place, event or literary work
Allusion
A character's sudden realization or something he/she did not understand previously.
Epiphany
______ is the atmosphere the writer creates for the reader.
_____ is the attitude an author has towards a particular subject or topic of a text.
*Answer must be in the correct order*
1. Mood
2. Tone
Fortunately, the dizzy spell was transient. He was able to continue playing within seconds and had no trouble winning the match. When you describe an event as “transient,” you are saying that __________.
a. it sounds like a train
b. it is quite harmful
c. it helps you win
d. it doesn't last long
D. It doesn't last long
These are the most essential ideas of a text; the key points the author wants to make.
Central Idea
A writer’s use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in the story
An account of a conversation, an episode or an event that happened earlier in the narrative
Flashback
What are the two types of characterization?
One: author states traits explicitly "Arthur is intelligent"
Two: author implies character traits: "Arthur graduated early and was admitted to Harvard at 16."
Direct and Indirect
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
The editor denied knowledge of the reporter's alleged unethical interview techniques, claiming he had been _________ her finished work but not of her journalistic techniques.
A. cognizant of
B. wary of
C. acknowledged by
D. bemused by
E. vindicated by
A. cognizant of
A specific type of autobiography about the author's personal experiences. It does not cover the author's entire life, but instead focuses on an important moment or stage of his life.
Memoir
A statement that at first seems contradictory, but upon further examination, reveals a universal truth.
Ex: If I know one thing, it's that I know nothing.
Paradox
Words that are specific to a group or occupation.
Football: backfield, blitz, end zone, field goal, etc
A) Connotation B) Jargon
C) Oxymoron D) Diction
B) jargon
If you don't know the meaning of a word, you need to use __________ _________ in the sentence to figure it out.
Context Clues
Favoring economy of expression in writing, the professor urged students toward _______ rather than an ______ style of writing.
A. spare....ornate
B. terse.....opinionated
C. personal....academic
D. baroque....embellished
E. repititive....intricate
A. Spare... ornate
A narrator’s, writer’s, or speaker’s position with regard to the events of a narrative; one’s stance on events or information given
Point of View