FSL
The basic unit of a poem, which functions similarly to a paragraph in prose.
Structure; Stanza
A tone that is lighthearted, funny, and meant to make the reader laugh.
Humorous, funny, lighthearted
The main argument or position that the author is attempting to prove.
Thesis or Claim
The primary goal of a textbook or a "How-To" manual.
Inform
This person never asked for a quest. They were perfectly happy at home (probably eating breakfast or minding their own business) until destiny—or a very pushy wizard—knocked on their door. They spend the first half of the story wanting to go home and the second half realizing they are the only ones who can save the day.
The Reluctant Hero
What are the three "E's" that illustrate an appeal to a speaker's credibility?
Ethics, Experience and Expertise
This term describes a narrator who is outside the story and knows the thoughts of every character.
Structure; Third-Person Omniscient
A tone that is completely neutral, factual, and lacks any personal bias.
Objective
The specific facts, statistics, or anecdotes used to support an argument.
Evidence
The goal of a writer trying to change your mind about a political issue.
Persuade
This character is usually older, wiser, and possesses knowledge the protagonist lacks. They rarely finish the journey themselves; their job is to provide a "magical gift" (like a sword or a secret) and some cryptic advice before stepping aside (or tragically dying) so the hero can grow.
Mentor, The Guide
A speaker who establishes "common ground" with a hostile audience is primarily building this appeal.
Ethos
This structure presents events in the order they occurred.
Chronological Order
A tone that is seemingly praising on the surface but is actually mocking or derisive
Ironic, sarcastic, sardonic
The use of words that imitate sounds, like "Bang" or "Sizzle."
Onomatopoeia
A writer uses this purpose when their main goal is to tell a story or evoke a specific feeling.
This type of archetype represents a place of mystery, danger, or a literal and metaphorical "testing ground," like "The Forest" or the "Wilderness"
Setting
The Scenario: A girl in a slasher movie runs into the kitchen to hide because she thinks it's the safest room in the house.
The Twist: The audience just saw the killer climb through the kitchen window ten seconds ago. We are yelling "Don't go in there!" while she thinks she’s finally safe.
A novel is written in the form of a collection of letters or diary entries.
Epistolary
A tone that is expressing grief, often for something that is lost.
mournful, sorrowful, lugubrious
What is the difference between Consonance, Assonance and Alliteration?
Consonance-repetition of consonant sound
Assonance-repetition of vowel sound
Alliteration- repetition of sound in the beginning letters of two or more words
An editorial that uses heavy irony to mock a new law combines these two purposes.
Persuade & Entertain
This isn't just a "bad guy." This is a character who is a thematic opposite to the hero. If the hero represents "Order through Law," this archetype represents "Order through Fear." They are a dark mirror, but specifically designed to represent the hero's unlived life. They are what the hero would be if they made one specific, different choice in their backstory.
The Shadow,The Villain
The Scenario: A professional fire safety inspector is giving a televised lecture on how to prevent electrical fires in the home.
The Twist: While he is speaking, his own house burns down because he left a space heater plugged into an extension cord.
Situational Irony
In poetry, this occurs when a sentence or phrase runs over from one line to the next without terminal punctuation.
enjambment
A tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or "showy" about its own knowledge.
Pedantic
This term refers to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.
Meter, rhythm
The purpose of a "Call to Action," which usually appears at the end of this type of text.
Persuade
Rules? They don't know her. This archetype exists to disrupt the status quo. They use humor, irony, or deceit to expose the hypocrisy of the world. You never quite know if they are a friend or an enemy because their only true loyalty is to mischief.
Agent of Chaos
"You are free to execute your laws, and your citizens, as you see fit."
Zeugma