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poetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme
free verse
a play, novel, or other narrative depicting serious and important events, in which the main character comes to an unhappy end
tragedy
contrast or discrepancy between expectation and reality
Irony
the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character
characterization
A traditional story about gods, ancestors, or heroes, told to explain the natural world or the customs and beliefs of a society.
myth
Repetition of initial consonant sounds
alliteration
in general, a story that ends happily
comedy
what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate
Situational Irony
the writer tells us directly what a character's personality is like
direct characterization
A reference to another work of literature, person, or event
Alllusion
A comparison without using like or as
metaphor
the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot
foreshadowing
occurs when the reader or the audience knows something important that a character does not know
dramatic irony
process by which the personality of a character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance, etc.
indirect characterization
A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning
inference
A comparison of two unlike things using like or as
simile
The use of words or sounds which resemble the sounds they describe. (ex boom, psst)
Onomatopoeia
A conversation between characters onstage
dialogue
a play on the multiple meanings of a word or on two words that sound alike but have different meanings
pun
the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities
symbolism
A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor
hyperbole
(Time Order) Events are arranged in the order in which they happened
chronological order
a word that has the same meaning as another word
synonym
Clues in surrounding text that help the reader determine the meaning of an unknown word
context clues
A struggle between opposing forces
conflict