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Guide to Literary Terms
Reading Comprehension
75
English
9th Grade
02/13/2008

Additional English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Tone
Definition

the author's attitude or feelings toward a subject, character, situation, or the reader

Term
Author's Purpose
Definition

the writer's reason for creating a work or using particular language

 

used to inform, describe, explain, summarize, persuade, demonstrate, compare or contrast, entertain, give examples, introduce, encourage, or emphasize

Term

Diction

Definition
the author's choice of words
Term
 Autho's purpose for Using Particular Language
Definition

....maybe..to emphsize a point, create a specific mood, or achieve a particular emotional reation

Term
Formal Diction
Definition

language states the meaning exactly in proper language

Term
Informal Diction
Definition

Often uses expressions or slang.

 

It is everday speech

Term

Denotation

Definition

literal or dictionary meaning of a word

Term
Connotation
Definition
the associations surrounding a word that are not part of its literal dictionary meaning
Term
Loaded Language
Definition

a word or language that has heavy emotional associations or connotations

 

 persuasive devide used to influence the reader's feelings

 

emotional and often creates +or- feeling

Term
Dialect
Definition
Way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region or group of people. ______may have distinctive vocabulary, pronounciation system and grammar
Term
Prediction
Definition
Statement or opinion about what will happen
Term
Inference
Definition
Conclusion that is drawn from evidence or reasoning
Term
Fact and Opinion
Definition

Distinguishing between statements of fact and statements of opinion is an important skill for readers in analyzing the text and recognizing how language can be used to convince us

 

 

Term
Statements of fact
Definition

.....can be proved by evidence to be either true or false. A ______can be checked either by consulting a reliable source or by personal observations

Term
Statements of Opinion
Definition

beliefs or conclusions that cannot be proved

Term
Comparing and Contrasting
Definition

_______ things allows us to recognize how they are alike and different and helps us to gather essential information and draw important conclusions

Term

Compare

Definition

when we ______ things, we focus on how they are similar or alike. We examine what qualities they have in common

Term
Contrast
Definition
when we _____  things, we focus on how they are different. We examine the qualities that make them distinct
Term
Cause and Effect
Definition
Relationships can help us to understand what has happened and how it affects what is happening in the story
Term
Cause
Definition

refers to an event or motivating factor that makes something else happen. It is the reason or basis for doing or feeling something

Term

Effect

Definition
refers to the consequence or outcome that result because of the actions of someone or something else
Term

Paraphrase

Definition

 means to summarize something using other words in order to make it simpler or shorter without changing the meaning

Term
Summary
Definition

shortened version of a selection that restates only the main points

Term
Concise Wording
Definition
Using languages that is brief (fewer words) to restate information more clearly without changing the meaning of the original sentences
Term

Main Idea

Definition

the focus or central point of a piece of writing

Term

Supporting Details

Definition
reasons, arguments, examples, or facts that help to explain or support the main idea
Term
Stated Main Idea
Definition
Sometimes the main idea is clarly stated in the selection. The sentences that states the __________is called the topic sentence or thesis statement
Term
Implied Main idea
Definition
Other times the main idea is _______ (understood or suggested)
Term
Theme
Definition

The statement about life that the author is communicating through the work. It is a message that unifies the work

 

____ is not the issue, or problem, or subject of a work. It is a comment the author makes about the issue, problem or subject

Term
Stated Theme
Definition
Some stories have obvious or clear themes that the author states directly
Term
Implied Theme
Definition
Most often the themes are not stated directly, but rather they are impied or suggested
Term
Universal Themes
Definition
Some themes are universal because they are appicable in various times and places
Term
Setting
Definition

place of action in the story and the time the action occur

Term
Place
Definition
Natural site or location at which the action occurs
Term
Time
Definition
Refer to the specific time of day, week, or year, season, climatic condition, or historical time period of the story
Term
Plot
Definition

Patten of events that reveals what happens in the story

 

 

There are five stages to the devlopment of plot

 

 

exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution

Term
Exposition
Definition
Beginning of a story that introduces the setting, main characters, and conflicts
Term
Rising Action
Definition
Development of the characters and conflict. The characters try to solve their problems and/or encounter new difficulties
Term
Climax
Definition

the most intense moment in the story

Term
Falling action
Definition
occurs after the major decision is made
Term
Resolution
Definition
End of the story in which the outcome is decided
Term
Literary Point of View
Definition
Vantage point, or position, from which the author tells a story
Term

First person point of view has the narrator 

(or speaker) as a character in the story

Definition
This narrator can only tell the reader about his/her throughts and feelings, or what he/she observes directly or has been told by other characters
Term
Third person point of view has the narrator (or speak) as someone outside the story
Definition
Who tells us about the characters and actions in the story. The narrator is unknown
Term
External Conflict
Definition

struggle between the character and something outside the character

Term
Person vs. person
Definition
occurs when there is a problem or fight between two or more characters in a story
Term
Person vs. nature
Definition
occurs when the character struggles against a force or nature or some aspect of the environment
Term
Person vs. society
Definition
occurs when the character goes against the rules of values of the group in which he/she lives
Term
Person vs. fate
Definition
occurs when the character must struggle against his/her destiny (somethings inevitable) or some force beyond the character's control
Term

Imagery

Definition
representation in language of sensory experience
Term
Sensory Details
Definition

specific images that apeal to our senses. __________ can make us feel that we "are there," sharing the experience with the author

Term
Figurative Language
Definition
language that uses the imagination to compare one thing to something that is very different
Term
Simile
Definition
indirect comparison between two different things using words such as like, as, than, and resembles
Term
Metaphor
Definition
Makes a comparison between two distinct things without using any linking words
Term
Third person omniscient
Definition
has the narrator as someone outside the story. This narrator knows everything about all the characters in the story. The ______ _____ know what everyone does, says, thinks, or feels
Term
Third person limited
Definition
the narrator as someone outside the story. This narrator knows only about one of the characters in the story.
Term
Third person objective
Definition

narrator as someone outside the story. This narrator knows only what can be observed int he story

Term
Characterization
Definition
Method the author uses to reveal a character's personality
Term
Direct characterization
Definition
Narrator's description of the character
Term

Indirect characterization

Definition
description of a situation that provides clues about the character's personality
Term
Characters
Definition
Individuals who take part in the actiono f a story. _________ may be people, animals, or imaginary beings
Term
Major Characters
Definition
Main character or characters that are central to the cnflict and action of the story
Term
Minor characters
Definition
less important characters that simply interact with the main characters
Term
Function in the Conflict
Definition
Characters can be classified by their role in the conflict
Term
Protagonist
Definition
Most important character who is central to the action. The _______ is the hero of the story
Term
Antagonist
Definition
Individual, thing, or force that opposes the protagonist
Term
Complexity of the character
Definition

characters can be classified by how complex or well developed they are

Term
Flat characters
Definition
one-dimensional characters that have only a few personality traits
Term
Round characters
Definition
more complex with various personality traits
Term

Static characters

Definition
remain the same from begining to the end of the story . Things happen to these characters, but without any changes occuring within the character
Term
Dynamic characters
Definition
change or are transformed by their experiences
Term
Sterotype
Definition
Oversimplified an standarized image or idea about what something, someone, or some group is like
Term
Conflict
Definition
struggle between two oppsing forces in a story
Term
Internal conflict
Definition
struggle within a character
Term
Person vs. self
Definition
occurs when the character has a problem that can only be resolved within the character
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