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Literary Terms
all sorts of good stuff
57
English
10th Grade
01/16/2010

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Term
a word intended to simulate the actual sound of the thing or action it describes
Definition
onomatopoeia
Term
a character who changes by the end of the story, learning something that changes him or her in a permanent way
Definition
dynamic character
Term
a literary type or form. shares conventions, characteristics with other works
Definition
genre
Term
human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are criticized by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or other methods, sometimes with an intent to bring about improvement
Definition
satire
Term
a deliberate exaggeration. used for emphasis or vivd descriptions
Definition
hyperbole
Term
a type of figurative language that makes a comparison between tw otherwise unlike objects or ideas by connecting them with the words "like" or "as". allows an author to emphasize a certain characteristic of an object
Definition
simile
Term
the perspective from which a story is presented to a reader; the vantage point. some examples: first person, third person omniscient, third person objective
Definition
point of view
Term
the emotional tone(i.e. joy/horror) in a work, often established by the setting
Definition
atmosphere
Term
repeating a consonant sound in close proximity to others
Definition
alliteration
Term
a type of language that varies from the norms of literal language, in which words mean exactly what they say. forces the reader to make an imaginative leap in order to comprehend an author's point. i.e. metaphor
Definition
figurative language
Term
a collection of events that tells a story, which may be true or not, placed in a particular order and recounted through either telling or writing
Definition
narrative
Term
choice of words
Definition
diction
Term
a word construction or verbal expression closely associated with a given language. i.e. in colloquial English the construction "how come" can be used instead of "why" to introduce a question Similarly, "a piece of cake" is sometimes used to describe a task that is easily done
Definition
idiom
Term
a comparison of two things made to explain something unfamiliar through its similarities to somting familiar, or to prove one point based on the acceptance of another
Definition
analogy
Term
a word or group of wordsin a literary work that appeal to one or more of the senses
Definition
imagery
Term
a character who does not change throughout the work, and the reader's knowledge of that character does not grow
Definition
static character
Term
the character, action, setting, or object representing something else in a story
Definition
symbol
Term
the atmospere or feeling created by a literary work (experienced by the reader)
Definition
mood
Term
the main character, usually the hero
Definition
protagonist
Term
the ordering of words into meaningful verbal patterns such as phrases, clauses, and sentences. poets often manipulate syntax, changing conventional word order, to place certain emphasis on particular words
Definition
syntax
Term
the time, place, physical details, and circumstances in which a story occurs. includes background, atmosphere, and environment
Definition
setting
Term
something that evokes a feeling of pity or sympathy
Definition
pathos
Term
a phrase in which the words are contradictory. ie. jumbo shrimp
Definition
oxymoron
Term
the manner of expression of a particular writer, produced by choice of words, grammatical structures, use of literary devices, and all the possible parts of language use. ie: scientific, ornate, plain, emotive
Definition
style
Term
a reference to something or someone, usually literary. often indirect or brief references to well-known characters or events
Definition
allusion
Term
refers to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually seem. many times it is the opposite of what it appears to be. there are different types; verbal, situational, and dramatic
Definition
irony
Term
assigning human attributes to something nonhuman. makes objects and their actions easier to visualize, and more interesting
Definition
personification
Term
style or manner of expression (experienced by the author)
Definition
tone
Term
the major character opposing the main character. usually the villain. doesn't necessarily have to be a person, or evil
Definition
antagonist
Term
the main idea of a piece of literature. may be deep, difficult to understand, or moralistic
Definition
theme
Term
the use of hints or clues in a narrative to suggest what action is to come
Definition
foreshadow
Term
the statement that reads as being contradictory but upon closer examination reveals some truth. ie. i lived in poverty and died rich
Definition
paradox
Term
a comparison made by calling one item another item, but literally it is not in connecting one object, event, or place, to another, new and intriguing qualities of the original thing can be uncovered
Definition
metaphor
Term
a scene in a work that interrupts the action to show an event that happened earlier (out of chronological order). gives insight into a character's motivation and/or background to a conflict
Definition
flashback
Term
the method used by a writer to reveal the personality of a character. one of the most important tools of an author
Definition
characterization
Term
the main events that structure the story
Definition
plot
Term
the beginning of the story that sets the tone, establishes setting, introduces the characters, and gives important background information
Definition
exposition
Term
the person or force that opposes the protagonist in a short story and many works of fiction; may be internal or external
Definition
conflict
Term
a French term meaning "unraveling" or "unknotting", used to describe the resolution of the plot following the climax
Definition
denouement
Term
the moment with the readers' interest and emotional intensity reach the highest point; the decisive turning point of the story and in the protagonist's fortunes or point of view
Definition
climax
Term
the moment in which the conflict ends and the outcome of the action is clear
Definition
resolution
Term
where every aspect of a story is representative, usually symbolic, of something else, usually a larger abstract concept or important historical/geopolitical event. serves as an extended metaphor
Definition
allegory
Term
where animals or inanimate objects are portrayed in a story as people, such as by walking, talking, or being ggiven arms, legs, facial features, human locomotion, or other anthropoid form
Definition
anthropormorphism
Term
non-rhyming poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter
Definition
blank verse
Term
where the audience or reader is aware of something important, of which the characters in the story are not aware
Definition
dramatic irony
Term
a poetic meter wherein each line contains ten syllables, as five repetitions of a two-syllable pattern in which the pronunciation emphasis is on the second syllable
Definition
iambic pentameter
Term
use of similar or identical language, structures, events, or dieas in different parts of a text
Definition
parallelism
Term
where a specificword, phrase, or structure is repeated several times, usually in close proximity, to emphasize a particular idea
Definition
repetition
Term
an association that comes along with a particular word. relate to the ideas or qualities that are implied by that word
Definition
connotation
Term
the exact meaning of a word; without the feelings or suggestions that the word may imply
Definition
denotation
Term
the conversation between characters in a drama or narrative
Definition
dialogue
Term
refers to literature or other types of art that are instructional or informative
Definition
didactic
Term
a recurring object, concept, or structure in a work of literature. may also be two contrasting elements in a work, such as good and evil
Definition
motif
Term
one who tells a story, the speaker or the "voice" of an oral or written work. it can be, but is usually not the same person as the author. the direct window into a piece of work. there are three types: participant, observer, or non-participant
Definition
narrator
Term
a character who makes a contrast with another, especially in a monor character who helps set off a major character
Definition
foil
Term
the ordinary form of spoken and written language whose unit is the sentence, rather than the line, as it is in poetry. the term applies to all expressions in language that do not have a regular rhythmic pattern. novels, essays, short stories, and works of criticism are examples
Definition
prose
Term
in literature, it is the narrator, or the storyteller, of a literary work created by the author. it is the author's creation; the voice through thwich the author speaks. this device allows for a more genuine manner in which the events of a story are illustrated to the reader
Definition
persona
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