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Literary Terms
Study these for finals. Due by May 20th. Thanks. :)
71
Language - English
7th Grade
05/05/2011

Additional Language - English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Climax
Definition
Point of the highest interest; usually comes toward the end of the story after the conflict is understood; turning point; conflicts may also be introduced
Term
Conflict
Definition
Struggle between opposing forces
Term
Exposition
Definition
Usually first stage in a plot of a story; gives information and introduces the setting and main characters
Term
Falling Action
Definition
a stage in plot that starts to draw a close; after climax, before resolution; shows important decision or action that happened at climax; final outcome is not clear yet
Term
Fiction
Definition
Prose writing that tells imaginary story; basic elements are plot, character, setting, and theme; some events or characters in a story may be real; short story or novel
Term
Plot
Definition
Series of events in story; usually centers a conflict based on main character; most have 5 stages: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution
Term
Resolution
Definition
After falling action; ties up loose ends in a story; story plot brought to a close
Term
Rising Action
Definition
Stage that develops the conflict; has events to make conflict complicated; builds up to climax
Term
Internal Conflict
Definition
Struggle that occurs within a character
Term
External Conflict
Definition
Involves a character who struggles against outside him- or herself, such as categories are nature, a physical obstacle, or another character
Term
Foreshadow
Definition
Occurs when a writes provides hints for future events in the story; creates suspense and make readers eager to find out what will happen
Term
Personification
Definition
The giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea
Term
Suspense
Definition
A feeling of growing tension and excitement felt by a reader; readers become curious by the writer creating questions in the reader's mind about the outcome of the story or event
Term
Narrative
Definition
Writing that reads much like fiction, except that the characters, setting, and plot are real; includes autobiographies, biographies, and memoirs
Term
Nonfiction
Definition
Writing that tells about real people, places, and events; written to convey factual information
Term
Chronological Order
Definition
The arrangement of events by their order of occurrence; used in fictional narratives, biography, autobiography, and historical writing
Term
Synonym
Definition
A word that means the same thing or similar as another word
Term
Fact
Definition
Information that is true or false
Term
Cause and Effect
Definition
Two effects are related by this when brings about the other; helps writer show the relationship between two ideas or events; way of organization for writing
Term
Antagonist
Definition
A force working against the main character in a story, play, or novel; can be another character, a force of nature, society itself, or an internal force within the main character
Term
Character
Definition
People, animals, or imaginary creatures who take part in the action of a work of literature; display character traits; usually have reasons for their behaviors; kinds: main, minor, dynamic, static
Term
Protagonist
Definition
The main character in a story, play, or novel; involved in main conflict; undergoes changes as the plot runs its course
Term
Simile
Definition
A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things using the word like or as
Term
Static Character
Definition
One who remains the same throughout the story
Term
Dynamic Character
Definition
One who undergoes important changes as the plot unfolds
Term
Irony
Definition
A contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens
Term
Verbal Irony
Definition
Saying one thing meaning another
Term
Situational Irony
Definition
Events turn out differently than expected
Term
Dramatic Irony
Definition
When the audience knows more than the characters
Term
Act
Definition
A major division within play, similar to a chapter in a book; divides into scenes; plays can have up to 5 of these
Term
Dialogue
Definition
Written conversation between two or more characters; used for readers to bring characters to life and to give insights into the characters' qualities traits, and reactions to other characters
Term
Drama
Definition
(Play) A form of literature meant to be performed by actors in front of an audience; characters' dialogue and actions tell the story
Term
Prop
Definition
Abbreviation of word property; refers to any physical object that is used in a drama
Term
Stage
Definition
Where actors perform a play to the audience
Term
Stage Directions
Definition
The instructions to the actors, director, and stage crew in the script of a play; might suggest scenery, lighting, sound effects, and way actors speak and move
Term
Scene
Definition
Each presents an episode of the play's plot and typically occurs at a single place and time
Term
Scenery
Definition
A painted backdrop or other structures used to create the setting for a play
Term
Anecdote
Definition
A short account of an event that is usually intended to entertain or make a point
Term
Setting
Definition
The time and place of the action in a story, poem or play; sometimes well-defined and clear; other times for readers to imagine; elements: geographic location, history period, season, time of day, and culture
Term
Theme
Definition
A message about life or human nature that the writer shares with the reader
Term
Stated Theme
Definition
A theme stated directly in the story
Term
Implied Theme
Definition
A theme suggested by the title, character's actions or said, setting, and/or plot events
Term
Inference
Definition
A judgement based on what you know and what the author tells you
Term
Drawing Conclusions
Definition
An overall opinion formed when you are finished reading
Term
Symbol
Definition
A person, place, or thing that represents something other than itself
Term
Sequence
Definition
Order of events
Term
Compare and Contrast
Definition
Compare- show similarities
Contrast- show differences
Term
Problem and Solution
Definition
Problem- the issue
Solution- the resolve
Term
Personal Essay
Definition
A short work of nonfiction that deals with a single subject that usually reflects the writer's experiences, feelings, and personality
Term
Expository Essay
Definition
Writing that represents information and ideas
Term
Persuasive Essay
Definition
Writing that is convincing you to do something or make a choice
Term
Summarizing
Definition
When you take the main idea in a writing and put it into your own words
Term
Stereotype
Definition
To take out one individual and applying it to every individual in a group
Term
Character Traits
Definition
The qualities shown by a character (physical and expression of personality)
Term
Characterization
Definition
The way a writer creates and develops characters
Term
Flashback
Definition
An interruption of the action to present events that took place at an earlier time
Term
Antonym
Definition
A word that is or nearly is the opposite of another word
Term
Fantasy
Definition
A type of fiction that is highly imaginative and portrays events, settings, or characters that are unreal; never is going to happen
Term
Science Fiction
Definition
May happen; fiction in which a writer explores unexpected possibilities of the past or the future, using known scientific data and theories as well as his or her imagination
Term
Genre
Definition
a category in which a work of literature is classified; major: nonfiction, fiction, drama, and poetry
Term
Mood
Definition
The feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for a reader; descriptive words, imagery, and figurative language influences this
Term
Historical Fiction
Definition
a short story or novel that is set in the past and includes real places and real events of past importance
Term
Motivation
Definition
Reasons why a character is behaving in a way
Term
Narrator
Definition
Voice that tells the story; sometimes character in story; other times not part of story; WRITER IS NOT THE SAME AS THIS
Term
Novel
Definition
A long work of fiction; product of writer's imagination; can develop characters mor thoroughly than in short story
Term
Point of View
Definition
Refers to how a writer chooses to narrate a story; first-person- character in story that narrates; third-person- person not in story that narrates
Term
Short Story
Definition
A work of fiction that centers on a single idea and can be read in one sitting; generally has one main conflict that involves the characters and keeps the story moving
Term
Title
Definition
Namwe that is attached to a writing; usually refers to an important aspect of writing
Term
Turning point
Definition
The changing part of the story that is usually the most exciting part; it's in the climax
Term
Essay
Definition
A short work of nonfiction that deals with a single subject; there are types of these: expostitory, persuasive, personal, and critical
Term
Main Idea
Definition
The central or most important idea about a topic that a writer or speakers conveys; can be central idea of entire work or just a paragraph; usually expressed in topic sentence; can be implied or suggested by details but uasually suggested by details
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