Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Literary Terms
Essential
37
English
Undergraduate 1
10/16/2013

Additional English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Exposition
Definition
The essential background information at the beginning of a literary work.
Term
Rising Action
Definition
The development of conflict and complications in a literary work.
Term
Climax
Definition
The turning point in a literary work.
Term
Falling Action
Definition
Results or effects of the climax of a literary work.
Term
Resolution/denouement
Definition
End of a literary work when lose ends are tied up and questions are answered.
Term
Alliteration
Definition
Repetition of the initial consonant sounds of words.

Ex. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Term
Allusion
Definition
A reference to something well-known that exists outside the literary work.
Term
Antagonist
Definition
Character that is the source of conflict in a literary work.
Term
Assonance
Definition
Repetition of vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds.
Term
Characterization
Definition
The manner in which an author develops characters and their personalities.
Term
Conflict
Definition
Struggle between two or more opposing forces.
Term
Dialogue
Definition
Direct speech between characters in a literary work.
Term
Diction
Definition
Word choice to create a specific effect.
Term
Figurative Language
Definition
Language that represents one thing in terms of something dissimilar.
Term
Flashback
Definition
The method of returning to an earlier point in time for the purpose to make the present clearer.
Term
Foreshadowing
Definition
Hint of what is to come in a literary work.
Term
Genre
Definition
Type of category to which a literary work belongs.
Term
Hyperbole
Definition
Extreme exaggeration to add meaning.
Term
Imagery
Definition
Language that appeals to the five senses.
Term
Dramatic Irony
Definition
When the reader or audience knows something a character does not.
Term
Situational Irony
Definition
When there is a disparity between what is expected and what actually occurs.
Term
Verbal Irony
Definition
When the speaker says one thing but means another.
Term
Metaphor
Definition
An implied comparison between dissimilar objects.

Ex. Her talents blossomed.
Term
Onomatopoeia
Definition
Use of a word whose sound imitates its meaning.

Ex. Hiss
Term
Oxymoron
Definition
Phrase that consists of two words that are contradictory.

Ex. Living dead.
Term
Personification
Definition
Figure of speech in which non-human things are given human characteristics.
Term
Plot
Definition
The sequence of events in a literary work.
Term
Point of View
Definition
The vantage point or perspective from which a literary work is told.

1st: Narrator is a character in the story.
3rd: Narrator is outside the story.
Term
Protagonist
Definition
The main character of the literary work.
Term
Setting
Definition
The time and place of a literary work.
Term
Simile
Definition
A direct comparison of dissimilar objects; usually using like or as.
Term
Speaker
Definition
Voice in a poem; the person or thing that is speaking.
Term
Stereotype
Definition
Standardized, conventional ideas about characters, plots and settings.
Term
Suspense
Definition
Technique that keeps the reader guessing what will happen next.
Term
Symbol/Symbolism
Definition
One thing used to represent something else.
Term
Theme
Definition
The underlying main idea of a literary work.
Term
Tone
Definition
The author's attitude toward the subject of the work.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!