Literacy Terms Flashcards
(53 cards)
Alliteration and ex
the repetition of a consonant at the beginning of a word Ex. Peter Piper picked..
Allusion and ex
a brief reference to a person, place or event, assumed to be easily recognizable by the reader.
Crisis and ex
the turning point in the action.
Onomatopoeia and ex
the sound of a word suggests its meaning. Ex. Crash
Hyperbole and ex
a serious, deliberate exaggeration.
Pun and ex
a play on words that sound the same, but have different meanings. Ex. Tire store sign: “Our work is tiring, but we do take brakes.”
Theme and ex
the lesson or moral the author is trying to convey. Theme is a statement, not a topic. Ex. Topic: Love Theme: Love hurts.
Symbol and ex
a concrete representation of something that is abstract. Ex. The cross is a symbol of Christianity.
Oxymoron and ex
Oxymoron - a contradiction in terms. Ex. Sweet sorrow
Paradox and ex
a statement that at first does not appear to make sense (because it is a contradiction), but after further thought, it does make sense. Ex. Make haste slowly.
Foreshadowing and ex
a hint of what will happen later in a story.
Imagery and ex
a mental picture created by words (not always visual – could appeal to other senses).
Suspense and ex
a mental uncertainty as to the outcome of events.
Pathos and ex
a quality in writing that evokes sympathy for a character.
Figurative Language
you say something other than you mean (the opposite of literal language).
What are the 3 methods of Figurative Language?
metaphor, simile, personification
Metaphor and ex
an indirect/implied comparison of two unlike things without using ‘like’ or ‘as.’ Ex. Drop Dead
Personification and ex
a metaphor that gives human qualities to objects, animals, or ideas. Ex. The engine screamed.
Simile and ex
a direct/stated comparison of two unlike things using ‘like’ or ‘as.’ Ex. She runs like the wind.
Denotation and ex
the literal or dictionary meaning of a word. Ex. Fist is a closed hand.
Connotation and ex
the meaning a word has developed over time. Ex. Fist connotes violence.
Irony and ex
an outcome which is the opposite of what one would expect. Ex. Fire station burns down.
Sarcasm and ex
verbal irony – saying something, but meaning the opposite. Intent is to harm/insult. Ex. “Way to go Einstein!” (if you fail a test).
Satire and ex
- the combination of critical attitude with wit, humor, or exaggeration to improve humanity. The author will make the subject appear so ridiculous that it is obvious that he/she is making some critical comment about it. Very similar to sarcasm, except that the intent of satire is to instruct. Ex. “You really studied hard for that test!” (if you fail a test).
