literary terms Flashcards
(24 cards)
plot
the sequence of events in the story
5 parts of a plot
exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution
conflict
the problem to be solved in a story
protagonist
the main character(s) or the good guy(s)
antagonist
the person or people who are opposing the protagonist
four techniques authors use to develop stories
foreshadowing, flashback, suspense, and suprise ending
point of view
the narrator
6 methods of characterization
physical traits, personality, speech, behavior, opinions and reactions of others towards this individual, thoughts and feelings
setting
place and time
connotation
the cultural meaning of a word
denotation
the dictionary definition of a word
hyperbole
an exaggerated statement used to make a point
imagery
details that allow you to make an image in your head
inference
a reasonable conclusion drawn from hints provided by an author
verbal irony
sarcasm
irony of situation
when what happens is the opposite of what you expect
stereotype
a fixed generalized idea about a person or situation
symbol
a thing that has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well
theme
the insight into life that is revealed in the story
tone
the author’s attitude towards a situation
mood
the total feeling created in a literary work
simile
a figure of speech that uses like or as to make a comparison between two things
metaphor
the direct comparison of two different things not using like or as
personification
a non human subject is given human like characteristics
