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Literary Terms Flashcards

(61 cards)

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1
Q

Exposition? /3

A

Disclosure of information at the beginning of a text

Introduction to main characters

Development of setting/milieu

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2
Q

Setting? /2

A

The place where the story takes place

General and specific locations

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3
Q

Milieu?

A

The political/cultural/economic/intellectual aspects of the setting

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4
Q

Rising action? /2

A

Compels the main character to struggle with a problem/concern/ the issue

Tension arises as the protagonist attempts to res live the situation/incident/complication

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5
Q

Conflict? /4

A

The struggle between the protagonist and an opposing force

Drives a character to make choices/changes

Fundamental building block to every story

No conflict = no story

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6
Q

Internal conflict? /4(5)

A

Person vs. Self

Struggles with aspect of his/herself

Vulnerability is somehow shown in the novel

Plot leads them towards a confrontation against it.

I.e flaws/thoughts/limitations/emotions/self-esteem

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7
Q

External conflict? /3

Person vs. ?

A

Person vs. Person: protagonist struggles with another characters

Person vs. Society: protagonist struggles with the values of their society

Person vs. Nature: protagonist is threatened by an element of nature/something they have little to no control over (life/death/fate)

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8
Q

Climax? /4

A

Developed by a series of complications and obstacles

Problems lead INEVITABLY to an ULTIMATE CRISIS

A.k.a “Point of No Return”: where the conflict was leading all along

Decisive encounter between 2 forces in conflict

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9
Q

Bathos? /3

A

Anticlimax

Climax becomes unimportant

Expectations are not met (LETDOWN)

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10
Q

Denouement? /3

A

After the climax

A.k.a “Falling Action”

The unfolding of events that leads to a resolution

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11
Q

Resolution? /3(7)

A

Fulfillment of fate/outcome of a crisis

May:
Tie up loose ends
Resolve conflict
Show how much the character has changed

Possible:
Close-ending
Open-ending
Cliffhanger (possible sequels)

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12
Q

Flashback? /3

A

A break in the chronology of a story to a previous event

Include memories/dreams/stories of the past

Plot/structure element

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13
Q

Foreshadowing? /3

A

The hinting of something to come

Piques interest of the reader/viewer

Plot/Structure element

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14
Q

Characterization?

A

How an author reveals the personality/motivations, etc of a character to the audience

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15
Q

Appearance? /2

A

Physical factors/descriptions

Ex. Clothing, tattoos

Characterization

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16
Q

Biography? /2

A

Voluntary to involuntary behaviour

Ex. Voluntary: choice
Involuntary: nervous twitch

Characterization

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17
Q

Emotions/Temperament? /3

A

Character’s personality

How they react to key aspects of their life

Ex. Introvert or extrovert, pessimist or optimist, etc

Characterization

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18
Q

Direct expression? /5

A

Character states thoughts/feelings

Provides immediate insight

Nothing is hidden

Requires little or no interpretation by the reader/viewer

Characterization through dialogue

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19
Q

Indirect expression? /3

A

Hidden understanding between what the character says and who the character is

Reader must determine/analyze the quotation to better understand the character

Characterization through dialogue

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20
Q

Character motivation?

A

Internal or external factors which force a character to take action

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21
Q

Protagonist? /3

A

Main/central character of the story

Plays a VITAL role in the narrative story

Helps move along the action/plot of the narrative

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22
Q

Antagonist? /2(6)

A

Force in conflict with the protagonist

May be:
Society
Nature
Own self
Another person
Fate
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23
Q

Character FOIL? /3

A

Usually a MINOR character

Whose traits are opposite to those of the protagonist

Both contrasts and highlights the traits of the protagonist

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24
Q

Static character? /2

A

UNABLE TO CHANGE regardless of conflicts

Remains the same sore of person at the end of the story as in the beginning

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25
Dynamic character? /3
CHANGE/EVOLUTION/GROWTH Often a round character Change in some aspect of their character/personality/outlook
26
Round character? /4
Three-dimensional Complexity of their personality/motives/attitudes Realistic MAJOR CHARACTER
27
Flat character? /5
Two-dimensional Usually recognized by one or more simple traits Not fully developed in a story Seen once or twice Minor character
28
Stock character? /3
Stereotypical figure Possesses the expected traits of a group rather than being an individual Character's nature is immediately known to the reader Ex. Jock, Snobby Prom Queen, Nerd, etc
29
Hero?
Principal figure with ADMIRABLE qualities
30
Anti-Hero?
Principal character who has no moral qualities usually present in a hero.
31
Figurative language? /2
Where words/expressions are created to make meaning beyond the obvious or present the abstract in a concrete way Used for a specific purpose
32
Alliteration? /4
Repetition of consonant sounds Usually at the beginning of words Unfit thought/create rhythm Figurative language
33
Assonance? /3
Repetition of VOWEL sounds Usually at the beginning of words Figurative language
34
Hyperbole? /2
A gross exaggeration or overstatement Figurative language
35
Metaphor? /2
Comparison between two unlike ideas without using ‘like’ or ‘as’ Figurative language
36
Simile? /2
Comparison between two unlike ideas using ‘like’ or ‘as’ Figurative language
37
Onomatopoeia? /2
Words that sound like their meaning Figurative language Ex. Splash, baa baa, etc
38
Oxymoron? /2
The use of contradictory terms Figurative language Ex. Beautiful disaster
39
Personification? /2
Giving human-like attributes to animals, objects or ideas Figurative language Ex. The sun was smiling
40
Diction? /2
The author's choice of words in speech or writing An important element of STYLE
41
Cloché? /3
Word/expression that has been OVERUSED Lost much of its meaning and effectiveness Should be avoided in literature
42
Colloquial? /2
Everyday speech Words/expressions allowed in informal supputations but not in formal speech
43
Connotation? /2
Suggested or secondary meaning of a word Apart from its literal definition
44
Dénotation? /2
Dictionary definition of a word It’s LITERAL meaning
45
Dialect? /2
A style of speech Reflecting a particular group of people or geographical location
46
Imagery? /3
Concrete details and figures of speech Helps the reader visualize the writing Often using the FIVE SENSES
47
1st person point of view? /4
Use of “I” Sense of immediacy Being close to the character’s and events Reader-most sympathetic to the first-person narrator
48
2nd person point of view? /4
Use of “You” Speaks directly to the reader Rarely used Can b effective/engaging the reader and making them part of the story/action
49
3rd point of view? /6
Use of “he” or “she” or “they” Limited omniscient Text told by one or two characters More freedom than the 1st person point of view Can move between describing the actions and reporting selected thoughts/feelings of a certain character Readers easily engaged/intrigued by the main characters(s)
50
Omniscient point of view? /4
Various points of view Can move in and out of the thoughts and feelings of any and/or all characters in the story Provides greatest flexibility Readers see the difference among various characters' thoughts/feelings
51
Dramatic/Objective point of view? /5
Use of “he” or “she” ONLY told ‘what happens’ and ‘what is said’ FACTUAL (no personal connection(s)) Only words and actions are included Feelings/thoughts must be interpreted Reader does not know any thoughts or feelings of the characters
52
Symbols? /3
Can be: Character Object Happening which stands for something else Has a deeper meaning that face value (than at first glance) Can be common or unique
53
Motifs? /3
Repetition that gains value Reoccurrence of a theme/structure/symbol in a text Reader's understanding of the motif and its value to the text increases with each new reference
54
Allusion? /3
A brief reference to a person/character/event in history/literature/mythology/the Bible/etc. Common: Epigrams Reference to novels/music/theatre/history
55
Pathetic fallacy? /2
The personification of an element in nature A natural element echoes/mimics the feelings of a character
56
Pathos?
Sympathy aroused in the reader by the events or characters in a story
57
Juxtaposition? /4
Comparison Deliberately placing side-by-side two or more thoughts/images/events/symbols Used to emphasizes or contrast each other DOES NOT AFFECT FOIL CHARACTERS
58
Irony?
A discrepancy between what is expected and what happens/is revealed
59
Dramatic irony? /2
In theatre or plays A reader/audience's awareness differs from that of the character’s
60
Irony of circumstance?
The opposite of what is expected happens
61
Verbal irony? /3
Implies the opposite of what is said SARCASM There is a surface meaning and an intended meaning

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