Midterm Flashcards
Dramatic Irony
the situation in which the audience of a play knows something that the characters do not know
Situational Irony
deployed when one’s expectations of what will happen are overshadowed by what actually occurs. It is the literary equivalent of being yanked out from beneath your feet.
Verbal Irony
The speaker intends to be understood as meaning something that contrasts with the literal or usual meaning of what he says. The different sorts of discrepancy between the meaning of what is said and what is in fact on the particular occasion meant with it give rise to different kinds of verbal irony.
Allusion
Brief but purposeful references, within a literary text, to a person, place, event, or to another work of literature.
Pun
A humorous use of a word or phrase that has several meanings or that sounds like another word.
Synecdoche
A figure of speech in which a part of something stands for the whole (for example, “I’ve got wheels” for “I have a car,” or a description of a worker as a “hired hand”).
Metaphor
Used to compare two unrelated things by stating that they share the same attributes without using the words like or as. It states that one thing is another thing.
Simile
Compares one thing with another that uses “like” or “as.”
Hyperbole
A statement that is over-exaggerated to the point where it is not supposed to be taken in a literal way.
Characterization
The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization
Personification
The act of giving a human quality or characteristic to something that is not human
Tone
The way an author writes something to express their emotions and feelings on a certain topic
Theme
An idea, concept, or lesson that conveys a moral message in a text and explores it through characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or elements.
Symbolism
Anything that hints at something else, usually something abstract, such as an idea or belief
One thing stands in for another.
DIDLS
Diction, Imagery, Details, Language, Syntax
Diction
The author’s choice of words and their connotations.
- What words appear to have been chose specifically for their effects?
- What effect do these words have on your mood as the reader?
- What do they seem to indicate about the authors tone?
Imagery
The use of description and fully developed details.
- What images are especially vivid?
- To what sense do these appeal?
- What effect do these images have on your mood as a reader?
- What do they seem to indicate about the author’s tone?
Details
Facts included or those missing
- What details has the author specifically included?
- What do they imply?
- What details has the author apparently left out?
ONLY FOR ANALYSIS
- What effect do these included and excluded detailshave on your mood as a reader?
- What do these included and excluded details seem to indicate seem to indicate about the author’s tone?
Language
Characteristics of the words use (slang, jargon, academic language, etc.)
- How could the language be described?
- How does the language affect your mood as a reader?
- What does the language seem to indicate about the author’s tone?
Syntax
The way the sentences are constructed.
- Are the sentences sinple, compound, declarative, varied, etc.?
- How do these structures affect your mood as a reader?
- What do these structures seem to indicate about the author’s tone?
Exposition
Describes the mood and conditions. Time and place are established. Main characters and their relationships are explained.
Exciting Force (Initial/Inciting Incident)
Gets the plot going, begins the conflice. Can be in the conjuction with the exposition.
Rising Action
Events that lead to the climax. Provides progressive intensity.
Climax
Turning point, height of the action. The remainder of the play leads to the end. Usually more than 1/2 through the play.
