STAAR Vocabulary Flashcards
(25 cards)
Exposition
The introduction of the story, where the main characters or other elements are introduced.
Rising Action
Events leading to the main event/problem of the story.
Turning point/Climax
The most exciting part of the story.
Falling Action
Events that lead to the problem/conflict being solved.
Resolution
Events that bring the story to a close (also known as denouement).
Theme
The underlying message of a story, poem, or play.
Internal Conflict
Internal conflict – a struggle that takes place in a character’s mind (ex.: man vs. self;
External Conflict
A struggle between a character and an outside force (ex.: man vs. character, man vs. nature, and man vs. society, man vs. fate)
Protagonist
The main character in a story or play, usually the hero of the story.
Antagonist
The character or a force in conflict with the main character, usually the villain.
First person point of view
A character in the story is the narrator and is telling the story; Pronouns: uses I, me, we.
Third person limited point of view
Focuses on only ONE character’s actions, emotions, and thoughts; uses character’s names, he, she, it, they, him, her.
Third person objective point of view
Focuses on every character’s actions but NOT the emotions and thoughts – the narrator sees and hears everything; uses character’s names, he, she, it, they, him, her.
Third person omniscient point of view
Knows the actions, emotions, and thoughts of every character – the narrator knows EVERYTHING; uses character’s names, he, she, it, they, him, her.
Foreshadowing
When the author gives a hint about something that will happen.
Irony
An event that is the opposite of what is expected to happen.
Flashback
An event from the past that is shown in a story.
Idiom
An expression that has a different meaning from the literal meaning (ex: You need to hit the books and study!).
Simile
A comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as: (ex.: Her new hair do looked like a mop.)
Metaphor
A comparison of two unlike things that does NOT use “like” or “as” (ex. My teacher was a monster today.).
Personification
Giving human qualities to something that is not human (ex.: The wind whispered my name.)
Hyperbole
An exaggeration used to emphasize something (ex.: I have told you a million times to spit out that gum.)
Alliteration
Repeating the same beginning consonant sounds (ex.: Silly Sam swam sideways.)
Onomatopoeia
The use of words to imitate sounds (ex: Pop! Boom!)
