Terms and devices Flashcards
(180 cards)
1
Q
external conflict
A
a struggle between two opposing characters or forces
ex. harry potter vs. voldemort
2
Q
extended metaphor
A
all or part of a poem consisting of a series of related metaphors
ex. keep relating back to an object
3
Q
allegory
A
like symbolism; used to preach a moral lesson
ex. “animal farm” all the animals represent a big idea
4
Q
anti-climax
A
disappointing outcome
5
Q
apostrophe
A
oh, romeo rome a.
where for art thou romeo
- starts with oh
6
Q
anecdotal evidence
A
not reliable - based on personal accounts not fact/science
7
Q
archaic language
A
language belonging to an earlier imd
ex. thou art foul
8
Q
cacophany
A
harsh mix of sounds
9
Q
characterization
A
representation of a character
10
Q
didactic
A
intended to teach a moral lesson using tone
11
Q
direct presentation
A
two or more people talking/presenting to each other
12
Q
elegy
A
poem or song for the dead
13
Q
epilogue
A
section at the end of story or play
14
Q
epitaph
A
parse written in memory of a person - tombestone
15
Q
epigram
A
humour or contradiction to make a witty remark
16
Q
euphony
A
make easy to pronounce together
17
Q
assonance
A
a kind of alliteration ; the repetition of sounds made by vowels in a sentence of phrase
ex. a hard walk - aaaa
18
Q
antithesis
A
when two opposites are introduced in a sentence for contrasting effect
ex. many are called, but few are chosen
19
Q
active voice
A
the verb in which the subject of the sentence actually does something
ex. he ran a marathon. she lifts weights
20
Q
analogy
A
a comparison between two things like a metaphor or a simile
ex. mitten is to hand as sock is to foot
21
Q
autobiography
A
the story of a persons life written by that person, like a diary but in third person
22
Q
audience
A
the people the author is writing for
23
Q
atmosphere
A
the tone/feeling of the story; how it makes you feel
24
Q
antagonist
A
the main characters rival in the story
25
aside
during a play when a character makes a comment to the audience but not the other characters
26
argumentative essay
to make an argument by taking a stand on one side and backing that argument with sufficient evidence
27
allusion
a figure of speech that makes a reference to well know people, places of things.
ex. he nose should've grown like pinochios
28
alliteration
the repetition of the same sounds in a sentence
ex. she sell sea shells by the see shore
ex. the lion lay licking it's lips
29
blank verse
poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. resembles ordinary speech
ex. mos tof Shakespeare's work
30
bias
a skewed perspective leaning to one side of an issue
| ex. have a bias if your friend is ageing against a person you've never met
31
biography
a story of a persons life written by another person
32
consonance
the repetition of consonant sounds before and after differing vowels
ex. flip-flop, feel- fill
OR
the repetition of a consonant sound at the ends of words only
ex. east-west, hid-bed
33
connotation
a second or associated meaning o a sentence or word
ex. dove (peace)
ex. babe/broad/chick(woman)
34
couplet
two consecutive lines of poetry that usually rhyme and have the same meter
35
character foil
a char a foil is a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character. A foil usually either differs drastically or is extremely similar but with a key difference setting them apart
ex. sherlock +watson
36
climatic order
organization from one extreme to another
| ex. least to most important
37
case study
a detailed analysis of a person or group
38
comedy
a light amusing play/story where the main character gets his/her intended/wished outcome
39
colloquial language
slang
40
comparison
comparing two or more like items
41
caricature
to represent or imitate in an exaggerated distorted manner
| ex. pictures in trolls
42
chronological order
a sequence according to time of occurrence
43
chorus
a group of people singing or speaking in unison
44
catastrophe
a large scale disaster
45
climax
the high point of interest or suspense in a novel, story, or play
46
character
someone a story follows
47
cause and effect
cause; someones actions, effect; the outcome of said actions have on others
48
conflict
a problem the protagonist of a story has that stops him/her from achieving their wished outcomes
49
comic relief
a humorous scene that relieves tension in serious works
50
colloquialism
to have a casual, realized conversation often using slang-like words
51
historical reference
a reference to a historical even
52
fantasy
literature containing character and plot involving magic and invented characters
53
foreshadowing
a sentence/event that may hint to what will happen later on in the story
54
juxtaposition
contrasting two different people, concepts, places, ideas, or themes
ex. the porters scene juxtaposed dun cans death in macbeth
55
formal language
the use of "high" language, academic language
56
flat character
a minor character whoa you don't know a lot about
57
form
the structure of a piece of writing
58
formal essay
an essay that uses academic language, logical organization and serious purpose
59
free verse
a poem that has no limitations in its use of meter or rhyme
60
hero
central character in a story who 'saves the day'
61
genre
a category of literary work
62
graphic text
a combination of pictures and words to tell a story
63
theme
the message/focus of a story/piece of writing
64
understatement
a casual comment that does not fully describe the situation
| ex. we had a little rain - in a flooded area this is said
65
pathos
an emotional appeal, uses emotion
66
tragedy
a series of unfortunate events effecting the characters of a story
67
tone
the mood/atmosphere an author is trying to convey
68
image
concrete details forming a clear picture in your mind
69
voice
the authors style that makes their writing unique
70
informal essay
an essay that doesn't follow specific structure. casual language is allowed
ex. rough drafts, or writing to a friend
71
informal language
casual everyday language
72
wit
humorous writing, usually cunning
73
internal conflict
a struggle that takes place within the main characters mind
74
parody
a humorous imitation of someone else's work
75
jargon
language used specifically in certain fields/jobs
| ex. sailors - porte, starboard
76
internal rhyme
a rhyme thats in the same line
| ex. the kite flew very light in the air
77
literal language
what is said is based exactly in reality
| ex. the snow is white
78
lyric
a short poem intended to mainly express a state of mind or feeling
ex. stanzas in a song
79
monologue
an extended speech by one character
80
mystery
a suspense story trying to figure out a crime
81
myth
a traditional story or legend typically concerning early history or social phenomenon
82
narrative
a story or tale
83
characterization
when describing a character/bringing them to life
84
figurative language
creating vivid impressions by comparing dissimilar things
85
flashback
a scene that happened before the story began
86
first person point of view
a character in the story os narrating the story
87
personification
a human characteristic given to an inanimate object
88
imagery
using detail descriptors to paint out a picture with words
89
metaphor
a direct comparison of two different things
| ex. he's a bull
90
octave
an eight lines stanza
91
mood
the feeling the reader gets from reading the story/passage
92
narration
the telling of a story by writing
93
personal essay
a first person narrative about a personal topic
94
persuasive essay
an essay meant to persuade the reader in a certain direction
95
persuasive techniques
strategies a writing may use to help convince readers
| ex. ethos, pathos, logos
96
pro and con argument
expressing arguments that are both for and against a position
97
purpose
what the writer is trying to achieve through the writing
98
repetition
when a particular word or phrase is repeated several times to emphasize an idea
99
research
a careful investigation using several sources
100
resolution
a part of a story after the climax that ties up loose ends
101
narrator
the voice telling the story
102
plot
a sequence of events that create a story
103
protagonist
the main character of the story
104
point of view
the perspective story is told from
105
pun
a play on words that have similar sounds but different meaning
ex. i have a job crushing pop cans. its soda pressing.
106
rhyme
when two or more words sound similar/have the same ending
107
suspense
a feeling of curiosity or uncertainty about the outcome of events
108
rhetorical question
a question that does not require an answer because it's so obvious
109
rhyme sceme
the pattern of rhyme
110
rhythm
a pattern of stressed an unstressed sounds in poetry
111
rising action
that events that build up to the climax of the story
112
smilie
a comparison using like or as
113
round character
a character with many attributes
114
sarcasm
crude mockery
115
setting
the time place and mood of a story
116
symbol
several layers of meaning concealed at first
117
slang
informal vocabulary
118
stereotype
a conventional formulaic concept that you would expect from a per on because they are proem a specific group
119
static character
a character that does not change throughout the story
120
stanza
a paragraph of a poem or song
121
speaker
in poems usually
122
falling action
occurs after the climax of a work of literature
123
thesis
main argument of an essay
124
symbolism
the use of a symbol to convey a meaning
125
thesis statement
a statement presenting the thesis
126
cliche
an over used expression, idea, or element of an artist
127
contrast
when the things are opposite or dissimilar to eachother
128
compare and contrast
to analyse the similarities between two different things
129
denotation
the direct meaning of a word or sentence
| ex. wind=air in natural motion
130
denouement
the plot following the climax, wrapping up the story
131
dramatic irony
the characters in a story don't know what will happen by the audience does
132
diction
an authors choice of words, devices, sentences ext. that combine to help create meaning
133
dissonance
opposite of assonance and consonance; it has a harsh unpleasant sound
ex. my stick fingers click with a snicker and clunking they knuckle to keys
134
dilema
a problem that characters face in a story
135
dramatic form
the way a story is told
136
dynamic character
a character who goes through a change in the story
137
dramatic monologue
when a character addresses a distinct but silent audience imagined to be present in the poem revealing a dramatic situation
138
diary
a regularly kept record of events in a persons life
139
drama
to act or preform usually in theatres - or a genre type
140
dialect
```
a type of informational diction
ex. can be used to differentiate between high sand low class people
```
141
dialogue
the verbal exchange between characters
142
descriptive essay
an essay full of descriptions……………...
143
exposition
As applied to drama and to other forms of fiction, "exposition is the introductory material that creates the tone, gives the setting, introduces the characters, and supplies other facts necessary to understanding"
144
euphemism
a way to softy describe a harsh situation
| ex. person passed away opposed to they died
145
expository essay
present complete and fair views, or to report on event. no opinions
146
expert testimony
an opinion from a person highly educated in a specific field
147
epic
a long poem typically narrating the deeds of heroic or legendary figures
148
emotional appeal
pathos - to appeal someones emotions usually to persuade
149
editorial
and article in the newspaper or other print presenting the opinions of the publisher
150
epiphany
when a character has a sudden deep realization about themselves or the situation
151
oxymoron
a contradictory statement
ex. bittersweet
ex. jumbo shrimp
152
onomatopoeia
words that sounds like the sound they make
| ex. bang
153
surprise ending
a ending that was not expected
154
stylistic technique
the techniques used by the author in their writing
155
stock/stereotype character
a one dimensional character that contains a known stereotype
ex. dumb blonde
156
style
the characteristics of an authors writing
157
parallelism
when similar phrases or clauses are placed together
| they PLAY games and RIDE horse…….
158
paradox
a statement that seems contradictory but can be insightful
| ex. the only rule is there are no rules
159
irony
a literary term referring to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually seem. Many times it is the exact opposite of what it appears to be. There are many types of irony, the three most common being verbal irony, dramatic irony, and cosmic irony.
ex. In Julius Caesar, Marc Antony’s reference to Brutus being an honorable man is an example of verbal irony.
ex. Dramatic irony occurs when facts are not known to the characters in a work of literature but are known by the audience
ex. Cosmic irony suggests that some unknown force brings about dire and dreadful events
160
refrain
a line or lines that are repeated in music or verse
161
soliloquy
an alone character on stage who utters their thoughts aloud
| ex. a lot in hamlet
162
passive voice
a verb in which the subject of the sentence receives the action
ex. the child was FOUND in his hiding place
ex. she was SEEN running
163
propaganda
biased writing meant to sway an audience to a certain point of view
ex. WWI posters
164
objective point of view
the reader has no access to thoughts or emotions or characters, just their actions
165
omniscient point of view
third person point of view, can enter any characters mind at any time and give the audience an insight
166
third person point of view
from an outside perspective/observer watching the characters
167
sonnet
a fourteen line poem usually in iambic pentameter
168
satire
literary work that ridicules or scorns human actions or work
| ex. south park
169
iambic pentameter
five unstressed then stressed syllables in a row
da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM
ex. shakespeare
170
meter
the pattern of syllables in a line of poetry
171
limited omniscient point of view
in third person but only tells the thoughts and feelings of the main character
172
objective
giving facts without bias
173
subjective
can be interpreted in different ways
174
hyperbole
an exaggerated statement that is not supposed to be taken literally
ex. i nearly died i laughed to hard
175
fable
a short moral story, esp one with animals as characters.
176
farce
a light, humorous play in which the plot depends upon a skillfully exploited situation rather than upon the development of character
177
frame story
a secondary story or stories embedded in the main story
178
idiom
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally
ex. A chip on your shoulder - means you think you know a lot
ex. Rub someone the wrong way - meaning to annoy or bother
ex. “The blues” can refer to both a style of music and feeling sad.
179
interior monologue
A passage of writing presenting a character's inner thoughts and emotions in a direct, sometimes disjointed or fragmentary manner.
180
indeterminate ending
an ending to a work in which the central conflict is left unresolved
ex. a cliffhanger
