| Term | Definition |
|---|
| allusion | an indirect or subtle reference to another work of literature, such as when Holden refers to Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet |
| anti-hero | a protagonist who has qualities opposite to those normally expected from a hero, such as stupidity, insecurity, dishonesty, or cowardliness |
| assertion | a claim that needs support to be persuasive |
| slang | the lowest and least acceptable level of diction in writing |
| characterization | the development of a character through speech, actions, thoughts, and physical appearance; how a character is described |
| climax | the highest point of action in a work of literature |
| comparison/contrast | when one discusses two or more topics by detailing the ways in which they are similar (comparison) or different (contrast) |
| conflict | a struggle betweeen opposing forces |
| internal conflict | character vs self |
| external conflict 1 | character vs character |
| external conflict 2 | character vs society |
| external conflict 3 | character vs nature |
| theme | the central idea or message in a work of literature |
| mood | the feeling or atmosphere the writer creates for the reader |
| thesis | a central claim in an essay, which all subsequent paragraphs of the essay must be related to and support |
| example | providing concrete instances or illustrations to support a writer's claim in ana essay. synonyms for evidences are: facts, examples, concrete details, proof, and support |
| foreshadowing | when an author provides hints or clues (usually through repetition) of events that may occur later on in the plot |
| genre | the four distinct groups into which literature can be grouped: drama, fiction, non fiction, and poetry |
| illustration | another term used for example |
| imagery | descriptive or vivid language that appeals to the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch |
| introduction | the first part of a formal essay, introducing the reader to what the essay will cover. a good introduction will attempt to draw the reader's attention, and provide the title of the work(s) the essay is about, some background information about the plot, and most importantly, the writer's thesis |
| irony | a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. for example it is ironic when Ralph Underhill, who use to be a childhood bully and tormentor, opens his door and is a feeble, sickly looking old man |
| jargon | another term for technical language, the special vocabulary of a trade or a profession |
| personification | attribting human or animal characteristics to inanimate objects or abstract ideas - ex (1) the waves roared at the tiny boat (2) I walked down the ssddest city lane (3) the palm branch whispered in the wind |
| dramatic irony | when readers know more about a situation or a character in the story than the characters do; usually takes place during plays |
| parallelism | when events, characters, or conflicts in a story relate or mirror one another |
| protagonist | the main character in a play or story, usually the one with whom the audience/reader identifies with |
| antagonist | the most prominent of characters or forces that oppose the protagonist |
| pathos | writing that excites a feeling of pity or sadness. at the conclusion of Of Mice and Men readers feel a sense of pathos after George shoots Lennie |
| symbol | something that represnts something else. the use of a symbol is called symbolism |
| similie | an extended metaphor |
| super ego | angel on shoulder - represnts conscience, formed by the standards of parents and society |
| ego | deals with reality, strives to satisfy id's desire in appropriate ways |
| id | devil on shoulder - wants immediate gratification |
Combine with other sets
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