| Term | Definition |
|---|
| personification | when something is given qualities it normally does not have |
| simile | comparison using "like" or "as" |
| metaphor | comparison NOT using "like" or "as" |
| symbol | when something stands for something else |
| alliteration | when two or more words are next to each other that begin with the same letter or sound |
| imagery | when the author forms an image in your mind |
| idiom | a phrase that cannot be taken literally, but its meaning is understood |
| hyperbole | an exaggeration |
| irony | when the opposite of what is expected happens |
| onomatopoeia | when the sound of an action is spelled like it sounds |
| repetition | when words are repeated in sequence |
| oxymoron | when two words are next to each other that have opposite meanings, but they create a new meaning |
| flat | character that usually only shows one side of his/her personality, and does not show growth or maturity in the story |
| round | character that usually shows many sides of personality and shows growth or maturity in the story |
| major | a main character, story would change if character were removed |
| minor | a less important character and the story would not change or only change slightly if this character were removed |
| direct | type of characterization when a description is given in the story is words |
| indirect | type of characterization when a character is described through actions and dialogue |
| dialogue | words spoken by characters |
| foreshadowing | a hint in the story of something that will happen later in the story |
| setting | the time and place of the story |
| conflict | struggle in the story |
| external | conflict KIND that is a struggle between two characters or things in the story and exists outside the character |
| internal | conflict KIND that is a struggle within one character and the stuggle exists inside that character |
| man v man | a struggle between two characters, external |
| man v himself | a struggle with in one character, internal |
| man v nature | a struggle between a character and a natural force, external |
| man v society | a struggle between a character and a force of society, external |
| exposition | background information is given to understand the story better, characters are introduced, setting is established |
| rising action | events leading to the climax, conflict is present, suspense is present, longest portion of the story |
| falling action | climax is explained, characters express how they feel about the climax |
| climax | highest point of the story, purpose of reading the story, a discovery is made |
| resolution | characters return to as normal a life as possible |
| theme | the "message" of the story |
| indirect theme | when only after reading the entire story is it possible to figure out the theme |
| direct theme | when the theme is stated directly in the story, an actual sentence or portion of the story is the theme |
| point of view | the angle from which the story is told |
| omniscient | when the narrator knows what is happening to every character, all-knowing |
| 1st person | when the narrator is telling the story from his/her point of view, the word "I" is present outside of quotes |
| 3rd person | when the narrator is telling the story about one character that is not him/herself and is aware of other characters' actions and possibly their thoughts |
| flashback | when a portion of the story goes back in time |
| plot | the development of the story line from start to finish |
Combine with other sets
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