1.
allusion: indirect reference to a famous person, place, event, or literary work
2.
archetype: patter in literature that is found in a variety of works from different cultures throughout the ages. can be a plot, character, an image, or a setting
3.
author's perspective: a unique combination of ideas, values, feelings, and beliefs that influence the way the writer looks at a topic. Often revealed by tone, or attitude.
4.
author's purpose: a writer usually writes for one or more of these purposes: to express thoughts or feelings, to inform or explain, to persuade, or to entertain
5.
characterization: the way a writer creates and develops characters' personalities: direct comments through voice of narrator, description of the character's physical appearance, presentation of the character's own thoughts, speech, and actions, presentation of the pertinent thoughts, speech, and
actions of other characters.
6.
characters: individuals who participate in the action of a literary work
7.
climax: point of maximum interest or tension, a turning point in the story, after the reader understood the conflict and became emotionally involved w/ the characters. Sometimes points to the resolution of the conflict.
8.
conflict: struggle between opposing forces
-external: involves a character pitted against an outside force, such as nature, a physical obstacle, or another character.
-internal: occurs within a character
9.
connotation: attitude or feeling associated with a word, can be positive or negative
10.
denotation: literal, or dictionary meaning
11.
diction: a writer's or speaker's choice of words and ways of arranging the words in sentences
12.
dramatic irony: reader or viewer knows something that a character does not know
13.
dynamic character: one who undergoes important changes as a plot unfolds; occur b/c of his/her actions and experiences in the story; change can be bad or good
14.
exposition: first stage of a typical story plot; provides important background information and introduces the setting and the important characters
15.
figurative language: language that communicates meanings beyond the literal meanings of the words. words are used to symbolize ideas and concepts they should not be associated with.
16.
first person point of view: the narrator is a character in the story
17.
flat character: on who is not highly developed; a one-sided character: he/she usually has one outstanding trait, characteristic, or role. exist mainly to advance the plot, and they display only the traits needed for their limited roles. Usually minor characters.
18.
genre: category in which a work of literature is classified (non-fiction, fiction, poetry, drama)
19.
imagery: descriptive words and phrases that recreate sensory experiences for the reader. appeals to one or more of the 5 senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.
20.
irony: special kind of contrast between appearance and reality
21.
main characters: most important characters in literary works
22.
metaphor: figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are basically unlike but have something in common
23.
minor characters: less prominent characters in literary works
24.
mood: the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader
25.
motif: a recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work; a dominant theme or central idea
26.
naive narrator: ingenious character who reveals the faults and flaws of the world around him through his inexperience and innocence
27.
omniscient point of view: all knowing point of view, narrator sees into the minds of all the characters
28.
perspective: mental view or prospect; point of view
29.
resolution: falling action follows the climax and shows the result of the important decision or action that happened at the climax and leads to the ____, or denouement.
30.
round character: one who is complex and highly developed and has a variety of traits and different sides to his/her personality; may create conflict in the character; tend to display strengths, weaknesses, and a full range of emotions. writer provides enough detail for the reader to understand their feelings and emotions
31.
simile: figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things using the word like or as
32.
situational irony: contrast between what a reader or character expects and what actually happens
33.
static character: one who remains the same throughout a story; nay experience events and have interactions with other characters, but he/she is not changed because of them
34.
style: particular way in which a work of literature is written
-not what is said but how it is said
-formal, informal, journalistic, conversational, wordy, ornate, poetic, dynamic
35.
suspense: excitement or tension that readers feel as they wait to find out how a story ends or a conflict is resolved
36.
symbol: person, place, object, or activity that stands for something beyond itself
37.
syntax: how a sentence is structured
38.
theme: underlying message about life or human nature that a writer wants the reader to understand
39.
tone: attitude a writer takes toward a subject
-through choice of words and details
40.
verbal irony: when someone knowingly exaggerates or says one thing means another
41.
voice: writer's unique language that allows the reader to "hear" a human personality in the writer's work.
