| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Allusion | a reference to a person, place, poem, book, event, etc., which is not part of the story, that the author expects the reader will recognize |
| Autobiography | the relating of a person's life by that person |
| Parody | a mocking piece of literature that is designed to ridicule the subject in an exaggerated, often sarcastic way |
| Personal Narrative | events from the narrator's life, characterized by personal comments, observations, and thoughts that reflect on the events |
| Persuasive writing | writing in which the author wants to convince readers to agree with the author's opinions. To accomplish this, the writer must first make the issues clear to the reader and then provide incidents and facts to support his or her opinion. Examples: campaign speeches, debates, etc. |
| Pun | "a play on words": an expression that achieves emphasis or humor by utilizing: two distinctly different meanings for the same word. Example: "play" meaning "fun" and "play" meaning a performance on stage. Or: Two similar sounding words. Example: close/clothes. Example: In Romeo and Juliet, one character, Mercutio, says after being fatally stabbed, "Ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave man." |
| Sarcasm | the use of harsh words to deride and criticize. Sometimes, sarcasm is apparent only by the way something is said rather than the actual words that are used; other times the sarcasm is obvious. Example: In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden says about a taxi driver he dislikes that, "he certainly was good company. Terrific personality." |
| Superstition | any belief or attitude based on fear or ignorance that is inconsistent with the known laws of science. Example: Breaking a mirror brings seven years bad luck. |
| Protagonist | the central or main character in a story around which the plot centers. It is he/she who usually engages the reader's sympathy |
| Foreshadowing | the use of hints of clues in a story to suggest what action is to come. Foreshadowing is used to create interest, build suspense, and establish credibility |
| Inference | the act of drawing a conclusion that is not actually started |
| Metaphor | a comparison of two things that are basically dissimilar, but are brought together in order to create a sharp image. Example: The mood, a haunting lantern, shone through the clouds. |
| Plot | Is it believable or credible given its setting? Is it well-paced, as opposed to being boring and slow moving. |
| Exposition | The background information which the reader has to know and/or understand |
| Rising Action | The part of the story's plot that adds complications to the problems and increases the reader interest. |
| Climax | The point of greatest dramatic tension or excitement in a story. |
| Falling Action | Additional action following the climax |
| Resolution | The part of the story in which all the problems are solved and/or the secrets reveled. |
| Sarcasm | the use of praise to make fun of someone |
| Sensory Detail | the use of details from the five senses to help describe the subject |
| Style | the way an author chooses and uses words, phrases and sentences to tell the story. For example, in an action/adventure story, the author may use simple words and short, choppy sentences, because this type of style moves the story along faster. But in a story about a college professor, the same author may choose to use multisyllabic, unfamiliar words, and long, convoluted sentences. |
| Theme | The central or dominant idea behind the story; the most important aspect that emerges from how the book treats its subject. Sometimes these are easy to see, but, at other times, it may be more difficult. Theme is usually expressed indirectly, as an element the reader must figure out. It is a universal statement about humanity, rather than a simple statement dealing with plot or characters in the story. Themes are generally hinted at through different devices: a phrase or quotation introducing the novel; a recurring element in the book, or an observation made that is reinforced through plot, dialogue, or characters. It must be emphasized that not all works of literature have themes in them. |
| Loss of Innocence | In this type of story the child of young adult is living a blissfully happy life, innocent of any real evil or hardship. This innocence is shattered, however, by what the character observes or experiences; these experiences change the character. |
| Rite of Passage | In some tribal cultures before a boy or girl becomes as adult he/she has to undergo some ritual or test. In modern novels it usually involves the young person undergoing a test or ordeal and passing this test. |
| Irony | A subtle, sometimes humorous, perception of inconsistency, in which the significance of a statement or event is changed by its content. For example: the firehouse burned down. |
| Verbal irony | discrepancy between what is said and what is really meant: sarcasm. Example: calling a stupid man smart |
| Structural irony | a naïve hero whose view of the world differs from the author and readers, it flatters the reader's intelligence at the expense of the hero |
| Dramatic Irony | the audience knows more about a character's situation than the character does, foreseeing an outcome contrary for the character and a different meaning to the reader who knows more than the character. |
Combine with other sets
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