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Scatter: Literature Terms

Gossip
revolves around a person's personal business
Superstition
a belief that changes behavior
Urban Legend
story that may or may not be true, usually local
Fable
uses animals with human traits to teach a lesson
Fairy Tale
good vs. evil with a happy ending
Myth
story to explain why the world is the way it is and why things happen. Customs and rituals may be based on it
Epic Poem
an adventure poem about heroes who embody the characteristics of a particular culture
Direct Characterization
when an author tells you what to believe about a character
Indirect Characterization
when an author shows you about a character through appearence, thoughts, speech, actions, others' opinions, names
Homeric Simile
comparison between something unfamiliar to something more familiar (Hermes is like the bird on the water)
Blank verse
noble characters speak it unless they go crazy or lose their rank
Rhymed verse
highest form of poetry. Most noble characters, spirits, songs, instances of highest love. Hint: it rhymes!
Prose
unrhymed, unpatterned speech. Working class characters speak in it, unless pretending to be noble
Pun
play on words (grave man)
Sonnet
14 lines of iambic pentameter with an abab cdcd efef gg rhyme scheme
Iambic Pentameter
the rhythm of blank verse. A line of 10 syllables including 5 pairs of unstressed/stressed syllables.
Metaphor
comparison of 2 unlike things (Juliet is the sun)
Simile
comparison of 2 unlike things using like or as (Juliet is hott like the sun)
Autobiography
story about self
Diary
day-to-day record of events
Memoir
the emphasis is not on the developing self but on people and events the author has known or witnessed.
Allusion
a reference in literature to another important person, place, or event
Tragedy
type of drama that shows the downfall of a noble or outstanding character, one who traditionally possesses a tragic flaw
Tragic Hero
one who evokes both pity and terror—person is not evil but you see characteristics of yourself in character. Through choice or circumstance, is caught up in a sequence of events which result in disaster
Tragic Flaw
a positive characteristic or trait that the character embodies but it usually leads to a downfall when taken to an extreme
Suspension of Disbelief
—"It refers to the willingness of a person to accept as true the premises of a work of fiction, even if they are fantastic or impossible
Oxymoron
a type of contradiction that combines two terms ordinarily seen as opposites
Euphemism
a polite way of saying something unpleasant

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Allusiona reference in literature to another important person, place, or event
Autobiographystory about self
Blank versenoble characters speak it unless they go crazy or lose their rank
Diaryday-to-day record of events
Direct Characterizationwhen an author tells you what to believe about a character
Epic Poeman adventure poem about heroes who embody the characteristics of a particular culture
Euphemisma polite way of saying something unpleasant
Fableuses animals with human traits to teach a lesson
Fairy Talegood vs. evil with a happy ending
Gossiprevolves around a person's personal business
Homeric Similecomparison between something unfamiliar to something more familiar (Hermes is like the bird on the water)
Iambic Pentameterthe rhythm of blank verse. A line of 10 syllables including 5 pairs of unstressed/stressed syllables.
Indirect Characterizationwhen an author shows you about a character through appearence, thoughts, speech, actions, others' opinions, names
Memoirthe emphasis is not on the developing self but on people and events the author has known or witnessed.
Metaphorcomparison of 2 unlike things (Juliet is the sun)
Mythstory to explain why the world is the way it is and why things happen. Customs and rituals may be based on it
Oxymorona type of contradiction that combines two terms ordinarily seen as opposites
Proseunrhymed, unpatterned speech. Working class characters speak in it, unless pretending to be noble
Punplay on words (grave man)
Rhymed versehighest form of poetry. Most noble characters, spirits, songs, instances of highest love. Hint: it rhymes!
Similecomparison of 2 unlike things using like or as (Juliet is hott like the sun)
Sonnet14 lines of iambic pentameter with an abab cdcd efef gg rhyme scheme
Superstitiona belief that changes behavior
Suspension of Disbelief—"It refers to the willingness of a person to accept as true the premises of a work of fiction, even if they are fantastic or impossible
Tragedytype of drama that shows the downfall of a noble or outstanding character, one who traditionally possesses a tragic flaw
Tragic Flawa positive characteristic or trait that the character embodies but it usually leads to a downfall when taken to an extreme
Tragic Heroone who evokes both pity and terror—person is not evil but you see characteristics of yourself in character. Through choice or circumstance, is caught up in a sequence of events which result in disaster
Urban Legendstory that may or may not be true, usually local
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