 | Term | Definition |
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Alliteration |
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of wordsEx/ the Big Blue Balloon |
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Allusion |
A literary technique writers use in which a famous person, place, or historical event is referenced. Often used for emphasis. |
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Antagonist |
Villain |
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Antonym |
Two or more words which mean the opposite or nearly the opposite. |
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Author |
The WRITER of the story. |
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CCPEVQ (Crazy Cats Probably Eat Very Quickly) |
A mnemonic to remember our reading strategies: CONNECT, CLARIFY, PREDICT, EVALUATE, VISUALIZE, QUESTION |
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Central Conflict |
The main conflict or problem that the main character of a story faces |
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Character Development |
The ways in which a character changes and evolves throughout a story, often as a result of some conflict within the story. |
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Cite |
To quote actual words from a story or a poem. |
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Climax |
The turning point in a story; the point where the conflict reaches its peak |
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Couplet |
A two line stanza. |
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Dynamic/Round character |
Character with a major change in thinking. |
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Exposition |
The boring stuff at the beginning; information you need to understand the conflict. |
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External Conflict |
A conflict that a character faces against some outside force: individual v. individual, individual v. nature, individual v. society, individual v. technology, individual v. supernatural |
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Falling Actions |
In a story, the events that lead from the climax to the resolution |
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Figurative language |
Poetic language. |
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First Person Point of View |
A character in the story tells the story. |
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Flashback |
An interruption of the action to present events that took place at an earlier time. |
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Foreshadowing |
When a writer provides hints which suggest future events in a story. |
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Homophone |
Two or more words which sound the same but have different meanings. |
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Hyperbole |
An EXTREME exaggeration used for effect. |
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Idiom |
A figure of speech which does NOT mean what the words literally mean Ex./ break your heart. |
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Initiating Event |
In a story, the event that sets the main conflict into motion. |
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Internal Conflict |
A conflict that a character faces within him/herself (individual v. self)Ex/ guilt |
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Imagery |
The words an author uses to involve any of the readers’ five senses. |
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Irony |
A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. |
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Metaphor |
A comparison of two unlike things by saying one this IS the other. |
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Mnemonic |
A way to remember stuff. |
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Mood |
The way the READER feels about the events, characters, and setting of a story. |
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Narrative |
Writing that tells a story. |
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Narrator |
The TELLER of the story. |
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Onomatopoeia |
Words in which their sounds suggest their meaningEx/ buzz, sizzle |
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Organizational Patterns / Internal Text Structure |
The way a piece of writing is organized/structured: problem-solution, compare-contrast, chronological/sequence, cause-effect |
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Personification |
Giving non-human things human qualities/characteristics |
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Plot |
The sequence of events in a story:Initiating event, rising actions, climax, falling actions, resolution. |
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Protagonist |
Hero |
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Quatrain |
A four line poem OR a stanza with four lines |
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Rising Actions |
In a story, the events that take place after the initiating event and lead up to the climax |
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Repetition |
The repeating of words or phrases in a poem used to emphasize a particular thought |
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Resolution |
The final stage of plot in a story- loose ends are tied up, and the story is brought to a close |
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Rhythm |
The pattern of beats in a poem |
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Setting |
The conditions under which a story takes place: time, place, weather conditions, culture, etc. |
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Sequence of Events |
The order of the events in a story; the plot |
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Simile |
A comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as.” |
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S. STINS |
A mnemonic to remember the six kinds of conflict: individual vs. SELF, SOCIETY, TECHNOLOGY, INDIVIDUAL, NATURE, and SUPERNATURAL. |
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Stanza |
A group of lines in a poem. |
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Static/Flat character |
A character who remains unchanged. |
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Synonym |
Two or more words which mean the same or nearly the same. |
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Theme / Main Idea |
The central, universal message of a story(what the author is trying to tell the readers by writing the story) |
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Third Person Point of View |
The narrator is an outsider (not part of the story). Two types: limited, omniscient. |
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Third Person limited |
Point of view in which an outsider tells the story and can enter the mind of only one character. |
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Third person omniscient |
Point of view in which a god tells the story and can enter any mind. |
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Tone |
The AUTHOR’S attitude toward the subject of his/her writing |
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Word Choice/ Diction |
The words an author chooses to use to convey a particular message or to create a particular mood |
