 | Term | Definition |
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Alliteration (T) |
The repetition of consonant sounds within close proximity, usually in consecutive words within the same sentence or line |
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Anthropomorphism (T) |
Where animals or inanimate objects are protrayed in a story as people, such as by walking, talking, or being givenarms, legs, facial features, human locomotion or other forms |
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Blank Verse (T) |
Non-rhyming poetry |
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Characterization (T) |
the author's means of conveying to the reader a character's personality, life history, values, physical attributes, ect. |
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Creative license (T) |
Exaggeration or alteration of facts or reality, for the purpose of enhancing meaning in a fictional context |
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Dialogue (T) |
Where characters speak to one another; may often be used to substitute for explanation |
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Dramatic Irony (T) |
Where the audience or reader is aware of something important, of which the characters in the story are not aware |
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Exposition (T) |
Where an author interrupts a story in order to explain something, usually to provide importnat backround information |
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Figurative language (T) |
Any use of language where the intended meaning differs from the actual literal meaning of the words themselves. |
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Metaphor (T) |
A direct relationship where one thing or idea substitutes for another |
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Simile (T) |
An indirect relationship where one thing or idea is described as being similar to another. Usually contains the words "like" or "as" |
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Hyperbole (T) |
A description which exaggerates, usually employing extremes and/or superlatives to convey a positive or negative attribute; "hype" |
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Personification (T) |
Where inanimate objects or abstract concepts are seemingly endowed with human self-awareness; where human thoughts, actions, perceptions, and emotions are directly attricuted to inanimate objects or ideas |
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Onomatopoeia (T) |
Where sounds are spelled out as words, or when words describing sounds actually sound like the sounds they describe |
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Oxymoron (T) |
A contradiction in terms |
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Foreshadowing (T) |
Where future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, are suggested by the author before it happens |
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Imagery (T) |
Language which describes something in detail, using words to createsensory stimultation, including visual imagery and sound imagery |
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Flashback (T) |
A scene that interrupts the present action to describe an event that took place at an earlier time |
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Irony (T) |
A contrast between what is expected and what actually is or happens |
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Allegory (E) |
Where every aspect of a story is representitave or symbolic of something else |
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Antagonist (E) |
Counterpart to the main character and source of a story's main conflict. The person may not be "bad" or "evil", but he or she opposes the portagonist in a significant was. It can also be a force of nature, society, or even a force within the main character |
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Character (E) |
The people who inhabit and take part in a story |
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Climax (E) |
The turning point in a story, at which the end result becomes inevitable, usually where something suddenly goes terribly wrong; the dramatc high point of a story |
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Conflict (E) |
A struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of the story |
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Context (E) |
Conditions, including facts, social/historical backround, time and place, ect., surrounding a given situation |
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Genre (E) |
The term used to identify the major categories of literature |
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Mood (E) |
The atmosphere or emotional condition created by the piece, within the setting. It refers to the general sense or feeling which the reader is supposed to get from the text. Doesn't refer to the author or character's state of mind! |
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Motif (E) |
A recurring important idea or image. It differs from a theme in that it can be expressed as a single word or phrase, while a theme must usually be expressed as a complete sentence. This could also be refered to as a symbol |
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Narrator (E) |
The teller of the story |
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Plot (E) |
Sequence of events in a story |
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Point of View (E) |
The identity of the narrative voice; the person or entity through whom the reader experiences the story. |
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First Person (E) |
Narrated by a character in the story or a direct observer |
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Third Person (E) |
No narrator; abstract voice |
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Protagonist (E) |
The main character in a story, the one with whom the reader is meant to identify |
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Setting (E) |
The time and place where a story occurs |
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Suspense (E) |
the growing tension and excitement felt be a reader |
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Theme (E) |
the main idea or message conveyed by the piece. |
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Tone (E) |
The emotional state or "attitude" of the speaker/narrator/narrative voice as conveyed through the language of the piece. |
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Tragedy (E) |
Where a story ends with a negative or unfortunate outcome which was essentially avoidable usually caused be a flaw in the central character's personality |
| Add or remove terms from this set |
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