Exposition- The essential background information at the beginning of a literary work
Rising action- the development of conflict and complications in a literary work
Climax- the turning point in a literary work/ “point of no return”
Falling action- results or effects of the climax of a literary work
Denouement- the "unravelling" or series of events that tie up loose ends and move the plot toward resolution
Resolution-end of a literary work when questions are answered and final fate of characters is determined (sometimes this is left intentionally vague or open)
Alliteration – repetition of the initial consonant sounds of words: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”
Allusion – a reference to something well-known that exists outside the literary work – the reference is often indirect and relies on audience knowledge and understanding Antagonist- character that is the source of conflict in a literary work
Aside – a dramatic device in which a character makes a short speech intended for the audience but not heard by the other characters on stage
Assonance – repetition of vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds: “Anna’s apples,” “the pond is long gone”
Characterization- The manner in which an author develops characters and their personalities. Direct characterization=author description/Indirect characterization= character’s appearance, speech, thoughts, actions and what other characters think of the character Character Types: Flat:one-dimensional or one-sided Round:multidemensional Static: character remains unchanged emotionally or psychologically throughout the story Dynamic: character undergoes emotional or psychological change
Conflict - struggle between two or more opposing forces (person vs. person; nature; society; self; fate/God. ETC…) Dialogue - direct speech between characters in a literary work Diction - word choice to create a specific effect Figurative Language –language that represents one thing in terms of something dissimilar (non-literal language). Includes simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and symbolism Flashback- the method of returning to an earlier point in time for the purpose of making the present clearer Foreshadowing- hint of what is to come in a literary work Genre – type or category to which a literary work belongs Hyperbole – extreme exaggeration to add meaning Idiom - a combination of words that has a meaning that is different from the meanings of the individual words themselves. It can have a literal meaning in one situation and a different idiomatic meaning in another situation. It is a phrase which does not always follow the normal rules of meaning and grammar. Imagery – language that appeals to the five senses
Irony Dramatic… when the reader or audience knows something a character does not Situational… when there is a disparity between what is expected and what actually occurs Verbal… when the speaker says one thing but means the opposite
Metaphor – an implied comparison between dissimilar objects without the use of like or as: “Her talent blossomed” Motif- a recurring feature of a literary work that is related to the theme Onomatopoeia – use of a word whose sound imitates its meaning: “hiss” Oxymoron – phrase that consists of two words that are contradictory: “living dead” or “jumbo shrimp” Paradox – a statement that seems contradictory but may reveal a truth….. ex. “She was alone in the crowd”. Parody - A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule Personification – figure of speech in which non-human things are given human characteristics Plot- The sequence of events in a literary work
Point of view- the vantage point or perspective from which a literary work is told… 1st person point of view- the narrator is a character in the story (use of ‘I’) 2nd person point of view- the speaker addresses the listener or reader directly, using "you" 3rd person point of view- the narrator is outside of the story (use of ‘he’ ‘she’ ‘they’)* may be limited or omniscient
Protagonist- the main character in a literary work Rhyme – repetition of similar or identical sounds: “look and crook” Rhyme Scheme – pattern of rhyme among lines of poetry [denoted using letters, as in ABAB CDCD EE] Satire -A literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit. Setting- The time and place of a literary work Simile – a direct comparison of dissimilar objects, usually using like or as: “I wandered lonely as a cloud” Soliloquy - a dramatic device in which a character is alone and speaks his or her thoughts aloud Speaker – voice in a poem; the person or thing that is speaking Stanza – group of lines forming a unit in a poem Stereotype- standardized, conventional ideas about characters, plots and settings Suspense – technique that keeps the reader guessing what will happen next Symbol/symbolism – one thing (object, person, place) used to represent something else Theme – the underlying main idea of a literary work. Theme differs from the subject of a literary work in that it involves a statement or opinion about the subject. Tone – the author’s attitude toward the subject of a work or toward the audience