APL literacy terms Flashcards
1
Q
major unit of action in a drama or play; can be divided into smaller sections called scenes.
A
Act
2
Q
often have a strong moral lesson; story in which people, things and actions represents an idea about life.
A
Allegory
3
Q
repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
A
Alliteration
4
Q
reference in a literary work to a person, place or thing in history or another work of literature; often indirect or brief references to well known characters or events
A
Allusion
5
Q
comparison of two or more like objects that suggest if they are alike in certain respects, they will probably be alike in other ways as well.
A
Analogy
6
Q
brief account of an interesting incident or event that usually intended to entertain or to make a point
A
Anecdote
7
Q
actors speech directed to the audience that is not suppose to be heard by others on stage; used to let the audience know what the character is about to do or thinking.
A
Aside
8
Q
repetition of vowel sounds within a line of poetry
A
Assonance
9
Q
group of readers or viewers that the writer is addressing. A writer considers the audience when deciding on a subject, a purpose for writing and the tone and style in which to write.
A
Audience
10
Q
the writer of the book, article or other text
A
Author
11
Q
authors reason for creating a particular work. the purpose can be entertain, explain or inform, express an opinion, or to persuade
A
Author’s purpose
12
Q
form of nonfiction in which a person tells a story of his or her life
A
Autobiography
13
Q
a poem that tells a story and is meant to be sung or recited
A
Ballad
14
Q
the story of a person’s life that is written by someone else
A
Biography
15
Q
unrhymed iambic pentameter
A
Blank verse
16
Q
a pause or sudden break in a line of poetry
A
Caesura
17
Q
one event brings about or causes the other. The first is the cause, the event that follows is the effect
A
Cause and effect
18
Q
a person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature characters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts. All have their own personality
A
Character
19
Q
a character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character, or protagonist. Doesn’t have to be a person; could be death, the devil, an illness or any change that prevents the main character living “happily ever after”
A
Antagonist
20
Q
pictures or imitation of a person’s habits, physical appearance, or mannerisms exaggerated in a comic or absurd way
A
Caricature
21
Q
character that serves as a contrast or a conflict to another character
A
Foil
22
Q
character whose actions are inspiring or noble; often the main character in a story
A
Hero/heroine
23
Q
the characters central to the plot of the story; main characters are usually dynamic and round
A
Main Character
24
Q
less important character who interacts with the main character, helping to move the plot along and providing background for the story; usually static and flat
A
Minor Character
25
all the techniques that writers use to create characters
Characterization
26
a characters personality; a trait is not a physical description of a character
Character Trait
27
the author directly states a characters traits or makes direct comments about the characters nature
Direct Characterization
28
a character who changes throughout the course of the story
Dynamic Character
29
a character about whom we know little about
Flat Character
30
the author does not directly state a character's trait; instead the reader draws conclusions and discovers a character's trait based upon clues provide by the author
Indirect Characterization
31
a character who is fully described by the author
Round Character
32
a character who does not change or changes very little in the course of a story
Static Character
33
the order in which events happen in time
Chronological Order
34
the readers process of pausing occasionally while reading to quickly review what he or she understands. by doing this good readers are able to draw conclusions about what is suggested but not directly stated
Clarifying
35
type of figurative language containing an overused expression or a saying that is no longer considered original
Cliche
36
dramatic work that is light and often humorous in tone and usually ends happily with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict
Comedy
37
the process of identifying similarities
Comparison
38
a type of poetry that uses its physical or visual form to present its message
Concrete Poem
39
the tension or problem in the story
Conflict
40
the most important conflict in the story
Central conflict
41
the problem or struggle that exists between the main character and an outside force (ex: person vs. person)
External conflict
42
the problem or struggle that takes place in the main characters mind (person vs. self)
Internal conflict
43
a readers purpose of relating the content of a literary work to his or her own knowledge and experience
Connecting
44
The idea and feeling associated with a word
Connotation
45
Dictionary definition of a word
Denotation
46
The repetition of consonant spuds anywhere within a like of poetry
Consonance
47
Hints or suggestions that may surround unfamiliar words or phrases and clarify their meaning.
Context clues
48
The process of pointing out the differences between things
Contrast
49
A rhymed pair of lines in a poem. One of William Shakespeare's trademarks to end a sonnet.
Couplet
50
Pattern of repeating a word
Anadiplosis
51
Rearranging letters to make a new word.
Anagram
52
Contrast of words. Draws the attention of the reader or listener. Ex: speech is silver, silence is gold
Antithesis
53
A form of language this is spoken in a particular place or by a particular group of people.
Dialect
54
The conversation between characters in a drama or narrative.
Dialogue
55
Form of literature meant to be preformed by actors before an audience. The characters dialogue and actions tell the story.
Drama
56
Written form of a play.
Script
57
Combining several pieces of information to make an inference.
Drawing conclusions
58
A literary device that is used when a character reveals his or her inner most thoughts and feelings, those that are hidden throughout the course of the story line, through a poem or speech.
Dramatic monologue
59
A type of literature defined as a song or poem that expresses sorrow or lamentation, usually for one who has died.
Elegy
60
In poetry, incomplete syntax at the end of a line, the meaning running over into the next line without terminal punctuation.
Enjambment
61
A short poem or verse that seeks to ridiculed thought of event usually with witticism or sarcasm.
Epigram
62
A brief tale that teaches a lesson about human nature; often features animals as characters
Fable
63
A fact is a statement that can be provoked. An opinion in contrast, is a statement that reflects the writers or speakers belief, but which cannot be supported by proof or evidence
Fact and opinion
64
Traditions, customs, and stories that are passed down within a culture; contains various types of literature such as legends, folktales, myths and fables
Folklore
65
A simple story that has been passed from generation to generation by word of mouth; fold primarily to entertain rather than to explain or teach a lesson
Folktale
66
A unit meter within a line of poetry
Foot
67
When the writer provides clues or hints that suggest it predict future events in a story.
Foreshadowing
68
Poetry without regular patterns of rhyme and rhythm. Often used to capture the sounds of ordinary speech.
Free verse
69
A broad statement about an entire group
Generalization
70
A type or category of literature. the four main literary genres include: fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama
Genre
71
A traditional firm of Japanese poetry, usually dealing with nature. 3 lines and describes a single moment, feeling or thing. The first and third lines contain 5 syllables and the second line contains 7
Haiku
72
A couplet consisting of two successive rhyming lines that contain a complete thought.
Heroic couplet or closed couplet
73
Fiction that explored a past time period and may contain references to actual people and events of the past
Historical fiction
74
Quality that provides laughter or amusement. Writers create humor through exaggeration, sarcasm, amusing descriptions, irony and witty and dialogue.
Humor
75
Figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis it humorous effect.
Hyperbole
76
A phrase or expression that means something different from what the word actually means.
Ex. Over his head= he doesn't get it.
Idiom
77
The use of words and phrases that appeals to the five senses. Writers use sensory details to help readers imagine how things look, feel, smell, sound and taste.
Imagery
78
Is logical guess based on evidence
Inference
79
anything out of time and out of place
Anachronism
80
Form of word play in which letters of a word or phrases are rearranged
Anagram
81
see meter
Iambic meter
82
See character
antagonist
83
See refrain
Chorus
84
see plot
Climax
85
see plot
Denouement
86
see plot
falling action
87
see character
foil
88
see character
hero/heroine
89
a specific type of autobiography; about the authors personal experiences but doesn't necessarily cover the authors entire life.
memoir
90
figurative language in which a comparison is made between two things that are essentially unalike but have quality in common. does not use "like" or "as"
Metaphor
91
A meeting in which one person asks another about personal matters, professional matters or both
Interview
92
Contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens; spices up a literary work by adding unexpected twists and allowing the reader to become more involved with the characters and plot
Irony
93
Occurs when the speaker means something totally different than what he or she is saying and often times the opposite of what they say is true
Verbal irony
94
Occurs when facts are not known to the characters in a work of literature but are known by the audience
Dramatic irony
95
Suggest that some unknown force brings about dire and dreadful events
Cosmic irony
96
The difference between what is expected to happen and the way events actually work out.
Irony of situation
97
A story handed down from the past about a specific person, usually someone of heroic accomplishments
Legend
98
Short humorous poem composed of five lines that usually has the rhyme scheme aabba, created by two rhyming couplets followed by a fifth line that rhymes with the first couplet; song-song
Limerick
99
Actual meaning of a word or phrase
Literal meaning
100
Song-like poem written mainly to express the feeling or emotions of a single speaker
Lyric
101
See character
Main character
102
The most important point that a writer wishes to express
Main idea
103
Words that rhyme at the end of the line
End/terminal rhyme
104
Words that when written appear to rhyme but when spoken do not
Eye rhyme
105
Rhyme found within a line of poetry (alliteration, assonance, and consonance)
Internal rhyme
106
Aka near rhyme, half rhyme, off rhyme, imperfect rhyme, oblique rhyme or para rhyme. A distinctive system or pattern of metrical structure and verse composition in which two works have only their final consonant sounds and no preceding vowel or constant sounds in common.
Slant rhyme
107
Pattern of end rhyme used in a poem, indicated by using lowercase letters to show which lines rhyme
Rhyme scheme
108
Refers to the pattern of flow of sounds created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables
Rhythm
109
See plot
Rising action
110
The use if praise to mock someone or something; the use of mockery or verbal irony
Sarcasm
111
Distinctive poetic style that uses a system or pattern of metrical structure and verse composition usually consisting of 14 lines
Sonnet
112
Written in iambic pentameter. Consists first of an octave, 8 lines, which ask a question or states a problem or proposition and follows the rhyme scheme abba, abba. The sestet, last 6 lines, offers an answer or resolution to the proposed problem and follows cdecde
Italian or Petrarchan sonnet
113
regular pattern of accented or unaccented syllables. Not all poems have this. Each unit of meter is known as a foot.
Meter
114
"/" symbol used to identify what type of syllable.
accented
115
"x" or a small symbol shaped like a "u" is used to identify what type of syllable
unaccented
116
the multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage
Ambiguity
117
the word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun
Antecedent
118
a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle
aphorism
119
A figure of speech that directly addressed an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love
Apostrophe
120
Common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work; a thought or idea the author presents to the reader about life or human nature.
Theme
121
See plot
Third person point of view
122
Dramatic work that presents the downfall if a dignified character or characters who are involved in historically it socially significant events. The events in the tragic plot set in motion by a decision that is often an error in judgment. Succeeding events normally lead to death.
Tragedy
123
See characterization
Trait
124
A statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said; opposite of hyperbole; used for humorous effect
Understatement
125
See narrative
Unreliable narrator
126
Contemporary short story that is told in many rumored versions that have little basis in fact
Urban legend
127
Author or narrators distinctive style or manner of expression; can reveal much about the author or narrators
Voice
128
The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the authors choice of objects that are described.
Atmosphere
129
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb
Clause
130
The use of slang or in formalities in speech or writing
Colloquial
131
The fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects
Conceit
132
Referring to style, diction refers to the writers word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness
Diction
133
From the Greek, literally means "teaching"
Didactic
134
From the Greek for "good speech", a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept
Euphemism
135
A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work
Extended metaphor
136
Refers to traditions for each genre
Generic conventions
137
The major category into which a literary work fits
Genre
138
Literally "sermon", or any serious talk, speech, or lecture providing moral or spiritual advice
Homily
139
An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attach using strong, abusive language
Invective
140
A type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units
Loose sentence
141
From the Greek "changed label", the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it ("the White House" for the president)
Metonymy
142
A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity
Paradox
143
From the Greek for "beside one another", the grammatical or rhetorical framing if words phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.
Parallelism
144
A work that closely imitated the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.
Parody
145
An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general time that is overly scholarly, academic or bookish
Pedantic
146
A sentence that presents it's central meaning in a main clause at the end
Periodic sentence
147
The perspective from which a story is told (first person, third person omniscient, third person limited omniscient)
Point of view
148
One type of subject complement, an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb
Predicate adjective
149
Another type of subject complement, a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject
Predicate nominative
150
Genre including fiction, nonfiction, written in ordinary language.
Prose
151
From the Greek for "orator", the principle governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively
Rhetoric
152
The variety, conventions and purposes of the major kinds of writing (exposition explains and analyzed information; argumentation proves validity of an idea; description recreates, invents, or presents a person, place, event or action; narration tells a story or recount an event)
Rhetorical modes
