Definitions Flashcards
Alliteration
The repetition of the initial letter or sounds in two or more words in a line or group of lines, or the
repetition of consonant sounds within the words (e.g., “Sweet smell of success”).
Allegory
A story, poem, or painting in which the characters and events are symbols of something else. Allegories are often moral, religious, or political. ex: Adam and Eve, Animal Farm
Allusion
Casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event (e.g., You have a Mona Lisa smile). Classical / Mythological – a reference to a particular event or character in classical works of literature, such as ancient Greek or Roman works.
Historical – a reference to a historical event or period.
Literary – a reference to a literary text or figure.
Analogy
A comparison between two objects that are different, but have one thing in common (e.g., shoe is to
foot as tire is to a car).
Anecdote
A brief story that retells a memorable personal event; basically a story.
Assonance
Similar vowel sounds in close proximity. (e.g. “O harp and altar, of the fury fused”)
Characters - Major, protagonist, antagonist, minor
Major Character – An important figure at the centre of the story’s action or theme
Protagonist – Sometimes referred to as the “hero,” the protagonist is the main character in the story who attempts
to achieve a goal or solve a problem, but has difficulty doing so due to conflict
Antagonist – Sometimes referred to as the “villain,” the antagonist is the main character in the story who attempts to stop the protagonist from achieving his/her goal, thus resulting in conflict
Minor Character – A less important figure whose main purpose is to support or develop the main character(s). Minor characters often remain the same from the beginning of the story to the end (unchanging or static)
Characterization
Characterization (Indirect) – The means by which writers present and reveal characters. This presentation is revealed in multiple ways: Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, Looks (S.T.E.A.L.). We approach fictional characters with the same concerns with which we approach real people.
Speech - Listen to what they say and how they say it
Thoughts - Listen to their thoughts
Effect on others - Observe how other characters relate to them Actions - Observe their actions and how they relate to other characters Looks - Take notice of their description
Conflict
The different types of narrative conflict: Person vs Person; Person vs Self; Person vs Nature; Person vs Society. Person vs Person - This type of narrative conflict primarily involves the protagonist against the antagonist, where
the antagonist attempts to prevent the protagonist from achieving his/her goal.
Person vs Self - This type of narrative conflict involves the protagonist against his or her self, where the s/he faces an internal struggle, either self-doubt and fear, or a choice to make between two different values (emotional vs rational, good vs evil, loyalty vs opportunity, etc).
Person vs Nature - This type of narrative conflict involves the protagonist against the elements of nature, such as the environment, the weather, animals, or natural disasters. This can sometimes even include the supernatural. Person vs Society - This type of narrative conflict involves the protagonist against the society in which s/he lives, or against the values that society stands for. The protagonist struggles by standing up for their own value system against everyone else, either in the community or a group they are part of
Consonance
Similar consonant sounds placed in close proximity. (e.g. “Coming home, hot foot”)
Cliche
An overused sentence or phrase expressing a common thought or idea; a cliché is usually an idiom, but
an idiom isn’t always a cliché. i.e. over the moon, sour taste, cat out of the bag, get the ball rolling,
Colloquialism
Casual / informal words or phrases to be avoided in formal writing. i.e., chickened out, back in the day, etc.
Dialect/Slang
– Informal language that is culturally based. i.e. off the hook, props, etc.
Diction
The author’s choice of words, which can create the tone or atmosphere (e.g., Sharp words, kind words, repetition. For example: “He swung the hammer and she didn’t scream, but she might scream because she wasn’t Norma, none of them were Norma, and he swung the hammer, swung the hammer, swung the hammer. She wasn’t Norma and so he swung the hammer, as he had done five other times.” Intense, frightening atmosphere created by the repetition of the word SWUNG).
Epiphany
A sudden moment of realization
Euphemism
An inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too
harsh. i.e. ‘fatally wounded’ instead of ‘killed’, or ‘held back a grade’ instead of ‘failing a gra
Foil
A character who, through contrast, emphasizes the distinct characteristics of another character.
Flashback
A reference back to an event that occurred in the past, either within the same story timeline, or prior to the story taking place.
Foreshadowing
Little clues the author leaves behind to hint at what is to come later in the story. Foreshadowing is used to create suspense or anxiety in the reader or viewer. It is like “scary music” in a movie.
Hyperbole
An exaggeration or overstatement (e.g., “I am so thirsty I could drink a lake!”).
Imagery
The collected images that exist in a text. These images include “mental pictures” and any other sensory perceptions that have been created in a text through its use of language. Imagery often appeals to the 5 senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, sound).
Irony
When the opposite of what is expected happens. A figure of speech in which the actual intent is expressed in words that carry the opposite meaning; a passage in a literary work where the reader recognizes the deeper meaning than the apparent meaning.
Dramatic Irony – This takes place when the reader or viewer shares knowledge with the writer that the character does not have.
Situational Irony – This refers to the difference between what actually happens and what would seem appropriate for the situation.
Verbal Irony – This refers to the difference in what is said and what was intended.
Metaphor
A comparison not using “like” or “as.”
Mood/Atmosphere
The prevailing feeling in a story communicated through the author’s direct comments, description of setting, attitudes, actions, and imagery; may result in a suspenseful, calm tense mysterious, joyful (etc.) mood/atmosphere
Onomatopoeia
Use of words in which the sense is suggested by the sound; words; words that sound the same way they are spelled (e.g., “gulp” and “hiss”).
Oxymoron
Two contrasting words/ideas put together (e.g., “They cried beautifully”).
Paradox
A contradiction that, upon deeper analysis, contains a degree of truth.
Pathetic fallacy
When nature imitates human emotions or feelings.
Pathos
When the author writes in such a way as to arouse feeling of pity/sympathy in the reader (e.g., The Lion King: Mufasa’s death So sad . The loss of a parent touches all of us emotionally. We are instantly, emotionally connected to Simba).
Personification
When an animal or inanimate object is given human qualities
Plot
The “action” element of fiction; the arrangement of events that make up a story; the plot usually follows a pattern
known as the “plot graph.”
Initial situation
The circumstances in which the protagonist finds him or herself at the beginning of the story.
Inciting incident
The first conflict the protagonist encounters in the story that sets the action in motion.
Rising action
The events unfolding through the majority of the story that develops and sets up the climax.
Climax - The highest (most exciting) point in the story, where the protagonist makes a vital decision or takes decisive action.
Falling action
The events which unfold after the climax of the story, but before the denouement (final conclusion).
Denouement
French word meaning “unravelling,” this is the final point in the story where all the plot’s conflicts
are sorted out or resolved (unravelled, like a knot).
Point of View (POV)
Author’s decision about who is to tell the story and how it is to be told; 5 different types of POV:
First Person – The narrator is the main character in the story. The character describes things from his/her POV. Readers should question the trustworthiness of this narrator. Look for the use of “I.”
Second Person – Rarely used by any author. Look for the use of “you.”
Third Person – The narrator is not a character in the story. Instead s/he describes things as an outside observer would. Look
for the use of “he,” “she,” “him,” “her,” and “they.”
Third person Omniscient
The narrator is not a character in the story, instead s/he describes things as an observer would, and s/he can also comment on the thoughts and feelings of the characters in the story. This narrator knows everything about the characters’ thoughts and feelings.
Limited omniscient
When the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of only ONE character, either major or minor, rather than all the characters.
Pun
– A humourous way of using a word or phrase so that more than one meaning is suggested (e.g. Sea captains don’t like crew cuts. A boiled egg in the morningis hard to beat. Energizer Bunny arrested – charged with battery).
Satire
To exaggerate something to the point of ridicule, with the intent of criticizing vice or folly
Setting
The place or location of a story’s action, along with the time in which it occurs; it can also illustrate the
historical, cultural, and emotional state that increases our knowledge about the characters.
Simile
A comparison using “like” or “as.”
Suspense
A state of uncertainty or excitement in the story.
Symbol
A person, place, thing, or event that represents something else.
Symbolism
The use of symbols in literature to suggest other ideas
Theme
The main idea in the story; or the lesson the reader is taught, and there is typically some universal application to
life in general.
Tone
The attitude the author has towards the subject.This is most often created through the author’s choice of words. Example of tone: dark, light, depressing: “It was a dark and stormynight” sets a scary, uneasy tone.” The sun was shining brightly on the meadow” sets a light tone.
Understatement
Deliberately expressing an idea as less important than it actually is either for ironic emphasis or for politeness and tact. i.e. Kyle Lowry has some talent as a basketball player.
