ELA Terms (E-P) Flashcards
Memorize these terms
epic
An ________ is a long poem that tells the story of a brave hero. The language in an ________ is special and often shows important ideas about religion or culture. Two famous examples of ________ are the Iliad and the Odyssey.
epilogue
An ________ is the last part of a story. It is a message for the audience, like a final talk. This part is often spoken by a character in a play or drama.
essay
An ________ is a short piece of writing that gives the author’s ideas about a specific topic. It usually has three main parts: an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, the writer tells the reader what the ________ is about and shares a main idea called a thesis statement. The body paragraphs provide details and examples that support the thesis, helping the reader understand the topic better. Finally, the conclusion wraps up the ________ by summarizing the main points and restating the thesis in a new way. ________ can be about many different subjects, and they help us express our thoughts clearly and organize our ideas.
euphemism
A ________ is a word or phrase that is used to replace another word or phrase that might be considered too direct, harsh, or unpleasant. For example, instead of saying someone “died,” we might say they “passed away.” This makes the conversation softer and can help people feel more comfortable when talking about sensitive subjects. ________ are often used in everyday language, such as saying “let go” instead of “fired” when talking about losing a job. Using ________ can help us communicate in a kinder way, especially when discussing difficult topics.
excerpt
An ________is a small part taken from a larger piece of writing, like a book or an article. It usually highlights important ideas or moments that help readers understand the main message. By reading ________s, we can get a glimpse of the whole work and decide if we want to read more!
fact
A ________is something that can be proven to be true or false. For example, “The sky is blue” is a ________because you can look up and see that it is true during the day. ________s are based on real information and can be verified by evidence, like books, articles, or observations. Unlike opinions, which are what someone thinks or feels, ________remain the same no matter who is talking about them. Knowing the difference between ________s and opinions is important because it helps us understand the world better and make informed decisions.
fantasy
________ is a type of story. It usually has events, characters, or places that could not happen in real life. In ________ stories, you might meet wizards, dragons, or magical lands. These stories let our imaginations soar and take us on exciting adventures!
flashback
A ________ is a special storytelling technique that helps readers learn more about a character’s past. It allows the writer to show events that happened before the main story takes place. For example, if a character is feeling sad, a ________ might show a happy memory from their childhood. This helps readers understand why the character feels a certain way. ________ can make stories more interesting by giving clues about why characters act the way they do and can help create a deeper connection between the reader and the characters.
foreshadowing
________ is a way that writers give clues about what will happen later in a story. It can be something small that happens at the beginning. This clue helps readers guess what might occur later on. For example, if a character finds a broken watch, it might mean that something important is about to happen with time. ________ makes stories more exciting!
free verse
________ is a type of poetry that does not follow a strict rhythm or pattern. This means the lines can be long or short and do not have to rhyme at the end. If there are rhymes, they might be surprising and not always in the same place.
gerund
A ________is a special type of verb that ends in “-ing” and acts like a noun in a sentence. For example, in the sentence “Swimming is fun,” the word “swimming” is a ________because it tells us about an activity. ________s can be used in many ways, like taking the place of a noun, such as in “I love reading,” where “reading” is what the person loves to do.
hero
A ________is someone who shows courage and does good things for others, often facing challenges along the way. The journey of a ________usually starts when they receive a call to adventure, which is an important task they must complete. They may meet friends or mentors who help them and face enemies or obstacles that try to stop them. As they go through their journey, ________s learn valuable lessons about bravery, friendship, and making the right choices. In the end, many ________s return home changed and ready to share their new wisdom with others, showing that anyone can be a ________in their own story.
homonym
A ________ is a special type of word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and, often, a different spelling. For example, the word “bat” can refer to a flying mammal or a piece of sports equipment used in baseball. Another example is “right,” which can mean correct or refer to a direction. ________s can sometimes be confusing because they can lead to misunderstandings in conversations or writing. Understanding ________s is important for improving our language skills and helping us communicate clearly.
hubris
________ means excessive pride or confidence. When someone has ________, they often think they are better than others and can do anything without help. This kind of attitude can lead people to make mistakes, as they might ignore advice or warnings from others. In stories, characters with ________often face serious consequences because they believe they are invincible. ________teaches us that while it’s good to be confident, we should also listen to others and stay humble.
hyperbole
________ is a way of speaking that uses big exaggerations to make a point. It helps to make things sound more exciting or funny. For example, if someone says, “I am so hungry I could eat a horse!” they don’t really mean they will eat a horse. They just want to show that they are very hungry. ________ makes our language more colorful and fun!
imagery
________ is special language that helps us imagine things in our minds. It makes us think about what we see, hear, smell, taste, and physically feel, as well as our sense of motion and inner feelings (like hunger). When writers use ________, they paint pictures with words. This helps us enjoy stories even more! For example, if a writer says, “The sweet smell of cookies filled the air,” we can almost smell the cookies ourselves. ________ helps us connect with what we read and makes it more fun!
imitative harmony
________ means words that sound like the things they describe. For example, the word “buzz” sounds like the noise a bee makes, and “whisper” sounds soft, like someone talking quietly. This is also called onomatopoeia.
interior monologue
An ________ is when a character thinks to themselves like they are having a conversation in their head. It shows us what the character is feeling and what they are thinking. This helps us understand them better and makes the story more interesting.
interjection
An ________is a word or phrase that shows strong feelings or emotions. For example, when someone says “Wow!” they are expressing surprise or excitement. ________s can also be used to show feelings like happiness, sadness, or anger, and they are often followed by an exclamation mark to show how strong the emotion is.
irony
________ is when what happens is different from what you expect. Authors use ________ to create both serious and funny moments in their stories. It helps show how characters feel or what the writer thinks about something in the story.
jargon
________ means special words that a certain group of people use. These words help them talk about their activities or jobs. Sometimes, ________ can be hard to understand for people who are not in that group. It can sound confusing or like a different language.
justification
________ means giving reasons or support for something. It is like explaining why you think something is right or true. For example, if you want to say that a rule is good, you should give a reason that shows why the rule makes sense. This can help others understand your thoughts better.
juxtaposition (or contrast)
________ means putting different characters, places, or situations next to each other on purpose. This is done to show how they are different or to create a special feeling. For example, comparing a happy character with a sad character can help us understand them better or make the story more exciting.
literature
________is a special kind of writing that tells stories and shares ideas. It includes many forms, like novels, poems, and plays, which can make us feel different emotions and think about our world. Through ________, we can explore different cultures, learn valuable lessons, and enjoy the creativity of language.