english literary terms Flashcards
mood
the way the reader or audience feels
tone
the authors attitude towards the topic
characterization
they way in which we form opinions about characters and people
conflict
the problem in the story
theme
the message or lesson of the story
irony
when the opposite of what you expect to happen, happens
motif
something that occurs over and over again
point of view
the lens through which the story is told (1,2,3)
repetition
saying a word, phrase, sent, etc multiple times for emphasis
climax
the highest point of action in a story; the moment all the conflict has led to
foreshadowing
a hint at what is to come later in the story
metaphor
a comparison without using ‘like’ or ‘as’
extended metaphor
a comparison thats carried through the entire piece of writing
claim
a stated opinion or response to a question; something that will be proved
symbol
an object, person, or place (something tangible) that represents an idea, concept, feeling, or belief (something abstract)
thesis
the last sentence of an introduction that tells the focus (claim) of a piece of writing
textual detail
a specific moment from a story
main idea
the overall topic or idea
inference
using the information given to make an educated guess or assumption
simile
a comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’
turning point
the moment a story makes a shift
analysis
a connection between a claim and textual details; an explanation of the why and how
antagonist
the villain of bad guy
protagonist
the hero or good guy
imagery
creating a mental picture with words
juxtaposition
to put things next to each other, especially for the purpose of comparing/contrasting them or to develop meanings/ideas
text feature
an add-on to a passage that enhances understanding-such as a picture w/ a caption, a chart, a introductory blurb, etc
transitions
words or phrases that connect ideas within and across paragraphs
hook
a general introduction to a piece of writing that gets your reader interested
setting
the time and place of a story
flashback
when a story breaks the normal chronology and goes back to a moment in the past
third person
the point of view where the narrator is not involved in the story and tells the story as an observer-pronouns used are typically he, she, they, them, etc
first person
the point of view where the narrator is a character in the story and tells the story as he/she sees and experiences it-pronouns used are typically me, my, i etc
plot
the serious of moment/events in a story
stanza
a verse in poetry
the rhetorical appeals
methods of persuasion
ethos
appealing to comes credibility
pathos
appealing to someones emotions
logos
appealing to someones sense of reason/logic
tragic hero
a character with noble qualities who has a fatal flaw that leads to their downfall
