English Midterm Vocab review Flashcards
Exposition
A background for the setting and character
Exposition Example
“It was the first time she’d been back in her childhood home since her brother’s death.”
Setting
Where an event or story line takes place
Setting example
“In the big city of New York”
Allusion
An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.
Allusion Example
“Chocolate is her Kryptonite”
Theme
A recurring idea or thought in a writing
Theme Example
Love, injustice, family, independence, American dream
Mood
Inducing or suggestive of a particular feeling or state of mind using certain words
Mood Example
“The low grumble of thunder set a provocative and mysterious mood”
Tone
The attitude that a character or narrator or author takes towards a given subject.
Tone Example
“She spoke with an optimistic tone when she spoke of the test scores being revealed”
Irony
One thing is said, while another thing is meant.
Irony Example
“What a beautiful day!” on a cold, rainy gray day
Metaphor
Makes a comparison between two non-similar things
Metaphor Example
“Life is a highway”
Simile
Describes something by comparing it to something else with the words like or as.
Simile Example
“As slow as a sloth”
Personification
Emphasize a non-human characteristics by describing them with human attributes.
Personification Example
“The wind howled in the night.”
Internal Conflict
Mental struggle from competing feelings, desires, impulses, etc. on a character
Internal Conflict Example
A desire for success, a fear of someone over throwing a character
External Conflict
conflict that is between a character and an external force, such as another character.
External Conflict Example
A war between two nations.
1st Person
The use of “I”, “Me”, etc.
2nd person
The use of “You” in writing
3rd person
The use of “He, “She”, or “They”
