English Test Flashcards
plot
a series of related events that make up a story climax
exposition
opening of the story, background info, introduces the characters, establishes the conflict; setting
rising action
series of complications in the story, tension rises build to its highest point of tension at the story’s climax
climax
the key scene in the story when our emotional involvement is at its highest ( exciting, terrifying, thrilling)
falling action
part of story with sharp decline in dramatic tension, follows the climax, leads to resolution
falling action
part of story with sharp decline in dramatic tension, follows the climax, leads to resolution
resolution
conclusion, sometimes called denovement, struggles are over
setting
tells us when and where the story takes place, purpose to provide a background, establishes atmosphere or mood
character vs. conflict
involves conflict between people, such as a family conflict, trouble with a bully, etc.
character vs society
involves conflict between an individual and larger groups such as the outsider in an strange culture, a poor character’s struggle “to make it” in life
character vs nature
conflict in wilderness, weather, like fighting a powerful hurricane, surviving a plane crash
character vs self
conflict issue within themselves, overcoming serious problem
theme
central idea, onsight, about life it reveals (not a plot)
point of view
perspective from which the story is told
omniscent
the narrator isn’t a character. narrator is able to tell us everything about every character. Almost like God
first person
the first person is a character in the story who talks to us using “I” almost like the main character
third person limited
the author tells the story from the viewpoint of just one character using he or she
protagonist
the central character of the story
antagonist
the character that the protagonist struggles with and must overcome
round characters
complex, multi-dimensional, many qualities and traits
flat characters
one or few characteristics, traits or qualities
static characters
characters that don’t progress throughout the story
dynamic characters
characters that change and progress throughout the story
characterization
method a writer uses to communicate info about characters to readers
direct characterization
author tells you right away who the character is
indirect characterization
they don’t tell you right away who the character is
symbol
image, object, character or action that stands for an idea beyond its literal meaning
mood
overall feeling created by an author’s choice of words, emotion evoked form author
tone
the author’s “tone of voice” it expresses the writers’ own attitude toward the elements of the story
foreshawdowing
a writing technique that gives readers clues about events that will happen later in the story
suspense
techniques used by author to keep readers interested in the story and wondering what will happen next
irony
difference between what we expect happen and what actually happens
verbal irony
speakers use verbal irony when the meaning they wish to communicate is different from, or actually opposite to, what their actual words seem to say
situational irony
an event that is not just suprising but actually contrary to what we expected
dramatic irony
happens when we know what will happen to a character, but the character does not know
imagery
imagery is used of selected details to describe one thing in term of another thing
