final exam literary terms Flashcards
epic hero
a person with a supernatural power or something special like a special birth or power, a flaw is also present, and the hero is courageous
epic
a long poem that tells an epic story of a long journey with lots of trials and tribulations, centers around an epic hero
alliteration
a repeated consonant at the beginning of words
compounding
combining two words to make a new word
kenning
a compact metaphor that functions as a name or epithet
formal language
metered rhyme scheme
epithet
a descriptive phrase
pagan
a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world
allusion
references to another work of literature i.e. the bible, mythology
consonance
the repetition of consonants in a short sequence of words often at the end of words ex. “is it blunt and flat”
basic situation (exposition)
tells us who the characters are and usually what their conflict is
inciting incident
the event that sets the plot in motion
rising action (complications)
complications arose when the characters take steps to resolve the conflict
climax
the most exciting moment in the story, when the outcome is decided one way or another
falling action
the events following the climax and leading up to the resolution
resolution (denouement)
the conflict is solved and the story is brought to a close
conflict
the struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story
internal conflict
the struggle between opposing forces within a character’s mind (person vs. self)
external conflict
the struggle between a character and a opposing force
first person
narration by the main character or “I”
omniscient
narration by a all knowing observer and can see into the hearts and minds of all characters
third person
narration by an all knowing observer but limited to what one of the characters can see, hear, know, or experience
protagonist
the main character who faces a problem and everyone is standing behind
anatagonist
a force in a story that opposes the protagonist in a negative way
character
a person in a story, an animal or object also
consistent character
a character who’s actions and decisions are keeping with that the author led to expect
dynamic character
a character who changes and develops throughout the course of a work of fiction
static character
a character who does not change or develop over the course of a novel
stereotype
a generally accepted ice of how a certain type of person should act or be
plot
a series of events in a story
setting
the time and place in which story takes place
theme
an idea, general truth, or commentary on life brought out during a story
symbol
an object that has meaning in and itself that stands for or represents an idea, person, belief,superstition
moral
a lesson taught by a literary work
compare
similar things brought together
contrast
different aspects brought together
flashback
an interruption of present time to go back to the present
foreshadowing
dropping of important hints by the author to prepare the reader for upcoming events
suspense
a feeling of excitement, curiosity or expectation about the outcome of a work of fiction
tone
a feeling conveyed by the author’s attitude toward the subject and the particular way in which he writes about it.
mood
the frame of mind or state of feeling created by a piece of writing
atomsphere
the overall feeling of a story conveyed in large part by the setting and or mood
style
a distinctive manner in which writer uses language, his choice and argument of words
irony
a mode of expression in which the author says one thing but means the opposite
satire
a use of irony, ridicule, or sarcasm to expose or poke fun at individuals, cultures, etc
narrative
written to tell a story
novella
a short novel
parable
a story that teachers you a lesson
legend
a story that comes down from the past, passed on
dramatic irony
the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
situational irony
a situation where the outcome is incongruous with what was expected, but it is also more generally understood as a situation that includes contradictions or sharp contrasts
soliloquy
an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play.
homeric simile
also called an epic simile is a detailed comparison in the form of a simile that is many lines in length.
foil
a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character.
couplet
two lines in a verse that have the same rhyme and fit together
