Key Terms

Question 1

Fiction

Answer 1

Fiction refers to a form of literature that is imaginative or invented rather than factual or based on reality. The best fiction is one that draws attention to its own artificiality

• In fiction, it’s not always about finding an explanation but more about the experience of the characters
• Fiction has round vs flat characters: Dynamic vs One-Dimension
• A single story doesn’t contain just one mood
• Indirect discourse is a way of controlling the narrative in fiction (For Esme) – 1st person narrators cannot be trusted completely; they control how the story is told.

Question 2

Plot

Answer 2

In literature, a plot is the sequence of events or actions that make up a story. It is an artistic arrangement of events.

Question 3

Protagonist

Answer 3

The protagonist is the main character in a story or a drama, around whom the plot revolves – main characters

(ex. Viola is the protagonist in Twelfth Night – but one of the things Dr. Dyck pointed out is that she is not central to the plotline. Pro = Forward, Tagonist = same word as agony. The protagonist is someone who struggles forward)

Question 4

Point-Of-View/Narration

Answer 4

The perspective from which a story is told. It determines who is telling the story, and how much information the reader has access to. The point of view or narration in literature can have a significant impact on the reader’s experience of the story, as it can influence their understanding of the characters, plot, and themes. (Poems have speakers not narrators)

1. First Person: The story is told from the perspective of a character within the story, using first-person pronouns such as “I” or “we”. The reader experiences the story through the eyes of this character and only has access to their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. (First-person narrators cannot be trusted)
2. Third Person: The story is told from an outside perspective, using third-person pronouns such as “he,” “she,” or “they.” There are several variations of third-person narration, including:

• Third Person Omniscient: In this type of narration, the narrator knows the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of all characters in the story.
• Third Person Limited: In this type of narration, the narrator only knows the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of one character in the story.
• Third Person Objective: In this type of narration, the narrator only reports what can be observed, and does not reveal any character’s thoughts or feelings.

Question 5

Character

Answer 5

Flat (one-dimensional)/Round characters (fleshed-out).

(think about the way Bendrix used to characterize himself with language). An author can use diction and irony – to characterize a person. There are also ways of characterizing groups as similar (everyone in the family in happy autumn fields)

Question 6

Setting

Answer 6

The setting refers to the time, place, and environment in which a story takes place. Setting is not just a background, but it is like a character. There are certain things that can/can’t happen because of where it is.

Question 7

Atmosphere/Mood

Answer 7

(fiction) the emotional tone/feeling created by the setting, description, and language used in a story.

can be created through a variety of techniques, including the use of descriptive language, symbolism, and imagery, and can also be influenced by the character’s emotions and actions, as well as the events that take place in the story.

Question 8

Poetry (4)

Answer 8

1. A lyric poet is always putting thoughts and feelings together in response to a specific experience
2. Poets always use connotation/denotation
3. Thinking about diction (Certain words mean certain specific things. Certain words have 3 connotations while others that are similar has like 8 different connotations. That’ ‘s why diction, specific words, are important.)
4. If you see something in the poem, assume that the poet knows it better than you

Question 9

Lyric Poetry

Answer 9

A type of poetry that expresses personal emotions or feelings in a song-like or musical style. It often uses imagery, metaphor, and other literary devices to create a vivid and emotional experience for the reader.

Short, Expresses thoughts/feelings of a single speaker. Poems that help us think about denotation, connotation, diction, tone, irony, and allusion.

Question 10

Narrative Poetry

Answer 10

a form of poetry that tells a story or recounts a sequence of events. It often includes elements of traditional storytelling, such as characters, a plot, and a setting. Can be written in a variety of poetic forms, including ballads, epics, and lyric narratives. A poem that tells a story

Question 11

Form

Answer 11

The structure and organization of a poem, including its length, line breaks, meter, rhyme scheme, and other elements give it a distinct shape and style. (Examples: Sonnet – 14-line poem, Haiku – three-line poem) The form of a poem can influence its meaning and emotional impact, as well as the reader’s experience of reading it.

Question 12

Sonnet

Answer 12

A sonnet is a 14-line poem that follows a specific rhyme scheme and meter.

• Three quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF
• A concluding rhymed couplet (two-line stanza) with a rhyme scheme of GG
• Typically written in iambic pentameter, which means each line has 10 syllables and follows a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Question 13

Couplet

Answer 13

a pair of lines in poetry that usually have the same meter and rhyme scheme. Couplets are commonly used in poetry to create a sense of balance, rhythm, and symmetry.

Question 14

Quatrain

Answer 14

A quatrain is a stanza in poetry that consists of four lines. Quatrains can be written in a variety of rhyme schemes and meters, depending on the poet’s intention. (ABAB, AABB, ABBA)

Question 15

Octave

Answer 15

a type of stanza in poetry that consists of eight lines.

(One of the most common octave forms is the Petrarchan sonnet, which consists of two parts: an octave and a sestet. In a Petrarchan sonnet, the octave has the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA, and the sestet has a rhyme scheme that can vary depending on the poet’s choice).

Question 16

Sestset

Answer 16

a type of stanza in poetry that consists of six lines. Sestets can be used in a variety of poetic forms and can have different rhyme schemes and meters.

(One of the most common poetic forms that use a sestet is the Petrarchan sonnet. In a Petrarchan sonnet, the sestet follows the octave and usually presents a turn or a shift in the poem’s mood, tone, or subject matter.)

Question 17

Denotation

Answer 17

the literal, dictionary definition of a word or phrase. It is the objective, factual meaning of a word, independent of any associations or emotions that it may evoke.

Question 18

Connotation

Answer 18

The subjective, emotional, or cultural associations that a word or phrase carries beyond its literal meaning. It is the implied or suggested meaning of a word, which can vary depending on the context, culture, and personal experiences of the listener or reader.

Question 19

Theme

Answer 19

a central idea/message that the poem expresses.
the underlying meaning/concept that the poet wants to convey through the words, images, and symbols (Can be explicit or implicit)

Question 20

Subject

Answer 20

The topic or idea that the poem is about and can be concrete or abstract

subject = specific topic or idea
theme = broader, underlying message or idea that the poet conveys through the subject.

Question 21

Distinguish Theme and Subject

Answer 21

In this essay, I will discuss… (insert subject). So, in poetry, the subject is the statement where the poet is directing our attention, but that doesn’t necessarily tell us anything about the experience or exactly what it’s about. The “more than that” is a theme. (ex. Subject in the end of the affair: relationships during WWII. Theme: Relationships during the second world war are hard because of these particular things)

Question 22

Persona

Answer 22

The voice or character that the poet adopts to narrate or speak the words of the poem. The persona is not the same as the poet themselves, but rather a created character or speaker who may have different experiences, perspectives, and emotions than the poet.

Question 23

Tone

Answer 23

attitude/ mood conveyed through words
the emotional quality that the poem evokes in the reader using literary devices.

Can be expressed through the use of specific words, the rythmn, the pace, or the overall structure.

Question 24

Irony

Answer 24

a rhetorical device that involves the use of language to express something other than, and often opposite to, its literal meaning. Saying something in such a way as to suggest discrepancy (lack of consistency)

Question 25

Diction

Answer 25

the author’s or speaker’s choice of words and style of expression in speech or writing. It includes all the vocabulary used, the syntax, the tone, and the level of formality of the language.

If you struggle to grasp a text, start with diction – “Why was this word used and not that word in this poem?” (think of connotation, denotation, abstract (liquification), concrete (silk), monosyllabic, multisyllabic)

Question 26

Allusion

Answer 26

a reference to a person, place, event, or work of literature that is not explicitly stated but is instead implied or hinted at through a particular word or phrase. Sanctioned Plagiarism

Question 27

Image (Imagery)

Answer 27

the use of language and sensory details to create vivid mental images in the reader’s mind. Concrete, Abstract, Visual, Auditory, Oral, Gustatory ,Tangible, Tactile – all 5 senses are involved in a concrete or abstract way and relies on readers to have had sensory experiencing

Question 28

Sound

Answer 28

The way words are pronounced and the effect they have on the reader’s ear. Poets often use sound as a way to create a specific mood, rhythm, or tone in their work. Can be used through rhyming, alliteration (repletion of consonant sounds at the beginning of words), assonance (repeated vowel sounds), consonance (repeated consonant sounds), onomatopoeia (words that sound like what they describe), repetition (repeated words or phrases).

Question 29

Figure of Speech

Answer 29

a literary device that uses language in a non-literal way to create meaning or evoke emotion. Figures of speech can include a wide range of techniques, from similes and metaphors to hyperbole, personification, and symbolism.

Question 30

Metaphor (type of figure of speech)

Answer 30

A comparison between two things without using “like” or “as” (ex. Her hair was black river flowing down her back)

Question 31

Simile (type of figure of speech)

Answer 31

A comparison between two things using “like” or “as” (ex. her hair was as black as the night)

(For esme) “he felt his mind dislodge itself and teeter, like insecure luggage on an overhead rack”

Question 32

Personification (type of figure of speech)

Answer 32

Giving human qualities to non-human things. (ex. The wind whispered through the trees)

Question 33

Apostrophe

Answer 33

when the speaker addresses an absent or imaginary person, object, or idea as if it were present and able to respond. A

often used in poetry to create an emotional or dramatic effect, as they allow the speaker to express their feelings directly to the object of their address. (Look at “death be not proud” – the poet is addressing a personified version of death. A formal speech addressed to an abstract object/concept)

Question 34

Hyperbole

Answer 34

An exaggeration to emphasize a point (ex. I’ve told you a million times) It’s an overstatement for the sake of effect (persuasion) (ex. The beginning of the end of the affair when Bendrix says his whole account is an account of hatred – that could be a form of hyperbole)

Question 35

Pun

Answer 35

wordplay that involves using a word or phrase in such a way as to create a humorous effect.

(ex. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” The pun here is on the phrase “the road less traveled,” which is often used to mean taking a unique or unconventional path in life. However, in the poem, Frost uses the phrase literally to describe a physical path in the woods that is less traveled than the other.)

Question 36

Symbol

Answer 36

Using an object or idea to represent something else (ex. Dove = peace)

Question 37

Epics

Answer 37

(Genre) All start with an introduction with grand ambitions “I am going to sing about something and I need the inspiration to sing about them.” (Black Christ)

Question 38

Humanities

Answer 38

Answers what question? What does it mean to be human? What is a human being?
(ex. The Black Christ’s Definition of being a human being is that: we are moved by beauty)

Question 39

Theodicy

Answer 39

a poem that speaks for and justifies God. The Black Christ provides such as simple victory that seems manufactured. It seems cheap. It isn’t a true theodicy.

Question 40

Comedy

Answer 40

a story that begins with characters down in the dumps and in the end, they are at a better place (disorder to order)

Question 41

Tragedy

Answer 41

Opposite of comedy. A story that begins with order and ends with disorder

Question 42

Comedy and Tragedy (3)

Answer 42

• Tragedy and Comedy are both about the trajectory
• Tragedy and Comedy have a sequence of events
• Tragedy is about choices

Question 43

Passion =

Answer 43

Emotion

Question 44

Wonder

Answer 44

A stepping out of yourself

Question 45

Soliloquy

Answer 45

When a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually when they are alone or believe themselves to be alone. Soliloquies are typically used to reveal the inner thoughts, emotions, and motivations of a character, and to provide the audience with insight into their personality and intentions. Soliloquies are spoken to oneself, or to an imagined listener, and are intended to convey the character’s private thoughts and feelings.

(Make a distinction between soliloquy (character standing on the stage all by themselves, betraying and revealing their feelings) and aside (same thing but not when the character is all by themselves. Only the audience would hear the thought from the character).

Question 46

Aside

Answer 46

a short speech or comment made by a character that is intended to be heard by the audience, but not by the other characters on stage. Unlike a soliloquy, which is a longer speech that a character delivers while alone on stage, an aside is typically delivered while other characters are present.

Question 47

Verse/Prose

Answer 47

Verse refers to poetry that is written in meter, with a regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. Prose, on the other hand, refers to writing that is not written in meter or with a regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

(ex. Verse: If music be the food of love, play on; / Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, / The appetite may sicken, and so die.” Prose: Good Master Parson, be so good as to read me this letter. It was given me by Costard, and sent me from Don Armado.”)

Question 48

Register

Answer 48

the level of formality, tone, and language used by characters in their speech. The register can vary based on a character’s social status, personality, and the situation in which they find themselves.

(ex. When Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, speaks about his love for Olivia, he uses a formal register with elevated language: “O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, / Methought she purged the air of pestilence!” (Act 1, Scene 1) and by contrast, Sir Toby Belch, a drunken and rowdy character, uses a more informal register with colloquial expressions: “Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?” (Act 2, Scene 3)) (ex. Malvolio only speaks in pros, some characters only speak in verse. End of Act 2 Sc 1, Antonio speaks in pros for the first time, and the register changes (to a higher register) for the first time in that scene.)