Key Terms Flashcards
Allegory
A story with two different meanings, where the straightforward meaning on the surface is used to reveal a deeper meaning underneath.
Atmosphere
A mood or feeling.
Climax
The turning point at which the conflict begins to resolve itself or the final most exciting event.
Colloquial
The everyday speech used by people in ordinary situations.
Dramatic Irony
When the reader knows more about what is happening than some of the characters.
Flashback
A sudden jumping back to an earlier point in the narrative.
Foreshadow
Act as a warning sign of something that will occur later.
Imagery
Descriptive language which uses images to make actions, objects and characters more vivid in the reader’s mind.
Metaphor
When one thing is used to describe another thing to create a striking or unusual image.
Microcosm
A small world – it represents the world and the characters on it represent different types of people who are in the world)
Macrocosm
The natural universe as a whole, including the biological realms
Pathetic Fallacy
When the natural world, especially the weather, is used to reflect the feelings of characters.
Symbolism/Motif
When an object, person or thing is used to represent another thing.
Utopia
An ideal and perfect place or state where everyone lives in harmony and everything is for the best.
Dystopia
An imaginary place where everything is as bad as it possibly can be.
