Literary devices, PACTS, thematic statements Flashcards
what is an oxymoron?
A combination of words with opposite meanings used for effect.
Example:
Love → Hate “It was a love-hate relationship.”
what are the elements of stories (PACTS)?
(plot, point of view, atmosphere/mood/tone, character, conflict, theme, setting)
what are the different things in the plot breakdown?
INTRODUCTION/EXPOSITION
CONFLICT
RISING ACTION
CLIMAX
TURNING POINT
FALLING ACTION
RESOLUTION
which one is a thematic statement?
A) In “Stealing Signs”, Andy Samberg writes about how you should not steal signs.
B) In “Stealing Signs”, Andy Samberg asserts that reckless actions are often regretted.
B) In “Stealing Signs”, Andy Samberg asserts that reckless actions are often regretted.
which one is a thematic statement?
A) In Feelings, Oprah Winfrey asserts that parents and children have difficulty understanding each other due to a generation gap between them.
B) In Feelings, Oprah Winfrey writes about how the mother doesn’t understand the daughter’s feelings.
A) In Feelings, Oprah Winfrey asserts that parents and children have difficulty understanding each other due to a generation gap between them.
what are the different points of view (names and explanation)?
FIRST-PERSON: the author is telling a personal incident about his or her life or is pretending to be the one involved in the incident by using pronouns like “I” and “me”
THIRD PERSON LIMITED: The narrator is an “observer” who can only describe the exterior world not the thoughts, feelings, or inner workings of any of the characters.
THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT: The author provides an “all knowing” point of view. Like a god, the omniscient narrator knows the feeling and thoughts of the characters.
what is the difference with a simile and metaphor?
simile: A figure of speech involving a comparison between unlike things using like or as.
metaphor: A comparison between essentially unlike things without an explicitly comparative word such as like or as.
what is alliteration?
repetition at the start of the word (sally sings sunset songs)
what is assonance?
repetition of sounds in the middle of the word
what is rhyme?
repetition at the end of the word (door, floor)
what are the two types of characterization?
direct characterization: the author tells the reader information about characters directly - explicit.
indirect characterization: the author shows the character in action and lets readers make their own interpretation
what are the 3 types of irony (names and explanation)?
Situational irony - when there is incongruent (a disconnect) between what is expected and what occurs, such that there is a humorous or tragic event.
Dramatic irony - when the reader knows key information that one or more of the characters don’t know.
Verbal irony (sarcasm) - when one says the opposite of what one character means.
what is conflict?
A struggle/challenge or tension of some sort. The action of the story is usually built around this struggle. It might be internal or external.
what are the 2 types of conflict (names and explanation)?
INTERNAL CONFLICT - the character’s struggle to subdue or come to terms with his or her own feelings, attitudes or desires.
EXTERNAL CONFLICT - character’s struggle with another person, society or an outside force such as nature
what are the 4 conflicts (what vs what)?
Person vs. Person
Person vs. Society
Person vs. Nature
Person vs. Self
