Literary Terms Flashcards
What is the Author´s Purpose?
The reason an author writes.
ex. Persuade
Inform
Explain
Entertain
What are Rhetorical Devices?
Figurative language such as repetition or parallelism.
ex. By the people, for the people, to the people.
What is a Symbol?
An object, person, or place stands for something else.
ex. The cat stands for freedom.
What is the Theme?
Underlying message the author want the reader to understand.
ex. Don’t give up.
What is an Inference?
A prediction in the story.
ex. I infer the break down because it wasn’t acting right.
What is Parallelism?
Pattern of words or sentence structure.
ex. By the people, for the people, to the people.
What is Repetition?
It repeats a sound or word for emphasis.
ex. We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.
What is Text Structure?
Arrangement of the story.
ex. Poem, novel, essay is examples.
What is a Simile?
It compares two things using like or as.
ex. It was as bright as the sun.
What is Supporting Textual Evidence?
Material to prove a point.
ex. A supporting sentence.
What is a metaphor?
Compares two things by stating one thing is the other.
ex. It’s raining cats and dog.
What is Point of View?
Point of View refers to the method of narration used in a story.
ex. first, second, third person.
What is the Mood?
In a literary work, Mood is the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader. Descriptive words, imagery, and figurative language contribute to the mood of a work, as do the sound and rhythm of the language used.
ex. mocking and ironic
What is Foreshadowing?
Foreshadowing is a writer’s use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in a story.
ex. “I told myself this is the end of my trouble, but I didn’t believe myself.” and “habits are not formed by doing something one time.”
What Is an Extended Metaphor?
The Extended Metaphor that is developed in great detail.
ex. poems
What is Pace?
The Pace refers to how fast or slow the story is moving for the reader.
ex. “Soon his work became so absorbing to him that his noble mission blurred in his mind.”
What is Author’s Tone?
The Author’s attitude toward his or hers subject
ex. happy, sad
What is Irony? What is Dramatic Irony?
There is contrast between expectations and reality.
ex. “The place had festive air.” and when he died by censoring his own letter and he wanted to protect him and his friend.
Dramatic Irony is the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
What is Figurative language?
Figurative language creates comparisons by linking the senses and the concrete to abstract ideas.
What is Fortune’s Fool?
The idea is that Romeo believes he is being used for the god’s entertainment, like a fool in a royal court.
What is a Tragic Hero?
A tragic hero is the protagonist of a tragedy.
What is Foil?
Foil is a literary device designed to illustrate or reveal information, traits, values, or motivations of one character through the comparison and contrast of another character.
What is a Tragic Flaw?
A flaw in character that brings about the downfall of the hero of a tragedy.
What is a Pun?
A pun is a play on words, centering on a word with more than one meaning or words that sound alike
