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English, 12th Literature > Literary Terms > Flashcards

Literary Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Auschwitz

A

Concentration camp, in Poland. 1 of 3 locations with gas chambers.

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2
Q

Bastille

A

Prison in Paris where people were held and tortured until the French Revolution.

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3
Q

Alamo

A

A fort, once a chapel, in San Antonio, Texas. 1836.

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4
Q

Abstract

A

Language that describes concepts rather than images. Ideas and qualities rather then specific things.

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5
Q

Allegory

A

Beneath the surface of a story is a hidden meaning.

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6
Q

Anecdote

A

Short, simple narrative to explain and cite sources. Helps in making a point.

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7
Q

Annotation

A

Notes added to a text to explain something.

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8
Q

Antithesis

A

Two contrasting images. Ideas are balanced by a word, phrase, or clause.

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9
Q

Aphorism

A

Short, or witty statement about life or a principle.

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10
Q

Apostrophe

A

Poetry, in prose, dead, or absent person

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11
Q

Argumentation

A

Writing that provides a point of view with presenting arguments.

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12
Q

Cacophony

A

Harsh, awkward sounds used in poetry.

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13
Q

Caricature

A

Descriptive writing that exaggerates something specific about a person.

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14
Q

Colloquialism

A

Word or phrase used everyday that is inappropriate. (Ya’ll, ain’t)

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15
Q

Coherence

A

Quality of writing which all parts contribute to a central idea

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16
Q

Concrete language

A

Observable things rather than ideas or qualities. (People, places)

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17
Q

Connotations

A

Implied suggested meaning of a word

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18
Q

Consonance

A

Repetition of identical constant sounds within 2 or more words.

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19
Q

Conundrum

A

Riddle whose answer involves a pun

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20
Q

Deduction

A

Moving from rule to example

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21
Q

Denotation

A

Literal meaning

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22
Q

Description

A

Picturing through words or observation

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23
Q

Diction

A

Word choice, element of style.

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24
Q

Ballad

A

Poem that tells a story. (Sung or recited)

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25
Q

biography

A

story of a persons life

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26
Q

Blank verse

A

unrhymed iambic pentameter

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27
Q

Caesura

A

Pause or sudden break in poem.

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28
Q

Cause and effect

A

2 events that are related

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29
Q

Character

A

person who is responsible for thoughts and actions in a story

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30
Q

Antagonist

A

Character who deceives

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31
Q

caricature

A

Descriptive writing that exaggerates something specific about a person.

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32
Q

foil

A

Character who senses as a contrast or conflict to another

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33
Q

Hero/Heroine

A

A noble or aspiring character

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34
Q

Chorus

A

see refrain

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35
Q

Chronological order

A

the order things happen

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36
Q

Clarifying

A

The readers process of pausing and thinking

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37
Q

Cliche

A

Figurative language containing a overused expression

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38
Q

climax

A

see plot

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39
Q

comedy

A

humorous work

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40
Q

comparison

A

identifying similarities

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41
Q

concrete poetry

A

type of poetry that uses physical or visual form to make a message

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42
Q

Conflict

A

tension or problem

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43
Q

central conflict

A

dominant or most important conflict

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44
Q

external conflict

A

main character and outside force

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45
Q

internal conflict

A

main character and its mind

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46
Q

connecting

A

process of relating things

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47
Q

connotation

A

idea and feeling associated with a word

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48
Q

consonance

A

the repetition of consonant sounds

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49
Q

context clues

A

hints or suggestions to clarify their meaning

50
Q

contrast

A

process of pointing out differences

51
Q

couplet

A

unrhymed pair in a poem

52
Q

denotation

A

exact dictionary meaning..opposite of connotation

53
Q

denouncement

A

see plot

54
Q

dialect

A

spoken in particular place with certain group of people

55
Q

dialogue

A

conversation between characters in drama

56
Q

drama

A

literature meant to be performed by actors

57
Q

drawing conclusions

A

combining several pieces of information

58
Q

Dramatic monologue

A

used when a character says their thoughts and feelings

59
Q

elegy

A

poem or song that expresses sorrow or lamentation

60
Q

enjambment

A

incomplete syntax at the end of the line

61
Q

epigram

A

short poem or verse that seeks to ridicule a thought or event

62
Q

epic

A

long narrative poem

63
Q

epiphany

A

sudden moment of understanding

64
Q

epitaph

A

short poem or verse written in memory or someone

65
Q

essay

A

short work of nonfiction

66
Q

descriptive essay

A

describes a particular subject

67
Q

expository essay

A

to explain given information

68
Q

formal essay

A

highly organized and thoroughly researched

69
Q

humorous essay

A

amuse or entertain the reader

70
Q

informal essay

A

lighter in tone and reflects writer feelings

71
Q

narrative essay

A

An essay that usually tells a story.

72
Q

Persuasive essay

A

Attempts to convince a reader to adopt a particular thing

73
Q

evaluating

A

process of judging something or someone

74
Q

exaggeration

A

see hyperbole

75
Q

exposition

A

see plot

76
Q

extended metaphor

A

compares 2 essentially unlike things in great length

77
Q

external conflict

A

see conflict

78
Q

fable

A

brief tale that teaches a lesson

79
Q

fact and opinion

A

statement that can be proved

80
Q

falling action

A

see plot

81
Q

fiction

A

imaginary brief story

82
Q

figurative language

A

expression not literally true

83
Q

flash back

A

interruption of chronological order

84
Q

foil

A

see character

85
Q

folklore

A

traditions, customs, and stories passed down

86
Q

Folktale

A

Simple story passed down from generation to generation

87
Q

Foot

A

Meter within a line of poetry

88
Q

Foreshagdowing

A

Writer gives hints for future events

89
Q

Free verse

A

poetry with regular patterns and rhymes

90
Q

Generalization

A

Broad statement

91
Q

Genre

A

Type of category of literature

92
Q

Haiku

A

First and third lines have3 syllables, second has 7

93
Q

Hero, heroine

A

See character

94
Q

Heroic, closed couplet

A

2 rhyming lines with complete thought

95
Q

Historical fiction

A

Explores past time period

96
Q

Horror fiction

A

Events create terror

97
Q

Humor

A

Quality provokes laughter

98
Q

Hyperbole

A

Figure of speech exaggerated

99
Q

Iambic pentameter

A

See meter

100
Q

Idiom

A

Phrase or expression that means something different.

101
Q

Imagery

A

Use of words and phrases that appeal to senses.

102
Q

Inference

A

Logical guess based on evidence.

103
Q

Internal Conflict

A

See conflict

104
Q

Interview

A

Meeting

105
Q

Irony

A

Contrast between what is expected and what happens.

106
Q

Verbal Irony

A

Means something totally different then what he/she is saying.

107
Q

Dramatic Irony

A

Occurs when facts are not known to the characters in a work of literature.

108
Q

Cosmic Irony

A

Suggest some unknown force.(Dreadful occurance)

109
Q

Irony of Situation

A

Difference between what is expected to happen and how it works out.

110
Q

Legend

A

Story handed down from the past.

111
Q

Limerick

A

Short humorous poem

112
Q

Literal Meaning

A

Actual meaning

113
Q

Lyric poetry

A

Song-like poem

114
Q

Main character

A

see character

115
Q

Main idea

A

Most important point

116
Q

Memoir

A

Type of autobiography

117
Q

Metaphor

A

Figurative language, no like or as.

118
Q

Meter

A

Regular pattern of accented and non accented syllables.

119
Q

Monometer

A

1 foot per line.

120
Q

Dimeter

A

2 foot per line.

English, 12th Literature (9 decks)

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