Literary Terms Flashcards

1
Q

alliteration

A

when two or more words in a group of words begin with the same sound

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2
Q

antagonist

A

the opponent or enemy of the protagonist

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3
Q

aside

A

words spoken to the audience by a character in a drama that are not supposed to be heard by the other characters onstage

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4
Q

characterization

A

the means through which an author reveals a character’s personality- direct & indirect

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5
Q

climax

A

the point in a play, novel, short story, or narrative poem at which the conflict reaches its greatest intensity and is then resolved

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6
Q

conflict

A

a struggle between opposing forces- man, self, nature, society, technology

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7
Q

dialogue

A

the conversation between characters in a work of literature

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8
Q

dynamic character

A

a character who undergoes a significant internal change over the course of a story

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9
Q

figurative language

A

uses words in some way other than for their literal meanings to make a comparison, add emphasis, or say something in a fresh and creative way

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10
Q

foreshadowing

A

clues or hints about something that is going to happen later in the story

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11
Q

hyperbole

A

extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, not meant to be taken literally

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12
Q

idiom

A

an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words

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13
Q

imagery

A

language that portrays sensory experiences, or experiences of the five senses

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14
Q

major character

A

a main or important character- plays a large role in a story

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15
Q

metaphor

A

the comparison of tow unlike things to illuminate a particular quality or aspect of one of those things

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16
Q

minor character

A

a character who does not play a large role in a story

17
Q

mood

A

the feeling the reader gets from a work of literature- atmosphere

18
Q

onomatopoeia

A

the use of words whose sounds imitate the sounds of what they describe- hiss, growl, buzz, woof

19
Q

personification

A

describing nonhuman animals, objects, or ideas as though they possess human qualities or emotions

20
Q

plot

A

the sequence of events in a story

21
Q

point of view

A

the perspective from which a story is told- first-person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient

22
Q

protagonist

A

the main or central character of a work of literature

23
Q

setting

A

the environment in which a story takes place, including the time period

24
Q

simile

A

when two unlike things are compared using like or as

25
static character
a character who does not undergo a significant change over the course of a story
26
symbol
an object, setting, event, animal or person that on one level is itself, but that has another meaning as well
27
symbolism
the practice of using symbols
28
theme
a story's main message or moral
29
tone
the author's attitude toward the subject matter or toward the reader or audience