Midterm Review Terminology

Question 1

Figurative language

Answer 1

Language that isn’t literal (including metaphors, similes, personification, etc.)

Question 2

“Show, don’t tell”

Answer 2

When an author reveals something with an image, action or line of dialogue instead of directly telling the reader. Ex) Tim was mean vs. Tim pushed the old lady aside and laughed to himself.

Question 3

Zoom in

Answer 3

Giving the reader a moment-by-moment version of a narrative, like a slow motion scene in a movie

Question 4

Deus ex machina

Answer 4

The Latin term for an ending that feels like it’s a “cheat” to the reader because an outside force sweeps in out of nowhere and saves the day.

Question 5

Internal conflict

Answer 5

A conflict that takes place WITHIN a character. The character has two competing goals, for example, and a “battle” rages within the character over what decision to make.

Question 6

External conflict

Answer 6

A conflict between a character and an outside force (another character, or nature, or society, etc.)

Question 7

Foreshadowing

Answer 7

When an author subtly hints at what will happen later in the story.

Question 8

Media res

Answer 8

The Latin term for starting a story in the middle of the action. We learned that this is the most effective way to start a narrative.

Question 9

Characterization

Answer 9

The way the author reveals a character’s personality to the reader.

Question 10

Direct characterization

Answer 10

When an author directly TELLS the reader the character’s personality. (ex: Eliot was untrustworthy.) This is usually less effective than indirect characterization.

Question 11

Indirect characterization

Answer 11

When the author SHOWS the reader the character’s personality with an action, image or line of dialogue. This is usually more effective than direct characterization because readers “believe it when they see it.”

Question 12

Flat

Answer 12

A character who is only characterized by one or two traits. (Ex: the funny guy)

Question 13

Round

Answer 13

A complicated, realistic character with many different traits (sometimes even contradictory ones).

Question 14

Static

Answer 14

A character that stays the same over the course of the story.

Question 15

Dynamic

Answer 15

A character who changes as the story progresses.

Question 16

Foils

Answer 16

Two characters who are opposites in key ways.

Question 17

Protagonist

Answer 17

The hero, the character that the reader is rooting for.

Question 18

Antagonist

Answer 18

The villain, the character who opposes the main character or gets in his/her/their way.

Question 19

Theme

Answer 19

A message that the reader infers from a story.

Question 20

“Words of the Wiser”

Answer 20

A clue authors sometimes use to point at theme– they set up one character as the wise character and then essentially speak themes through that character’s dialogue.

Question 21

Voice

Answer 21

When a writer (or character’s) personality comes through in a piece of writing. It’s the author’s (or character’s) “fingerprints” on the writing.

Question 22

Style

Answer 22

It’s not what the author writes, it’s HOW they write (for example, the type of words they use, whether they use long, flowing sentences or short, choppy, direct sentences, etc.)

Question 23

Diction

Answer 23

Word choice

Question 24

Tone

Answer 24

The emotion/attitude you can infer behind the author/speaker’s words. (Ex: you might say that a letter to the editor of the Viking Saga has an angry, sarcastic tone.)

Question 25

Mood

Answer 25

The emotion the author creates in the audience.

Question 26

Denotation

Answer 26

The basic dictionary definition of a word. (Two words with the same denotation mean basically the same thing, but they might feel very different.)

Question 27

Connotation

Answer 27

The feelings and associations we have with words (which don’t always make their way into the dictionary). “Slim” and “skinny” have the same denotation, for example, but “slim” feels like a complement whereas “skinny” feels like an insult.

Question 28

Allusion

Answer 28

A reference to an outside source

Question 29

Motif

Answer 29

An idea or concept that appears again and again in a work of literature but in slightly different ways. “Falling” becomes a motif at the end of Catcher, for example.

Question 30

Universal symbol

Answer 30

A symbol (aka meaningful object) with an agreed-upon meaning within a culture (like a wedding ring).

Question 31

Contextual symbol

Answer 31

A symbol (aka meaningful object) that only has its meaning in that SPECIFIC context (like the red hat in Catcher, since red hats don’t have that meaning in the world outside that book).

Question 32

Hyperbole

Answer 32

Exaggeration

Question 33

Understatement

Answer 33

Expressing something with less magnitude than called for– minimizing it. (Ex: Destroying a car and then saying “it’s just a scratch.”)

Question 34

Juxtaposition

Answer 34

Putting two things side by side

Question 35

Subconscious

Answer 35

The thoughts, feelings and urges that lie “beneath the surface” in our brains. We’re not consciously aware of them.

Question 36

Defense mechanism

Answer 36

A way that our brains subconsciously protect us from something difficult or painful to face.

Question 37

Displacement

Answer 37

Taking out our frustrations, feelings, and impulses on people or objects that are less threatening. (We commonly refer to this when we say something like “Don’t take it out on me!”)

Question 38

Sublimation

Answer 38

redirecting an unacceptable desire into a creative act or other acceptable behavior. Ex) A woman who takes up kick-boxing in order to deal with her anger issues.

Question 38

Repression

Answer 38

hiding one’s desires and fears in the unconscious– “Selectively forgetting about whatever is troubling” (Lynn 211)

Question 38

Projection

Answer 38

placing one’s unacceptable or unworthy desires or fears onto another, taking unacceptable qualities or feelings and ascribing them to other people.
Ex) A little boy makes fun of weak classmates because deep down he’s worried he’s not strong.

Question 39

Acting out

Answer 39

extreme behavior that takes the place of expressing difficult feelings or emotions. Ex) A child throwing a temper tantrum and kicking a chair when he feels guilty.

Question 40

Denial

Answer 40

refusing to accept one’s unacceptable desires or fears, or refusing to accept a traumatic event.Ex) A drug addict who refuses to acknowledge his addiction.

Question 41

Intellectualization

Answer 41

avoiding one’s desires and fears by analyzing and rationalizing them – instead of feeling them. Ex) A man has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. He responds by focusing on learning everything about the disease like it’s a science project, but he does so to avoid distress and remain distant from the reality of his situation.

Question 42

Regression

Answer 42

reverting to younger, childish behaviors as a way of coping. Ex) A stressed out teenager begins sucking her thumb.

Question 43

Id

Answer 43

your “inherited instinctive impulses.” In other words, it’s pure desire. If the id were in control, you’d punch someone and steal his sandwich if it looked tasty to you.

Question 44

Ego

Answer 44

That part of the mind which is ruled by the “reality principle.” The ego helps keep impulses by the id under control. Often the ego responds and controls the id in order to avoid unpleasant consequences, such as being punished. The ego says, “Wait, if I punch that guy and try to take his sandwich, he might punch me back, or I might get a detention, or people might stop liking me because they’ll say I’m mean.”

Question 45

Superego

Answer 45

A Freudian term for that aspect of the psyche which has internalized parental and social prohibitions or ideals early in life and imposes them as a censor on the wishes of the ego. In other words, it’s your conscience. The super-ego says, “I shouldn’t punch that guy for his sandwich. It’s not the right thing to do.”