Short Stories: Unit Test Flashcards
Irony
A situation where the exact opposite occurs rather than what is expected.
ie: verbal-say vs. meant
ie: situational- intended or expected vs. what actually happens
Theme
Central meaning of work – seldom directly stated. (The lesson of the story)
Atmosphere/mode
The dominant or feeling of a situation
Pathos
A quality in music or literature which creates a feeling of sadness, pity or sorrow in the reader
Imagery
The creation or use of images in speech or writing – language used to form pictures in the mind
Allusion
A passing reference to the historical or fictional characters, places or events or other works of the writer assumes the reader will recognize
ie: allusions to the bible
Combination
Images associated with words – images carried by the words
Denotation
What a word means in a strict sense – the actual meaning of the word
Paradox
Statement which appears to contradict itself
Oxymoron
Two words that are contradictory which are used together
ie: pretty ugly
Metaphor
And amplified comparison in which one thing is compared to or identified with another dissimilar thing
ie: he was a lion in the fight
Simile
A direct comparison using like or as or as if
ie: coffee like black tar
Foreshadowing
A hint or suggestion of something to happen in the future
Allegory
Symbolic meaning to a story – a long and complicated story with an underlying meaning
Personification
When human characteristics and sensibilities are attributed toward inanimate subjects
ie: The trees bowed their heads