STAAR prep vocabulary

Question 1

Exposition

Answer 1

the introduction of the story, where the main characters or other elements are introduced

Question 2

Rising action

Answer 2

events leading to the main event/problem of the story

Question 3

Turning point/Climax

Answer 3

the most exciting part of the story

Question 4

Falling action

Answer 4

events that lead to the problem/conflict being solved

Question 5

Resolution

Answer 5

events that bring the story to a close (also known as denouement)

Question 6

Theme/central message-

Answer 6

the underlying message of a story, poem, or play

Question 7

Internal conflict

Answer 7

a struggle that takes place in a character’s mind (ex.: man vs. self;

Question 8

External conflict

Answer 8

a struggle between a character and an outside force (ex.: man vs. character, man vs. nature, and man vs. society, man vs. fate)

Question 9

Protagonist

Answer 9

the main character in a story or play, usually the hero of the story

Question 10

Antagonist

Answer 10

the character or a force in conflict with the main character, usually the villain

Question 11

First person point of view

Answer 11

a character in the story is the narrator and is telling the story; Pronouns: uses I, me, we

Question 12

Third person limited point of view

Answer 12

focuses on only ONE character’s actions, emotions, and thoughts; uses character’s names, he, she, it, they, him, her

Question 13

Third person objective point of view

Answer 13

focuses on every character’s actions but NOT the emotions and thoughts – the narrator sees and hears everything; uses character’s names, he, she, it, they, him, her

Question 14

Third person omniscient point of view

Answer 14

knows the actions, emotions, and thoughts of every character – the narrator knows EVERYTHING; uses character’s names, he, she, it, they, him, her

Question 15

Foreshadowing

Answer 15

When the author gives a hint about something that will happen

Question 16

Irony

Answer 16

an event that is the opposite of what is expected to happen.

Question 17

Flashback

Answer 17

an event from the past that is shown in a story

Question 18

Idiom

Answer 18

an expression that has a different meaning from the literal meaning (ex: You need to hit the books and study!)

Question 19

Simile

Answer 19

a comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as: (ex.: Her new hair do looked like a mop.)

Question 20

Metaphor

Answer 20

a comparison of two unlike things that does NOT use “like” or “as” (ex. My teacher was a monster today.)

Question 21

Personification

Answer 21

giving human qualities to something that is not human (ex.: The wind whispered my name.)

Question 22

Hyperbole

Answer 22

an exaggeration used to emphasize something (ex.: I have told you a million times to spit out that gum.)

Question 23

Alliteration

Answer 23

repeating the same beginning consonant sounds (ex.: Silly Sam swam sideways.)

Question 24

Onomatopoeia

Answer 24

the use of words to imitate sounds (ex: Pop! Boom!)

Question 25

rhythm

Answer 25

gives poetry a music feel

Question 26

meter

Answer 26

Thank of it as the beat

Question 27

rhyme

Answer 27

words that have the same ending

Question 28

imagery

Answer 28

using your five senses to create a vivid image

Question 29

graphic elements

Answer 29

when the author uses punctuation and capitalization

Question 30

author’s purpose

Answer 30

the meaning of the story

Question 31

repetition

Answer 31

when the author repeats words to make the poem increase a rhythm

Question 32

tone

Answer 32

the emotion the author created