STAAR 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

Answer 6

Theme/central message-
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

Answer 11

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

Question 12

3rd person limited

Answer 12

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

Question 13

3rd person objective

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

3rd person omniscient

Answer 14

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 15

Foreshadowing

Answer 15

Foreshadowing: When the author gives a hint about something that will happen
Example: The children saw the sign that said, “Danger! Do not enter!” but they went inside the abandoned building anyway.

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

symbolism

Answer 25

Symbolism: The use of an object (a thing), person, situation, or word to represent something else
Example: His heart pounded in his chest, and at that moment he knew it had been broken.