Terms 33-64 Flashcards
tone
Reflects how the author feels about the subject matter or the feeling the author wants to instill in the reader
antagonist
the protagonist’s adversary
colloquial language
Informal, conversational language, phrases or sayings that are indicative of a specific region, similar to vernacular
epiphany
Sudden enlightenment or realization, a profound new outlook or understanding about the world usually attained while doing everyday mundane activities
flashback
When a character remembers a past event that is relevant to the current action of the story
flat character
A literary character whose personality can be defined by one or two traits and does not change over the course of the story
foreshadowing
Clues in the text about incidents that will occur later in the plot, foreshadowing creates anticipation in the novel
denouement
The final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot
metonymy
The use of a word or phrase to stand in for something else which it is often associated. (i.e. Lamb means Jesus)
prose
Ordinary speech or writing without metrical structure, written in paragraph form. Novels and short stories are referred to as prose
protagonist
The main character in a drama or literary work
aesthetic
theory or set of principles governing idea of beauty at a given time or place
antithesis
a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else. “love is the_____of selfishness”
diction
Word choice or the use of words in speech or writing
ethos
an appeal to ethics, and it is a means of convincing someone of the character or credibility of the persuader
litotes
Ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary (e.g. you won’t be sorry, meaning you’ll be glad )
logos
an appeal to logic, and is a way of persuading an audience by reason
mood
An atmosphere created by a writer’s diction and the details selected
non-sequitor
statement not logically following previous argument or statement
novella
A short novel usually under 100 pages
pathos
an appeal to emotion, and is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response
ambiguity
When an author leaves out details/information or is unclear about an event so the reader will use their imagination to fill in the blanks
climax
The turning point in the plot or the high point of action
motif
A recurring symbol that helps to reveal a dominant theme or central idea
narrator
Someone who tells a story
polysyndenton
use of many conjuctions in a row
rising action
The events of a dramatic or narrative plot preceding the turning point or high point of action
emotive language
deliberate use of language by a writer to instill a feeling or visual
illocution
language that avoids the meaning of words. when we speak sometimes we conceal intentions or side step the true subject of conversation. expresses two stories, one of which is not apparent to the characters, but is apparent to the reader.
in media res
a story that begins in the middle of things
rites of passage
an incident which creates tremendous growth signifying a transition from adolescence to adulthood, also known as coming of age
round character
a character who is developed over the course of the book, usually major characters in the novel
