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Might be another class > Terms > Flashcards

Terms Flashcards

to learn the terms of English thoroughly

1
Q

In Media Res

A

Story that starts in the middle of the action

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2
Q

Onomatopoeia

A

To give sounds in word form ex: “zzzzz”

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3
Q

Frame story

A

Story starts at the end then shows how they got there (flashback)

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4
Q

Ab Ovum

A

Starts the story at the beginning (opening of the egg)- “once upon a time”

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5
Q

Prologue

A

Putting a story before the story

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6
Q

Protagonist

A

The main character (one the audience roots for- not always good)

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7
Q

Antagonist

A

Person or entity that works against the protagonist (ex: cop vs. robber)

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8
Q

Foil

A

Character is the opposite of the protagonist. Enhances the protagonist’s main trait

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9
Q

Secondary characters

A

Everyone else

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10
Q

Flat character

A

A “one dimensional” character with few traits

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11
Q

Round character

A

A “3 dimensional” character with many traits

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12
Q

Static characters

A

A character that does not change throughout the story

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13
Q

Dynamic characters

A

Changes throughout the course of the story

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14
Q

Supporting characters

A

Essential to the plot, help move the story forward (foils, helpers…)

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15
Q

Minor characters

A

Background characters that add to the setting of the story. Without them the story would seem flat

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16
Q

Anti climax

A

Build to the climax then misses it (usually funny)

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17
Q

Climax

A

Where the conflict reaches the highest point (turning point), highest point of emotional conflict

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18
Q

Internal conflict

A

Character versus self

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19
Q

External conflict

A

Character versus environment, another character

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20
Q

Exposition

A

Systematic explanation of a specific topic

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21
Q

Rising action

A

Events of the plot, leading to a climax

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22
Q

Falling action

A

(resolution), part of plot after climax (complications from rising action resolved).

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23
Q

1st person POV

A

Everything seen from character’s eyes (told as I)

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24
Q

3rd person POV

A

Character outside of main action of the story (he/she)

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25
Q

Theme

A

Central idea or purpose of the story (not moral, not plot)

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26
Q

Tone

A

Writer’s attitude towards readers

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27
Q

Mood/atmosphere

A

Words, details create feeling in the reader

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28
Q

Stereotype/stock character

A

One trait usually physical (blonde=dumb)

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29
Q

The Idol

A

Best representation of humanity (must have one flaw)

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30
Q

The Antihero

A

Lack conventional heroic attributes (do right thing sometimes for the wrong reason)

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31
Q

The Everyman

A

Ordinary human is caught in something outside of their human control (through this rise to their potential)

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32
Q

The Underdog

A

Highlights the conflict of an individual vs. an oppressive environment (zero to hero)

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33
Q

Conflict

A

Struggle between opposing characters or environment

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34
Q

Metaphor

A

Direct comparison 2 things “is”

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35
Q

Simile

A

Comparison using “like/as”

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36
Q

Alliteration

A

Repetition of a sound at the beginning of a word

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37
Q

Rhyme

A

Repetition at the end of a word

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38
Q

Hyperbole

A

Deliberate exaggeration (huge)

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39
Q

Personification

A

Giving human traits to a non-human thing

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40
Q

Figurative Language

A

Using imagery and literary devices to create meaning

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41
Q

Stanza

A

Collection of lines in a poem (paragraph of a poem)

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42
Q

Assonance

A

Repetition of a vowel sound

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43
Q

Connotation

A

Cultural meaning of a word

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44
Q

Denotation

A

Dictionary definition

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45
Q

Consonance

A

Repetition of consonant sounds

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46
Q

Couplet

A

2 lines of similar length that rhyme

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47
Q

Extended metaphor

A

A metaphor that grows throughout a poem or story (whole poem is a metaphor)

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48
Q

Internal rhyme

A

Rhyme in the middle and end of a line (If you have a RHYME within your LINE)

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49
Q

Jargon

A

Language specific to a certain group (ex: teacher jargon)

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50
Q

Juxtaposition

A

Putting two unlike things next to each other for emphasis

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51
Q

Parallelism

A

Two ideas or images that reflect each other (ex: Ms.Andres has a dog and they’re both going through problems)

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52
Q

Rhyme scheme

A

Pattern in a rhyme

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53
Q

Symbolism

A

(goes with connotation) an image that represents something bigger (ex: dove= peace or twitter)

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54
Q

Active voice

A

A sentence is written so that the subject is an actor of the verb- for example ‘the cat ate the mouse.’ The cat is the subject and the cat is doing the action. See also passive voice.

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55
Q

Allegory

A

A story in which the literal meaning represents another level of meaning.

  • it is a form of an extended metaphor
    The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas such as charity, greed or envy.
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56
Q

Alliteration

A

The repetition of identical consonant sounds at the beginning of closely associated words. Ex. Peter Piper picked…

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57
Q

Allusion

A

a brief direct or indirect reference to a person, event, place (real or fictitious), or to a work of art or direction which the author hopes/assumes the reader will recognize. Allusion is most typically a casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event. Most allusions expand or develop a significant idea, impression, or mood in the story.

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58
Q

Analogy

A

Comparison of two things made to explain something unfamiliar through its similarities to something familiar; similes and metaphors are types of analogies

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59
Q

Anecdotal evidence

A

informal account of evidence from anecdote or hearsay

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60
Q

Antagonist

A

A character or force in conflict with the main character. Can be a character or something (ex. weather) which causes turmoil.

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61
Q

Anti-climax

A

a sudden shift from relatively serious mood to a more comic or trivial.

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62
Q

Antithesis

A

a contrast, usually expressed with parallel sentence structure. For example, “to err is human; to forgive, divine.”

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63
Q

Apostrophe

A

a statement, question, or request addressed to an inanimate object or concept or to a nonexistent or absent person; ex= a poet asking the muses for inspiration “Oh Canada, our home and native land”

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64
Q

Argumentative Essay

A

takes a particular position on a topic and defends it

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65
Q

Archaic language

A

words or phrases that are no longer commonly used. Ex Old English (Shakespeare)

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66
Q

Aside

A

comment made by a stage performer meant to be heard by the audience, but not the other characters

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67
Q

Assonance

A

the repetition of identical vowel sounds in different, closely associated words.

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68
Q

Atmosphere

A

mood or feeling created by a literary work, often through description. ex: suspense, fear, joy. see tone and mode

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69
Q

Audience

A

the person or persons for whom text is written or a play is performed. It is important to know the audience for whom you are writing and to write with the tone, diction, and style appropriate for that group.

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70
Q

Autobiography

A

narrative in which an individual tells their story

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71
Q

Ballad

A

a story/poem told in song, usually by an impersonal narrator and in a condensed form. Ballads are commonly written using ballad stanza

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72
Q

Ballad Stanza

A

a quatrain of alternating four and three stress lines, usually rhyming ABCB. For example “All in a hot and copper sky/ The bloody Sun, at noon,/Right up above the mast did stand,/ No bigger than the moon.”

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73
Q

Bias

A

a preference or inclination, especially one that inhibits partial judgement

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74
Q

Biography

A

narrative that tells a person’s life story

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75
Q

Blank verse

A

poetry written in unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter

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76
Q

Cacophony

A

harsh, discordant sounds placed together for affect. Opposite of euphony. For example, “ The clatter of crashing vied for my attention.”

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77
Q

Caricature

A

a portrait that exaggerates or distorts basic features of a person for effect. Used often in editorial cartoons for humour or to create a quick characterization

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78
Q

Case Study

A

method of qualitative research where one examines a small, select instance or in depth event

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79
Q

Catastrophe

A

in drama, particularly a tragedy, the concluding action following the climax that contains the resolution of the plot.

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80
Q

Cause and Effect

A

the reason something happened is the cause, the something that happened is the effect.

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81
Q

Character

A

refers to both a fictional person in the story and a moral, temperamental, and behavioral qualities of that fictional person.

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82
Q

Characterization

A

methods a writer uses to develop and reveal the personality of a character. It is either revealed directly (through author comments) or indirectly (through the character’s speech, thought or action).

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83
Q

Character Foil

A

a character who is used to contrast opposing traits with another character so that the reader better understands the personality and motivation of the protagonist. By being so villainous, foils are used to make the protagonist seem heroic by contrast.

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84
Q

Chorus

A

in ancient Greek drama, a group of actors who commented on and interpreted the unfolding action of the stage; in poetry, a repeated refrain

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85
Q

Chronological order

A

organizing events by time, often earliest to latest

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86
Q

Cliché

A

a metaphor or expression that is overused so it loses its meaning

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87
Q

Climatic Order

A

organizing ideas by order of importance, often from least important to most important

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88
Q

Climax

A

the turning point in a work with the highest point of emotional intensity.

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89
Q

Colloquialism

A

a word or phrase that is acceptable in casual conversation but not in formal, written communication; more acceptable than slang

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90
Q

Colloquial Language

A

informal or conversational style

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91
Q

Comedy

A

depicts humorous plots whereby the protagonist is faced with a light-hearted challenge and in the end overcomes it and the story or play ends happily

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92
Q

Comic relief

A

the use of humour to lighten the mood of a serious or tragic story, especially in plays

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93
Q

Compare and contrast

A

analyze the topic by looking at how they are alike (a comparison) and how they are different (a contrast)

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94
Q

Comparison

A

Similarities

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95
Q

Conflict

A

the struggle between opposing characters or forces (ie. the protagonist versus the antagonist). Ex. character versus her/his environment; character versus character; character versus self

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96
Q

Connotation

A

emotional associations and overtones related to a word. ex. a person who is underweight might be described as slight or scrawny. Slight has a fairly positive connotation, while scrawny has a negative connotation.

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97
Q

Consonance

A

the repetition of similar consonant sounds at the ends of closely associated syllables or words. For example, gored/bored, given/heaven

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98
Q

Contrast

A

see also juxtaposition; refers to the difference, especially a striking one, between two things being compared. It may involve situations, characters, settings, moods, or points of view. Used to clarify meaning, purpose, character, or to heighten certain moods.

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99
Q

Couplet

A

two successive lines of verse that rhyme and are usually of equal length. For example, “I think it is time/ you learned to rhyme.”

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100
Q

Denotation

A

the literal meaning of the word as seen in dictionary definitions

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101
Q

Denouement

A

(pronounced day-new-mahn) AKA resolution or falling action; follows the climax and is part of the falling action; comes from the French word for “unknotting”

102
Q

Descriptive Essay

A

portrays people, places, things, moments and theories with enough deatil to help the reader create a mental picture of what is being written about; it captures a moment in time rather than telling a story

103
Q

Dialect

A

a manner of speaking or variation on a language particular to an individual, a people, a social class, a geographic region or a country

104
Q

Dialogue

A

conversations between characters in a drama or story

105
Q

Diary

A

a personal written record of daily events or thoughts

106
Q

Diction

A

vocabulary chosen by the writer. Can reflect the level of education of the speaker, the attitude of the speaker, and can influence mood with connotation

107
Q

Didactic

A

intended to teach a lesson, especially a moral one

108
Q

Dilemma

A

a choice between two equally unfavourable options. Posing a dilemma is one way a author generates conflict and suspense in a story

109
Q

Direct Presentation

A

the speaker is telling us about the character. For example, “Jody is a shy girl.” See also indirect presentation.

110
Q

Dissonance

A

combination of harsh or jarring sounds, especially in poetry

111
Q

Drama

A

broad genre that includes a variety of forms from tragedy to comedy; a work that treats serious subjects and theme but doesn’t aim at the splendour of tragedy

112
Q

Dramatic irony

A

(aka structural irony) a dramatic situation in which the audience knows something the character does not. ex. the audience knows that Juliet has taken a drug to fake her death but Romeo does not know this and kills himself

113
Q

Dramatic monolouge

A

A type of poem in which a speaker addresses a silent listener. As readers, we overhear the speaker in a dramtic monolouge.

114
Q

Dramatic form

A

a method for the espression of dramatic meaning (eg. improvisation, tableau, role, dance drama, Readers Theater, mask, mime)

115
Q

Dynamic character

A

Basically a round character. This term is used to contrast against static characters who do not change

116
Q

Editorial

A

statement/article that expresses an opinion rather than just reporting facts

117
Q

Elegy

A

a solmn poem that mourns the death of a person or the passing of an era

118
Q

Emotional appeal

A

writing that persuades the audience by arousing emotios

119
Q

Epic

A

long, narrative poem about the adventures of a hero of great historic or legendary importance; setting is vast and the action is often given cosmic significance through the intervention of supernatural forces such a gods, angels, or demons; and use elaborate metaphors and allusions to enhance the symbolic importance of a hero’s adventures. AFFECTS WORLD NOT ONLY PERSON

120
Q

Epilouge

A

a short speech (often in verse) addressed directly to the audience by an actor at the end of a play

121
Q

Epiphany

A

A sudden realization of truth

122
Q

Epigram

A

A saying that makes the speakers point quickly and concisely

123
Q

Epitaph

A

Inscription on a monument or tombstone about the person buried there

124
Q

Expert testimony

A

Providing evidence from an expert who is deemed to have special knowledge

125
Q

Exposition

A

In essays, systemic explanation of a specific

126
Q

Epiphany

A

a sudden realization of truth

127
Q

Epigram

A

A saying that makes the speaker’s point quickly and concisely

128
Q

Epitaph

A

inscription on a tombstone or monument about the person buried there

129
Q

Euphemism

A

mild expression used to describe an otherwise offensive term or word (ex. dead= passed away)

130
Q

Euphony

A

musical/pleasant sounds placed together for effect. Opposite of cacophony.

131
Q

Expert Testimony

A

Providing evidence from an expert who is deemed to have special knowledge in the field

132
Q

Falling action

A

the part of a plot that falls after the climax, the complications of the rising action are detangled

133
Q

Expository Essay

A

Expository is derived from exposition, which is a noun of ‘expose.’ An expository essay is a genre of writing which tends to explain, illustrate, clarify, or explicate something in a way that it becomes clear for readers.

134
Q

Extended Metaphor

A

a metaphor that develops throughout the poem and has several points of comparison

135
Q

External Conflict

A

see conflict, character vs character, character vs. environment

136
Q

Fable

A

narrative intended to convey a moral. Animals of inanimate objects with human characteristics

137
Q

Falling action

A

the part

138
Q

Fantasy

A

highly exaggerated or improbable story. Used often to reveal truths about human nature.

139
Q

Farce

A

a type of comedy characterized by broad humour, outlandish incidents, and often vulgar subject matter

140
Q

Figurative Language

A

use of figures of speech in writing to attain a special effect. Used in poetry but can sometimes be found in prose

141
Q

First Person Point of View

A

“I”. reader generally sees everything through the characters eyes. Can be used as a omniscient narrator.

142
Q

Flashback

A

shift in events that took place earlier, needed to fill in background details, illustrate an important point or aid a character in characterization

143
Q

Formal language

A

writing that does not include idioms, slang, colloquialisms

144
Q

Foil

A

see character foil

145
Q

Foreshadowing

A

Hints or warnings of events to take place

146
Q

Form

A

General term for how a story is put together. Sometimes called the ‘How’ of a story

147
Q

Formal essay

A

essay that follows a prescribed path of introduction, body paragraphs (at least three) and a conclusion.

148
Q

Formal language

A

writing that does not include

149
Q

Frame story

A

the result of adding one or more small stories within the body of a larger one which encompasses the smaller ones

150
Q

Free verse

A

poetry with neither rhyme nor rhyme and meter

151
Q

Genre

A

“type” or “kind” as in “which novel do you like?”

152
Q

Graphic text

A

use of pictures to help tell a story (ex. manga or cartoons)

153
Q

Hero

A

protagonist who possesses heroic like qualities like courage. Tragic Here is usually born into some nobility, however due to a tragic flaw makes a serious error in judgement

154
Q

Historical Reference

A

allusion to a historical event for effect or explanation

155
Q

Hyperbole

A

a deliberate exaggeration

156
Q

Iambic Pentameter ____

A

a line composed for 5 iambic feet (ie. five pairs of stressed an unstressed syllables)

157
Q

Idiom

A

a expression that makes sense as a whole but not individually (ex. a piece of cake)

158
Q

Image

A

concrete details which uses the five senses and figures of speech that help the reader from vivid impressions of the subject of writing

159
Q

Imagery

A

the pattern of images in a single piece of writing; often the images allude to more that the surface idea and create meaning through metaphor

160
Q

Internal conflict

A

see conflict. ex: character vs self

161
Q

Indirect presentation

A

the speaker is showing the character’s actions through dialogue or another person’s dialogue.

162
Q

Informal essay

A

written mainly for enjoyment, not information or persuasion; a relaxed form of expression of opinion, observation, humour with a strong structure.

163
Q

Informal language

A

conversational style idioms, colloquialisms etc. (see formal language)

164
Q

Interior monologue

A

narrative technique in which thoughts are revealed in a way that seems uncontrolled and natural

165
Q

Internal rhyme

A

rhyming words within a line of poetry

166
Q

Irony

A

the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
“Beethoven was deaf”

167
Q

Jargon

A

specialized language found in a particular subject. Ex. sports, teachers, lawyers all have their own particular lingo

168
Q

Juxtaposition

A

the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. Ex. an evil stepmother might seem more evil when placed beside an innocent child

169
Q

Legend

A

narrative of human actions that are perceived to take place within human history and within the realm of possibility (ex. miracles)- ex. Atlantis. Legends that have been transformed beyond belief are called fables

170
Q

Limited Omniscient Point of View

A

the third person (Pronouns he, she, they) narrator who reveals the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

171
Q

Meter

A

when poetry is read aloud there is often a recognizable flow of rising and falling sounds. The varying pattern of stressed syllables is what makes up a poem’s meter. Each unit of stress and unstressed syllables is called a “foot”

172
Q

Lyric

A

relatively short non-narrative poem in which the first-person speaker expresses thoughts and feelings

173
Q

Melodrama

A

typical plot is a conflict between characters who personify good and evil; usually ends happily and emphasize sensationalism; often using stereotypical characters in simplistic conflicts.

174
Q

Metaphor

A

direct comparison between objects. “The words were a knife that cut me deeply.”

175
Q

Meter

A

when poetry is read aloud there is often a recognizable flow of rising

176
Q

Monologue

A

a speech spoken only by one person

177
Q

Mood

A

Words and details that create a feeling in the reader. Atmosphere and mood are the same thing

178
Q

Motif

A

repeated element in literature

179
Q

Mystery

A

genre in which the plot is centered on an unsolved crime

180
Q

Myth

A

a traditional story that is closely associated with a particular culture or group of people which usually communicates the beliefs and values of that culture

181
Q

Narrative

A

a story; has a plot, conflict, characters, setting and point of view. May be fictional or non-fictional

182
Q

Narration

A

Story telling, not pure description or explanation

183
Q

narrator

A

storyteller or speaker of the poem or novel; can be a character or, if omniscient or objective, a speaker (not to be confused with author)

184
Q

Objective (Language tone etc.)

A

neutral (doesn’t use “I”), fact based

185
Q

Objective point of view

A

the third person narrator none of the thoughts and feelings of the character. Like a video camera

186
Q

Octave

A

eight line stanza

187
Q

Ode

A

long lyric poem praises a person or thing

188
Q

Omniscient Point of View

A

means “all seeing”, the third person narrator who can reveal the thoughts and feelings of several characters

189
Q

Onomatopoeia

A

a word whose sound suggests its meaning. For example, the bee buzzes

190
Q

Oxymoron

A

phrases with an inherent contradiction. For example, the living dead

191
Q

Paradox

A

statement that first appears contradictory but actually states a truth. Example: history teaches us that we learn nothing from history

192
Q

Parallelism

A

method of comparison of two ides in which each is developed in the same grammatical structure. For example: “Have you ever though of what it is like to fly, to hope, to dream?”

193
Q

Parody

A

imitation of either formal or thematic elements of one work in another for humorous purposes. Do not confuse with satire.

194
Q

Passive voice

A

a sentence that is written so that the subject is not the one doing the action. For example ‘the mouse was eaten by the cat.’ the mouse is the subject but it is not doing the action, the cat is.

195
Q

Pastoral

A

literary composition on a rural them; characters and language of nobility are often placed in simple settings or characters are shepherds in a country setting

196
Q

Pathos

A

see emotional appeal

197
Q

Personal Essay

A

focuses on the writer as subject

198
Q

Personification

A

inanimate or non-human thing given human like qualities.

199
Q

Persuasive essay

A

uses persuasive techniques to prove writer’s thesis

200
Q

Persuasive technique

A

method of trying to influence an idea, attitude, or action by rational and symbolic means

201
Q

Plot

A

storyline or organization of events or episodes within a story.

202
Q

Point of view

A

perspective on how a story is told

203
Q

Pro and con argument

A

line of reasoning that looks at the positives and the negatives of a subject

204
Q

Prologue

A

an introductory section of a literary work; often contains information establishing the situation of the characters and setting, time, action

205
Q

Propaganda

A

specific type of message presentation directly aimed at influencing the opinions of people , rather than impartially informing

206
Q

Proverb

A

a brief, sage saying that expresses a truth about life in a striking manner; example “Forgive and forget”

207
Q

Pun

A

play on words where multiple meanings are deliberately suggested

208
Q

Purpose

A

main affect the author hoped to achieve

209
Q

Quatrain

A

a four-line stanza

210
Q

Question and answer

A

can be basic (questions asked to people to study their knowledge) or rhetorical style where questions are asked then answered to provide information

211
Q

Refrain

A

phrase repeated at intervals throughout a poem, may be slightly altered at each appearance

212
Q

Repetition

A

words repeated for emphasis

213
Q

Research

A

active, diligent, systematic process of inquiry

214
Q

Resolution

A

see denouement above

215
Q

Rhetorical question

A

a question that implies the answer is obvious and doesn’t need to be answered

216
Q

Rhyme

A

sound effect created when the sounds at the ends of words are repeated

217
Q

Rhyme Scheme

A

pattern of rhymed words at the end of lines in a poem. Example ABCB.

218
Q

Rhythm

A

shifts in beat, speed, or loudness or the pitch in a line of poetry

219
Q

Rising Action

A

Events of a dramatic or narrative plot leading up to the climax.

220
Q

Round character

A

often the protagonist; undergoes significant, lasting change, usually in his or her outlook on life.

221
Q

Sarcasm (verbal irony)

A

often used in a humorous or ironic manner and is expressed through vocal intonations such as over-emphasizing the actual statement

222
Q

Satire

A

the literary art of diminishing a person or topic or human quality by making it seem ridiculous (politics sometimes)

223
Q

Sestet

A

six-line stanza

224
Q

Setting

A

Time and place of a story

225
Q

Simile

A

Outright comparison using “as” or “like”

226
Q

Slang

A

words that are used in a certain class of society, but are not generally acknowledged as being correct English

227
Q

Soliloquy

A

a monologue (alone on stage) in which a characters innermost thoughts are expressed (Hamlet= to be or not to be)

228
Q

Sonnet

A

a 14-line tightly crafted lyric poem that focuses on a specific theme, usually written in iambic pentameter

229
Q

Speaker

A

imaginary voice taken on by a poet or a writer that tells you the story

230
Q

Statistical evidence

A

gathering facts or statistics as evidence for an argument

231
Q

Static character

A

basically a flat character (does not change), used to contrast with dynamic character

232
Q

Style

A

a distinctive way in which a writer uses language ( both choice and arrangement of words)

233
Q

Stock/Stereotyped Character

A

see stereotype

234
Q

Story within a story

A

one story is told during the action of another story

235
Q

Stream of consciousness

A

modern narrative technique which attempts to depict the uninterrupted and frequently illogical flow of thoughts and feelings through a character’s mind.

236
Q

Style

A

a distinctive way in which a writer uses language ( both choice and

237
Q

Stylistic technique

A

any form used to communicate your information

238
Q

Subjective (tone, language etc.)

A

opinion based, less formal than objective

239
Q

Surprise Ending

A

sudden twist in the direction of a story, producing a resolution which surprises the reader and often the story’s character as well.

240
Q

Suspense

A

reader’s state of anxiety, excitement and anticipation regarding the outcome

241
Q

Symbol

A

an object that represents or stands in for a more abstract idea. ex. dove=peace

242
Q

Symbolism

A

the use of an object to represent another (ex. flag representing a nation)

243
Q

Theme

A

central idea or purpose of the story, usually implied not stated; usually gives insight into human nature or human experience (not moral or plot)

244
Q

Thesis

A

summarizes main ideas of writing; often one or two sentences that sum up the main point intended to make. (can be topic sentence at the start of a paragraph)

245
Q

Thesis Statement

A

one sentence in an essay to declare the main idea (thesis) of the essay will be.

246
Q

Third person point of view

A

the speaker is a character outside of the main story. The main character is spoken to as he/she. Speaker may have unlimited or limited knowledge about the characters in the story.

247
Q

Tone

A

reveals writer’s attitude toward the readers or toward the subject.

248
Q

Tragedy

A

a noble, courageous hero of excellent character who, because of a tragic character flaw, brings ruin upon him or herself. Using poetic language to evoke pity and fear and bring about the purging of emotions (catharsis).

249
Q

Understatement

A

a statement that lessens of minimizes the importance of what is meant.

250
Q

Voice

A

“sounds” of the characters, narrators, etc. Connected to tone and point of view

251
Q

Wit

A

nothing more than an incisive observation, humorously phrased and delivered with impeccable timing.

Might be another class (2 decks)

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