Vocabulary HOMS Flashcards
Epiphany
A moment of profound awareness and realization, after which the character who experiences it sees life in a new way.
Metaphor
A comparison of two unlike things without using like or as.
Simile
A comparison of two unlike things using like or as.
Personification
A simile or metaphor that endows something inanimate with human or animal characteristics.
Parallelism
Phrases, clauses, or words of similar constructions placed side by side; also, characters and situations can be parallel.
Repetition
Reuse of the same word for rhythm or emphasis.
Foil
A character of the same age and gender as a second character who highlights that person’s qualities by parallels and contrasts. The foil must be of the same age and gender.
Symbol, private and universal
An object in the story that represents an intangible idea; universal symbols are generally recognized, while a private symbol depends on the context of the story.
Dramatic irony
An ironic effect that occurs when a character is kept ignorant of facts revealed to the audience; thus his or her actions will have another level of meaning for the audience.
Situational irony
An ironic effect that occurs when the outcome of a situation is opposite from the ending the author has been leading toward.
Imagery
Concrete details designed to appeal to one or more of the reader’s five senses.
Auditory
Relating to the sense of hearing.
Tactile
Relating to the sense of touch.
Olfactory
Relating to the sense of smell.
Gustatory
Relating to the sense of taste.
Absolute terms
A word that indicates a superlative state: worst, best, all, none, only, always, etc.
Hyperbole
A deliberate exaggeration used to emphasize a point.
Juxtaposition
A device that places normally unassociated words, ideas, or phrases next to each other for a witty or surprising effect.
Antithesis
A parallel opposite.
Allusion
A reference to a person, place, or thing from literature, art, history, religion, or popular culture. The author expects the reader to be familiar with the reference.
