Literary Terms Study Guide I. Know These Words And Their

Literary Terms Study Guide I.

Know these words and their definitions:

conflict/plot

motivation

setting

style

theme/main idea

juxtaposition

exposition

repetition

climax

imagery

resolution

simile

genre

hyperbole

narrator

details

first person

description

second person

alliteration

third omniscient

consonance

third limited

assonance

character

metaphor

protagonist

allegory

antagonist

tone/mood

inner conflict

allusion

characterization

foreshadowing

direct characterization

anecdote

indirect characterization

symbol

static character

irony

dynamic character

sarcasm

II.

Make sure you know the basic plot and main characters for all of the stories we’ve read so far (“The Monkey’s Paw”, “Rules of the Game”, “The Most Dangerous Game”, “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”, “The Apple Tree”, and “A Handful of Dates”.) Be able to use the literary terms while talking about a story.

III.

Be able to summarize one of these stories. Summarize in a couple sentences. Use present tense.

IV.

Know what theme is. Be able to write a topic sentence and paragraph about the theme of one of the stories.

V.

Be able to discuss the style seen in one of the stories we’ve read.

VI.

Study the different types of conflict (three types)

Literary Terms Notes conflict/plot the struggle found in fiction. Types of conflict (1) character in conflict with another character (2) character vs. Nature (3) character vs. Self setting determines Time and Place theme/main idea the general idea or insight about life that a writer wishes to express. A simple theme can often be stated in a single sentence. exposition/rising action the beginning of the plot which gives information about the conflict climax the turning point in the conflict will the good guy or the bad guy win? resolution/falling action The part of a story or drama which occurs after the climax and which establishes a new norm, a new state of affairs-the way things are going to be from then on. genre A literary type or form Poetry, short story, novel Within drama, genre include tragedy, comedy and other forms narrator who is telling the story point of view A piece of literature contains a speaker who is speaking either in the first person, telling things from his or her own perspective, or in the third person, telling things from the perspective of an onlooker first person The story is told from the point of view 'I,’…The I-narrator may be part of the action or an observer I want to tell you an unbelievable story. It is about how a storm changed my life forever… second person This narrator speaks directly to the reader: "You walk in the room and what do you see? It's Mullins again, and you say, 'Out. I've done with him.'" This point of view is rare primarily because it is artificial and self-conscious. third omniscient omniscient = all-knowing when the speaker knows everything including the actions, motives, and thoughts of all the characters Chris tried hard to concentrate but he couldn’t remember which key opened the lock. Meanwhile, Steve felt nervous; what if Chris couldn’t open the safe? He wondered. The storm was approaching them quickly and they didn’t even know it.

third limited the speaker is unable to know what is in any character's mind but the protagonist’s The school dance made Chris nervous. He didn’t know what to wear and spent a long time in front of his mirror, trying out different hair styles. He wished he could find the perfect look for the dance and for high school in general. character A person, or any thing presented as a person, e. g., a spirit, object, animal, or natural force, in a literary work protagonist The hero or central character of a literary work antagonist A person or force which opposes the protagonist in a literary work inner conflict character in conflict with self characterization How a writer reveals the personality of a character direct characterization character is revealed (1) by what the character says about himself or herself; (2) by what others reveal about the character He was a short man with balding hair. He didn’t like riding the subway so he walked around town. indirect characterization character is revealed by the character's own actions With lightning speed Sarah expertly stopped the car right before the cliff’s edge. She looked out at the view; she wasn’t sweating or breathing fast. static character a character who does not change throughout the story dynamic character a character who changes throughout the story motivation what drives the characters to act style How a work can be described, based on its different parts. serious, simple, sparse, detailed details Carefully chosen by the author to create a certain effect and move the plot forward description A collection of details that create an effect and move the story forward juxtaposition putting two things side by side, sometimes to emphasize their differences repetition Repeating words, phrases, images, etc. in order to create a particular effect

imagery language that evokes one or all of the five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching. The ocean was a light green blue and smelled like salt. The wind hit our faces and spray from the curling waves chilled our skin. simile the comparison of two unlike things using like or as. The night sky was as black as coal. Like a horse, he pranced through the field. hyperbole exaggeration or overstatement I am so hungry I could eat a horse! alliteration the repetition of initial sounds in neighboring words. E.g. sweet smell of success, a dime a dozen, bigger and better, jump for joy consonance the repetition of consonant sounds e.g. lady lounges lazily, dark deep dread crept in assonance the repetition of vowel sounds. e.g. fleet feet sweep by sleeping geeks metaphor comparison of two unlike things using the verb "to be" e.g. he is a pig allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. tone/mood the attitude a writer takes towards a subject or character: serious, humorous, sarcastic, ironic, satirical, tongue-in-cheek, solemn, objective allusion a brief reference to a person, event, or place, real or ficticious, or to a work of art. Casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event. Like the queen of England sitting in her throne, he sat in front of everyone else. foreshadowing the use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in literature. anecdote A very short tale told by a character in a literary work symbol using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning Bats, full moon = evil Sunshine, rainbows = good irony an action or statement is the reverse of what is expected

sarcasm form of verbal irony