English I Literary Terms English I Literary Terms To Know and Use!To Know and Use!

Putting the FUN in the FUNdamentals Putting the FUN in the FUNdamentals of discussing literature!of discussing literature!

ALLITERATIONALLITERATION

The repetition of initial consonant sounds The repetition of initial consonant sounds All of the consonants that begin the words are All of the consonants that begin the words are

the same ….the same ….

Bob bounced a banana off of Becky’s head!Bob bounced a banana off of Becky’s head!

AllusionAllusion

A reference to a A reference to a well-known well-known person, place, person, place, event, literary event, literary work or work of work or work of artart

With With Herculean Herculean effort, Tom picked effort, Tom picked the car up and the car up and moved it off of the moved it off of the children.children.

AnalogyAnalogy

Comparison between two unlike things to Comparison between two unlike things to show how they are alike in some way.show how they are alike in some way.

Example:Example:

Illiterate: read, sightless: seeIlliterate: read, sightless: see

AssonanceAssonance

Repetition of similar vowel sounds that are Repetition of similar vowel sounds that are followed by different consonant sounds, followed by different consonant sounds, especially in words that are close together in a especially in words that are close together in a poem.poem.

Adam ate an apple after archery class.

CharacterCharacter

A person or animal that takes part in a A person or animal that takes part in a literary work.literary work.

Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization

When a reader has When a reader has to use his or her own to use his or her own judgment to decide judgment to decide what a character is what a character is like, based on the like, based on the evidence that writer evidence that writer gives to us.gives to us.

This was shown in This was shown in Secondhand LionsSecondhand Lions, , when it did not come when it did not come right out and say that right out and say that Garth was the logical, Garth was the logical, calm brother …we just calm brother …we just knew it based on the knew it based on the evidence of his actions.evidence of his actions.

Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization

When a reader does When a reader does not have to decide not have to decide what a character is what a character is like because the like because the writer tells us writer tells us directly.directly.

This was shown in “The Most This was shown in “The Most Dangerous Game” when the Dangerous Game” when the author wrote that Zaroff was a author wrote that Zaroff was a dangerous, vicious person.dangerous, vicious person.

ClimaxClimax

A struggle between A struggle between opposing forces opposing forces where their conflict where their conflict meets/The greatest meets/The greatest point of emotional point of emotional intensity in a story, intensity in a story, when everything when everything must be different, must be different, due to that due to that occurrence.occurrence.

The climax in “The Interlopers” was

when the men realized that the wolves were

coming. This was the climax because from this point, nothing else could

be the same.

PersonificationPersonification

A type of figurative language in which a A type of figurative language in which a nonhuman subject is given human nonhuman subject is given human characteristics.characteristics.

ProtagonistProtagonist

The main character of a literary work.The main character of a literary work.

AntagonistAntagonist

The character or force that goes up The character or force that goes up against the protagonist.against the protagonist.

RhythmRhythm

A pattern of beats, or stresses, in spoken or A pattern of beats, or stresses, in spoken or written language.written language.

When you tap your foot to the beat …When you tap your foot to the beat …

SpeakerSpeaker

The imaginary voice The imaginary voice assumed by the assumed by the reader.reader.

ThemeTheme

A literary works A literary works central message, central message, concern or concern or purpose.purpose.

The theme of The theme of The The OutsidersOutsiders is looking is looking at life as an outsider at life as an outsider and feeling as and feeling as though one is being though one is being treated as an treated as an outsider, is a matter outsider, is a matter of perspective or of perspective or point of view. point of view.

ConflictConflict

A struggle between opposing forces.A struggle between opposing forces.

There are four types:There are four types:

• Man vs. manMan vs. man

• Man vs. natureMan vs. nature

• Man vs. himselfMan vs. himself

• Man vs. societyMan vs. society

Internal ConflictInternal Conflict

When a When a conflict takes conflict takes place entirely place entirely

within a within a character’s character’s

mind.mind.

External ConflictExternal Conflict

A character A character struggles struggles against an against an outside force.outside force.

DialectDialect

A way of speaking that is characteristic of A way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region or group of people.a particular region or group of people.

Remember it this way … “When I dial Remember it this way … “When I dial collect to talk to my northern family collect to talk to my northern family members, they say ‘Hey you’s guys’”members, they say ‘Hey you’s guys’”

DictionDiction

A writer’s or speaker’s choice of words.A writer’s or speaker’s choice of words.

FlashbackFlashback

A scene within a story that interrupts the A scene within a story that interrupts the sequence of events to relate to events sequence of events to relate to events that occurred in the past.that occurred in the past.

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

The author’s use of clues to hint at what The author’s use of clues to hint at what might happen later in the story.might happen later in the story.

PlotPlot

The sequence of events in which each The sequence of events in which each event results from a previous one and event results from a previous one and causes the next one.causes the next one.

The domino effect in a story: one thing The domino effect in a story: one thing causes another, then causes another, causes another, then causes another, etc.etc.

RhymeRhyme

The repetition of sounds at the ends of The repetition of sounds at the ends of words.words.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

All the kings horses and all the kings men

Couldn’t put Humpty back together again!

- Humpty On Break -

SettingSetting

The time and place of the action.The time and place of the action.

NonfictionNonfiction

Prose writing that presents and explains Prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real people.ideas or that tells about real people.

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

The use of words to imitate sounds.The use of words to imitate sounds.

Crash!Crash!

Bam!Bam!

Boom!Boom!

HyperboleHyperbole

A figure of speech that uses A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to show strong emotion.exaggeration to show strong emotion.

I am so hungry that I could eat a horse!

ImageryImagery

Language that appeals to the senses.Language that appeals to the senses.

These are images in a story that appeal to your five senses:

SIGHT

SOUND

SMELL

TASTE

TOUCH

IronyIrony The general name given to literary The general name given to literary

techniques that involve surprising, techniques that involve surprising, interesting or amusing contradictions.interesting or amusing contradictions.

Verbal IronyVerbal Irony

A writer or speaker says one thing, but A writer or speaker says one thing, but means something completely different.means something completely different.

Situational IronySituational Irony

When there is a contract between what When there is a contract between what would seem appropriate and what really would seem appropriate and what really happens.happens.

Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony

Occurs when the audience or the reader Occurs when the audience or the reader knows something important that a knows something important that a character in a play or story does not.character in a play or story does not.

MetaphorMetaphor

A figure of speech in which something is A figure of speech in which something is described as though it were something described as though it were something else.else.

She was a golden burst of sunshine on the She was a golden burst of sunshine on the hillside.hillside.

MeterMeter

A poem’s rhythmical patternA poem’s rhythmical pattern

The different types of meter are:The different types of meter are:

Iamb (Iambic) Unstressed + Stressed Two Syllables

Trochee (Trochaic) Stressed + Unstressed Two Syllables

Spondee (Spondaic) Stressed + Stressed Two Syllables

Anapest (Anapestic) Unstressed + Unstressed + Stressed Three Syllables

Dactyl (Dactylic) Stressed + Unstressed + Unstressed Three Syllables

Point of ViewPoint of View

The perspective, or vantage point, from The perspective, or vantage point, from which the story is told.which the story is told.

Types of Point of View:Types of Point of View:First person Point of View: the narrator is a character in the story and uses First person Point of View: the narrator is a character in the story and uses

the pronoun, I while telling the story.the pronoun, I while telling the story.Third Person Limited Point of View: the narrator is NOT a character in the Third Person Limited Point of View: the narrator is NOT a character in the

story but we do see the inner thoughts and feelings of one of the story but we do see the inner thoughts and feelings of one of the characters.characters.

Third Person Omniscient Point of View: the narrator is NOT a character in the Third Person Omniscient Point of View: the narrator is NOT a character in the story, but we see the inner thoughts of ALL of the characters in the story.story, but we see the inner thoughts of ALL of the characters in the story.

SimileSimile

A figure of speech that uses like or as to A figure of speech that uses like or as to make a comparison between two unlike make a comparison between two unlike things.things.

SymbolSymbol

Anything that stands for or represents Anything that stands for or represents something else.something else.

A dove is a symbol of peace.

ToneTone

The attitude a writer takes toward the The attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a characteraudience, a subject, or a character

OxymoronOxymoron

A rhetorical figure in which contradictory A rhetorical figure in which contradictory terms are combined.terms are combined.

JUMBO SHRIMP!JUMBO SHRIMP!

(How can a shrimp(How can a shrimp

be jumbo????)be jumbo????)

ParadoxParadox

A statement or situation that seems to be A statement or situation that seems to be a contradiction but reveals a trutha contradiction but reveals a truth

EpiphanyEpiphany

A sudden perception or insight about A sudden perception or insight about something.something.

It is that “light bulb” moment, or

the “ah-ha” moment when

you finally get an idea or concept!

AutobiographyAutobiography

An account of a person’s life, written by An account of a person’s life, written by that person.that person.

Remember it this way … you drive

your own AUTOmobile, so you

write your own AUTOBIOGRAPHY!

BiographyBiography

An account of a person’s life, written or An account of a person’s life, written or told by another person.told by another person.

Figure of SpeechFigure of Speech

A word or phrase that describes one A word or phrase that describes one thing in terms of another and is not thing in terms of another and is not meant to be taken on a literal level.meant to be taken on a literal level.

FoilFoil

A character who is used in contrast to A character who is used in contrast to another character.another character.

The mean, abusive character of Stan was a foil to the honest, trustworthy characters of Hub and Garth

IdiomIdiom

An expression peculiar to a particular An expression peculiar to a particular language that means something different language that means something different from the literal meaning of the word.from the literal meaning of the word.

My goldfish, Moby, finally kicked the bucket!

The idiom, “kicked the bucket” means that he died. That is an American idiom that we

all know!

PunPun

A play on the multiple meanings of a A play on the multiple meanings of a word or on two words that sound alike, word or on two words that sound alike, but have different meanings.but have different meanings.

EXAMPLES:

• I recently spent money on detergent to unclog my kitchen sink. It was money down the drain.

• Our social studies teacher says that her globe means the world to her.

• Sir Lancelot once had a very bad dream about his horse. It was a knight mare.

SatireSatire

A type of writing that ridicules something A type of writing that ridicules something – a person, a group of people, humanity – a person, a group of people, humanity at large, an attitude or failing, a social at large, an attitude or failing, a social institution – in order to reveal a institution – in order to reveal a weakness.weakness.

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a satire of the

Russian Revolution.

NovelNovel

A fictional prose narrative usually A fictional prose narrative usually consisting of more than fifty thousand consisting of more than fifty thousand words.words.

Short StoryShort Story

A short, concentrated fictional prose A short, concentrated fictional prose narrative.narrative.

“A Sound of Thunder”

by Ray Bradbury