AlliterationThe repetition of initial sounds in neighboring

words.

He sings a solitary song that

whistles in the wind.

AllusionA brief reference to a famous historical

event or literary writing.

"Five score years ago...." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., used this in his “I Have a Dream Speech.” This alludes to Abraham Lincoln and the way he began his “Gettysburg Address” by saying “Four score and seven years ago….”

AssonanceThe repetition of vowel sounds in

neighboring words.

Her feet danced as she was sweeping the street.

Bias / PropagandaBias is a judgment or strong opinion based on

a personal point of view.

Propaganda is a technique or tactic (such as emotional appeal, bandwagon, repetition, testimonial) used to influence people to buy or do something, or to persuade them to believe as you do.

Characterization & DialogueCharacterization is the process of revealing a

character (personality, role, and appearance) in a story.

Dialogue (speech of one or more characters’ between themselves or their thoughts) is a key way to get insight into the personality of a character.

“I say, my dear boy, won’t you kindly let me step into the parlor on such a frigid day?” asked Uncle Martin. This dialogue reveals Uncle Martin’s character to be proper, polite, and a bit old-fashioned.

GenreA category used to classify literature, such as

romance, mystery, science fiction, poetry, etc.

Examples: Lord of the RingsFantasy

Horror

HomophoneWords pronounced alike that have different

spellings and/or meanings.

Examples: flour flower

heal heel

HyperboleAn exaggeration.

I told you a billion times to keep your bike out of the driveway.

His arms hung a mile out of his sleeves.

IdiomA peculiar expression that cannot be

taken literally.

Let’s get on the ball.

Break a leg!

ImageryLanguage that evokes any of the five senses:

hearing, taste, touch, smell, sight. (Example from After Apple Picking, by Robert Frost)

Magnified apples appear and reappear, Stem end and blossom end, And every fleck of russet showing clear. My instep arch not only keeps the ache, It keeps the pressure of a ladder-round. And I keep hearing from the cellar-bin That rumbling soundOf load on load of apples coming in.

Internal RhymeRhyming within a line.

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

IronyAn implied difference between what is

said and what is meant. Three kinds of irony:

1. verbal irony is when an author says one thing and means something else.2. dramatic irony is when an audience perceives something that a character in the literature does not know.3. irony of situation is a discrepency between the expected result and actual results.

Example:"A fine thing indeed!" he muttered to himself.

Literal vs. FigurativeLiteral – conveying an exact and accurate

meaning through words; true to factThe sun was really shining brightly this morning.

Figurative – language that cannot be taken literally as it is written to create a special effect or feeling; metaphoric or representative speechThe sun was smiling like a proud parent upon the children of the Earth.

MetaphorThe comparison of two unlike

things.

He is a pig.

You are my sunshine.

MoodThe emotional feeling or atmosphere generated in a writing.

ToneThe attitude a writer takes toward a subject or character in his/her writing.

Tone example:Why am I here? he found himself wondering about

life. I am a good kid, Dylan thought. He sat silent and wondered about the things really weighing on his mind. In the hours of quiet meditation, Dylan realized he was afraid of the future. All of his friends knew what they wanted to be, and he had no idea what he would do with his life. His older brother was already excelling in Princeton, and even his kid sister was an aspiring ballerina who wanted to study music. Dylan's parents had chosen their professions straight out of college and were both pretty successful.

Tone example:1.  The overall tone of the language portrays

Dylan asA. pretentiousB. compassionateC. generousD. contemplative

Onomatopoeia A word that imitates the sound it

represents.

BangSplashKerplunk

OxymoronPutting two contradictory words

together.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.A small crowd had gathered.

PersonificationGiving human qualities to animals or

objects.

The sun was smiling on us today.

Which line contains personification? Vinnie passes the girls in the hallway

They look like flowers giggling in MayTheir eyes sparkling like diamondsAll in their own constellations

Vinnie looks at the janitorsSweeping the floors in silenceSometimes a smile slips throughAnd they watch Vinnie watch them

PlotStoryline which containsExposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution

Point of View1st person

I was going to the mall.2nd person

You were going to the mall.3rd person

They (he/she) were going to the mall.

SatireA literary tone used to ridicule or make fun of human vice or weakness.

SimileThe comparison of two unlike things

using like, as, or than.

He eats like a pig.I wandered lonely as a cloud.My fingers were colder than ice cubes.

SymbolismAn object that represents a thought

or idea.

Symbolism – sample questionDion woke up to his alarm on Saturday morning

with the usual feelings of gloom and apprehension. Unlike the kids who got to sleep in or watch morning cartoons, Dion dreaded Saturdays. On Saturdays, he had to go see Grandfather Gene, the most obstinate person in the world.     Grandfather Gene's resilient habits included using a hammer when eating crab, going barefoot on the coldest days of winter, and barking at anyone who knocks on his door. Any attempts to break his habits were met with a gruff “I can do whatever I want.”

Symbolism – sample questionThe grandfather is a symbol of

A. bad eating habitsB. disappointmentC. stubbornnessD. exhaustion.

ThemeThe main idea or insight or lesson

that an author is trying to convey in his/her writing.

The theme of the movie The Wizard of Oz is that there is no place like home.

Theme – sample questionOne of the themes of the story “To Build a

Fire” by Jack London wasA. Watch where you mine for gold.B. Listen to your elders.C. Don’t try to kill your dog.D. Snow shoes made out of tennis racquets

don’t work.

Syntax

Difficult would be it read to the if words order out were of.

Synonym vs. Antonym

Synonyms are words that mean the same.

Loud –

Bright –

Antonyms are words that mean the opposite.

Flat –

Annoying –