Key Literary Terms Review Y. Fisher Writing in the Content Area Y. Fisher Writing in the Content Area

DO NOT WRITE EVERYTHING, DECIDE WHAT IS IMPORTANT! Alliteration: beginning several next to or nearby words with the same sound Example: Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore. Allusion: reference to a mythological, literary or historical person, place or thing. Example: strength of Hercules Details: facts revealed by the author or speaker Example: Her red hair and blue eyes Alliteration: beginning several next to or nearby words with the same sound Example: Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore. Allusion: reference to a mythological, literary or historical person, place or thing. Example: strength of Hercules Details: facts revealed by the author or speaker Example: Her red hair and blue eyes

Do not write everything! Choose what is important! Flashback: showing a previous event Example: her stories were told in flashback Foreshadowing: providing hints or clues to the reader about what is going to happen Example: storms in stories foreshadow negative events Flashback: showing a previous event Example: her stories were told in flashback Foreshadowing: providing hints or clues to the reader about what is going to happen Example: storms in stories foreshadow negative events Hyperbole: huge exaggeration Example: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse! Imagery: words and phrases that describe things by appealing to the senses Her cookies smelled like chocolate, pecans and sugar

More words! Dramatic Irony: when the audience or other people know something the characters do not Example: when the killer is right behind you! Metaphor: Comparison NOT using “like” or “as” Example: her dinners were heaven. Mood: the atmosphere or emotion in a literary work Example: “Old Yeller” had a sad mood. Dramatic Irony: when the audience or other people know something the characters do not Example: when the killer is right behind you! Metaphor: Comparison NOT using “like” or “as” Example: her dinners were heaven. Mood: the atmosphere or emotion in a literary work Example: “Old Yeller” had a sad mood.

Don’t write everything! Motivation: the character’s reason for doing something Onomatopoeia: words that mimic the sounds they describe Example: boom, bang Motivation: the character’s reason for doing something Onomatopoeia: words that mimic the sounds they describe Example: boom, bang Oxymoron: when two opposite words are combined for a single expression Example: jumbo shrimp Personification: giving human characteristics to a non human thing Example: the trees whistled

Just a few more! Point of view: the perspective from which the story is told Example: Anne Frank is told from first person point of view Protagonist: the central character Example: Scout is the protagonist in To Kill a Mockingbird. Antagonist: the character who works against the protagonist Example: villians in stories Point of view: the perspective from which the story is told Example: Anne Frank is told from first person point of view Protagonist: the central character Example: Scout is the protagonist in To Kill a Mockingbird. Antagonist: the character who works against the protagonist Example: villians in stories

Getting close… Setting: time and place of the literary work Example: Lord of the Flies is set on an island Simile: comparison using “like” or “as” Example: she is pretty as a picture Setting: time and place of the literary work Example: Lord of the Flies is set on an island Simile: comparison using “like” or “as” Example: she is pretty as a picture Suspense: when the audience is uncertain or tense about the outcome Example: horror movies

Last One! Theme: the central message of a literary work that the author wishes to share Example: WMMC: adapt to change Tone: writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward a subject, character or audience. Example: his tone was disrespectful when he was talking about cops. Add this one: Style: the writer’s characteristic manner of employing language Example: her style was very casual--she used text language a lot in her writing Theme: the central message of a literary work that the author wishes to share Example: WMMC: adapt to change Tone: writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward a subject, character or audience. Example: his tone was disrespectful when he was talking about cops. Add this one: Style: the writer’s characteristic manner of employing language Example: her style was very casual--she used text language a lot in her writing