Honors English 9 LITERARY TERMS PACKET

Sequence of events in a literary work Plot Plot

Introduces the central conflict in the story Inciting incident Inciting incident In films… In films… In films… In films…

All events that lead up to the climax in a story while conflict builds Rising action Rising action

High point of interest in a story’s plot; often the turning point when the protagonist changes Climax Climax

A disappointing situation or a sudden transition from an important idea to an unimportant one Anti-climax Anti-climax Example from A Tale of Two Cities: “In a moment, the whole company was on their feet. That somebody was assassinated by somebody vindicating a difference of opinion was the likeliest occurrence. Everybody looked to see somebody fall, but only saw a man and a woman standing staring at each other; the man with all the outward aspect of a Frenchman and a thorough Republican; the woman, evidently English…..”

The point in the plot where the conflict begins to subside and lead to a resolution Falling action Falling action

The final outcome of the complication in a literary work Resolution (denouement) Resolution (denouement) Resolution

The time and place of the action in the story Setting Setting

Introduces background information about events, settings, characters etc. to the audience or readers. Exposition Exposition

Internal = man vs. self External = man vs. outside force Internal/external Internal/external

This type of conflict exists when one character struggles against another Man vs. man Man vs. man Man vs. man Man vs. man

This type of conflict exists when a character struggles against his or her own emotions Man vs. self (internal) Man vs. self (internal)

This type of conflict exists when a character struggles with an aspect of the outdoors Man vs. nature Man vs. nature That’s pretty neat! That’s pretty neat! That’s pretty neat! That’s pretty neat!

This type of conflict exists when a character struggles against society as a whole Man vs. society Man vs. society

A sudden eye-opener regarding the nature of a person or situation. Epiphany Epiphany

Interruption in the continuity of a story by narration or portrayal of some earlier episode Flashback Flashback Flashback

Clue that suggest events that have yet to occur Foreshadowing Foreshadowing

Speaker or character who tells a story: Narrator Narrator Stranger than Fiction Stranger than Fiction Stranger than Fiction Stranger than Fiction

A recital of events: Narration Narration Note: A personal narrative is about yourself Note: A personal narrative is about yourself

A brief work of fiction with a simple plot and setting Short story Short story s/ s/ s/ s/

A novella is a work of written, fictional, narrative prose normally longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. Novella = Animal Farm Novella = Animal Farm Novel = To Kill a Mockingbird Novel = To Kill a Mockingbird

The use of ridicule or sarcasm to mock, expose, or attack individuals, groups, institutions or society in general Satire Satire What television program is most famous for its satires? What television program is most famous for its satires? SNL SNL SNL

Used in prose or poetry, this occurs when abstract ideas and principles are explained in terms of characters, figures, or events. Typically includes a moral. Allegory Allegory Allegory

The writer's attitude toward his or her audience and the subject is called the Tone Tone Name that tone! Name that tone! Words that can describe tone: nostalgic, paranoid, romantic, frantic, angry, fearful, accusatory, gloomy, affectionate, mocking, haughty, optimistic, matter-of-fact, sarcastic, solemn, quizzical, etc. Words that can describe tone: nostalgic, paranoid, romantic, frantic, angry, fearful, accusatory, gloomy, affectionate, mocking, haughty, optimistic, matter-of-fact, sarcastic, solemn, quizzical, etc.

A story which has a disastrous ending: Tragedy Tragedy

Literary technique that portrays the difference between appearance and reality, expectation and result, or meaning and expectation Irony Irony Isn’t it ironic? Isn’t it ironic? Isn’t it ironic? Isn’t it ironic?

When an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, readers, or audience Situational irony Situational irony

Occurs when there is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true Dramatic irony Dramatic irony

Occurs when words are used to suggest the opposite of what is really meant; sarcasm Verbal irony Verbal irony And another example from one of Mrs. Janiga’s favorite shows And another example from one of Mrs. Janiga’s favorite shows And another example from one of Mrs. Janiga’s favorite shows And another example from one of Mrs. Janiga’s favorite shows

Two seemingly opposite words used together Oxymoron Oxymoron

Two seemingly contradictory/opposite terms forming a statement Paradox Paradox

An object that stands for or represents something else: Symbol Symbol

The central message, insight, or generalization about life in a piece of literature Theme Theme All people should live up to their responsibilities because they’re needed by the people around them. *Themes should be statements, not subjects.

Feelings that readers get from a narrative based on details such as settings, background, objects and foreshadowing, etc. A mood can serve as a vehicle for establishing atmosphere.narrativeforeshadowing Atmosphere Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore – While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door – “Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door – Only this and nothing more.”

The feeling of curiosity or uncertainty about the outcome of events Suspense Suspense

A literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions. Mood Mood Ex: A depressing mood is created whenever Wuthering Heights is described. For example, in chapter 12 the narrator says: Ex: A depressing mood is created whenever Wuthering Heights is described. For example, in chapter 12 the narrator says: “There was no moon, and everything beneath lay in misty darkness: not a light gleamed from any house, far or near all had been extinguished long ago: and those at Wuthering Heights were never visible…” “There was no moon, and everything beneath lay in misty darkness: not a light gleamed from any house, far or near all had been extinguished long ago: and those at Wuthering Heights were never visible…”

The set of ideas/feelings associated with a word in addition to its dictionary definition Connotation Connotation Ex: The connotation of a lamb = peaceful, gentle Ex: The connotation of a lamb = peaceful, gentle The connotation of a lion = fierce, powerful The connotation of a lion = fierce, powerful

The dictionary definition of a word Denotation Denotation

Variety of language spoken by people in a particular region or of a particular group Dialect Dialect Ellen’s dialect test Ellen’s dialect test Ellen’s dialect test Ellen’s dialect test

SOUTHERN SOUTHERN

BOSTON BOSTON

ENGLISH/ BRITISH ENGLISH/ BRITISH

BRONX/ BRONX/ NEW YORK

CANADIAN CANADIAN

HAWAIIAN HAWAIIAN

An individual in a narrative (can be a major/primary or minor/secondary character) Character Character

The main character in a work of fiction that the reader like to see succeed. Often goes through some type of change throughout the piece Protagonist Protagonist

Opposes the main character; often viewed as the “villain” Antagonist Antagonist

This type of character shows many different traits and develops and grows throughout the story Dynamic/round Dynamic/round

A character that does not change throughout the story Static/flat Static/flat

An ordinary, unoriginal character who is representative of a larger group of people Stereotype Stereotype Ex: The dumb blonde Ex: The dumb blondeThe dumb blondeThe dumb blonde

Reoccurring characters, themes, images, and symbolic situations in literature: Archetype Archetype

A character who represents the opposite of another character Foil Foil “The Odd Couple” “The Odd Couple” “The Odd Couple” “The Odd Couple”

The reason that explains or partially explains why a character thinks, feels, acts, or behaves a certain way Motivation Motivation

This type of characterization occurs when the author directly states a character's traits Direct characterization Direct characterization In the movie Mean Girls, other characters DIRECTLY tell us about the “popular” girls at school In the movie Mean Girls, other characters DIRECTLY tell us about the “popular” girls at schoolMean GirlsMean Girls

This type of characterization occurs when an author shows a character's personality through his/her actions and thoughts, but does not directly tell us about the character his/herself Indirect Indirect

A narrator that tells the story and is also part of the action 1 st person point of view 1 st person point of view Forest Gump Forest Gump Forest Gump Forest Gump

An “all knowing” narrator that knows the thoughts and feelings of more than one character 3 rd person omniscient point of view 3 rd person omniscient point of view

A narrator that tells us only the actions of the characters or lonely the thoughts and feelings of one character 3 rd person limited 3 rd person limited

An author’s individual writing style or point of viewstylepoint of view Author’s style/voice Author’s style/voice Ex: Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout’s first person narration has a distinct childlike voice which clearly matures by the end of the novel. Ex: Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout’s first person narration has a distinct childlike voice which clearly matures by the end of the novel.

Reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work or work of art: Allusion Allusion The three most commonly alluded to works are: The three most commonly alluded to works are: Shakespeare, the Bible, and mythology Shakespeare, the Bible, and mythology

A comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from itcomparison Analogy Analogy Metaphors and similes are tools used to draw analogies Metaphors and similes are tools used to draw analogies The lines below were taken from George Orwell’s narrative essay “A Hanging”: “They crowded very close about him, with their hands always on him in a careful, caressing grip, as though all the while feeling him to make sure he was there. It was like men handling a fish which is still alive and may jump back into the water.”

A short and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point and make readers and listeners laugh Anecdote Anecdote Anecdote

The style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer. Diction Diction Ex: Using “ye” instead of “you” creates a more formal diction Ex: Using “ye” instead of “you” creates a more formal diction

An expression that cannot be understood from the literal meanings of its words Idiom Idiom Ex: I put my foot in my mouth Ex: I put my foot in my mouth Ex: There's a frog in my throat. Ex: There's a frog in my throat. Ex: My dad has a green thumb. Ex: My dad has a green thumb. Ex: You're barking up the wrong tree. Ex: You're barking up the wrong tree.

A humorous effect is produced by using a word that suggests two or more meanings or by exploiting similar sounding words having different meanings. Pun – Mrs. Janiga’s FAVORITE! Pun – Mrs. Janiga’s FAVORITE!

A form of language that has no formal metrical structure. It applies a natural flow of speech, and ordinary grammatical structure rather than rhythmic structure Prose Prose

A category or type of literature, poetry, prose, or drama Genre Genre What are some genres of literature that you can think of? What are some genres of literature that you can think of?

Words or expressions with a meaning different from the literal interpretation. Figurative language/figure of speech Figurative language/figure of speech

A comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as" Simile Simile

A direct comparison between two unlike things (does NOT use the words "like" or "as" Metaphor Metaphor Will Ferrell uses a metaphor to describe how he feels… Will Ferrell uses a metaphor to describe how he feels… Will Ferrell uses a metaphor to describe how he feels… Will Ferrell uses a metaphor to describe how he feels…

Giving human qualities to inanimate/nonhuman things Personification Personification Example: Animal Farm Example: Animal Farm

Descriptive words/phrases (especially applying to the five senses) Imagery Imagery

Extreme exaggeration Hyperbole Hyperbole Hyperbole