WORDS TO KNOW Literary Terms

SUSPENSE The uncertainty or anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next in a story.

Characterization The process of revealing the personality of a character. Direct characterization: we are told directly what the character is like. Ex: Jason was a mean, greedy man. Indirect characterization: we use our own judgment to decide what a character is like, based on evidence. Ex: Ms. Martin gave each of the students fifty dollars.

foreshadowing The use of clues to hint at events that will happen later in the text

IRONY Contrast between expectations and reality – between what appears to be true and what is really true. 3 TYPES Situational – We expect one thing to happen, and the opposite actually occurs. Dramatic – We know something a character in the story doesn’t. Verbal – We say one thing, but mean the opposite.

“Ironic” by Atlantis Morissette An old man turned ninety-eight He won the lottery and died the next day It's a black fly in your Chardonnay It's a death row pardon two minutes too late And isn't it ironic... don't you think It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought... it figures Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye He waited his whole damn life to take that flight And as the plane crashed down he thought "Well isn't this nice..." And isn't it ironic... don't you think It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought... it figures

“Ironic” by Atlantis Morissette Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you When you think everything's okay and everything's going right And life has a funny way of helping you out when You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up In your face A traffic jam when you're already late A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife It's meeting the man of my dreams And then meeting his beautiful wife And isn't it ironic...don't you think A little too ironic...and, yeah, I really do think... It's like rain on your wedding day It's a free ride when you've already paid It's the good advice that you just didn't take Who would've thought... it figures Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out Helping you out

CONNOTATION All of the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests.  Skinny vs. Slender  Unattractive vs. ugly  Cute vs. beautiful  Car vs. jalopy

DENOTATION The dictionary meaning of the word.

SATIRE Any kind of writing, speaking, or art that ridicules or mocks some weakness in individuals or society. The main weapon is laughter.

Did I Miss Anything? By Tom Wayman Nothing. When we realized you weren’t here we sat with our hands folded on our desks in silence, for the full two hours Everything. I gave an exam worth 40 percent of the grade for this term and assigned some reading due today on which I’m about to hand out a quiz worth 50 percent Nothing. None of the content of this course has value or meaning Take as many days off as you like: any activities we undertake as a class I assure you will not matter either to you or me and are without purpose

Did I Miss Anything? By Tom Wayman Everything. A few minutes after we began last time a shaft of light suddenly descended and an angel or other heavenly being appeared and revealed to us what each woman or man must do to attain divine wisdom in this life and the hereafter This is the last time the class will meet before we disperse to bring the good news to all people on earth. Nothing. When you are not present how could something significant occur? Everything. Contained in this classroom is a microcosm of human experience assembled for you to query and examine and ponder This is not the only place such an opportunity has been gathered but it was one place And you weren’t here

What does this mean? The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Symbol Object, action, or person used to represent itself as well as something else

Parable A story that contains a moral

literal Conforming to the exact or primary meaning of a word or words

figurative Words or groups of words that exaggerate or alter the usual meaning Ex: The ground is thirsty. Ex: My soul began to quiver.

motif Incidents, ideas, or images that occur again and again in a work

personification Giving a nonhuman thing or quality human characteristics