Literary Terms #3

VocabularyIs

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imagery

genre

dialect

mood

personification

hyperbole

understatement

alliteration

theme

onomatopoeia

author’s purpose

tone

imagery

Definition: when an author uses certain words or phrases to describe something in a way that appeals to the reader’s senses.

“The Pond “ by Amy Lowell

Cold, wet leaves (sense of touch)Floating on moss-colored water, (sense of sight)And the croaking of frogs (sense of hearing)Cracked bell-notes in the twilight. (sense of hearing)

genredefinition : a category of literature

sounds like “jhan- ruh” (it is a soft “j” sound like the one heard in Angelina Jolie’s last name –sounds French)

biography (n.): a story about a person’s life written by another person

autobiography (n.): a story about a person’s life written by that same person

poetry (n.): writing designed to convey experiences, ideas, or emotions often written in meter and using rhyme

fantasy (n.): a type of writing describing supernatural elements or events that couldn’t really happen

dialect

Definition: a language that is specific to a certain group of people

Even though English is the native language of America, not all Americans speak the same dialect. For example, in places like New Orleans some people speak the Cajun dialect, which can be difficult to understand.

moodDefinition: the general atmosphere that a

writer creates

Writer Edgar Alan Poe usually created a mood that was depressing, mysterious, and suspenseful in his short stories.

personification

Definition: a writing technique in which nonhuman things are given human qualities

Example: Jared’s history book seemed to be staring at him and calling his name. “Read me, Jared.”

hyperbole Definition: an extreme exaggeration

Example: When my mom saw all A’s on my report card, her jaw dropped to the ground.

understatement

definition: the opposite of a hyperbole; a statement that shows restraint

Example: This morning Chelsie woke up late for school, missed the bus, forgot her homework at home, and forgot to eat breakfast. I guess she’s having a bad day.

alliterationdefinition: the repetition of sounds

at the beginning of words

Example: Sam ate a super salami sandwich on the sofa while watching the Steelers game.

themedefinition: the general idea

that the author wants the reader to understand

The theme of the short story was that honesty is the best policy.

onomatopoeia

definition: use of words such as buzz or pop that imitate the sounds they refer to

Examples: Bam! Pop! Buzz!

author’s purposedefinition: an author’s reason for writingThere are several purposes that an author can

have when writing.For example:

writing to inform (news stories)writing to entertain (scary story,

poem, novel)writing to teach (“how to” books,

recipes)writing to persuade (letter to the

editor, movie review)

tonedefinition: the attitude the writer

takes toward his/her subject

The writer’s tone in the movie

review was very negative.