Literary TermsVERY Important Terms

Take notes as we move along

there will be a test on these terms.

Use your READING NOTEBOOKS!!

Set # 1

Characters character- a person who is

responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature. Characters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of literature. Every character has his or her own personality, which a creative author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a mood.

Dialogue• dialogue -The conversation between

characters in a drama or narrative. A dialogue occurs in most works of literature.

• “Stop screaming at me,” cried Jean.

• “I’m not screaming, I’m just talking loudly,” replied Paul.

Antagonist• antagonist:  is a character in a story or

poem who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character, or protagonist in some way. The antagonist doesn’t necessarily have to be an person. It could be death, the devil, an illness, or any challenge that prevents the main character from living “happily ever after.“ Could be a weather, like a tornado too.

Protagonist• Protagonist- A protagonist is considered

to be the main character or lead figure in a novel, play, story, or poem.  It may also be referred to as the "hero" of a work. We seem to want to see them succeed.

Flat and Static• Think of a flat character as flat—

unchanging- no grand personality changes or growth throughout the story

• Think of static –as staying the same---some slight changes but nothing real major

• They are characters who remain the same throughout the story—not a lot changes with them--they are consistently the same

Round or Dynamic• There are lots of dimensions and details

given by the author for these types of characters—usually main characters

• Think of dynamite—the characters explode—not literally– but are a big part of the story— we see them grow and change

• Main or most important characters in the story—lots of detail is known about them

Personification• personification {PER-son-E-fih-ka-shEn): A

figure of speech where animals, ideas or inorganic objects are given human characteristics.

• One example of this is James Stephens’s poem "The Wind" in which wind performs several actions. In the poem Stephens writes, “The wind stood up and gave a shout. He whistled on his two fingers.” Of course the wind did not actually "stand up," but this image of the wind creates a vivid picture of the wind's wild actions

Flashbacks• flashback (flash-BAK): “an interruption of the

chronological sequence (as of a film or literary work) of an event of earlier occurrence” A flashback is a narrative technique that allows a writer to present past events during current events, in order to provide background for the current narration. By giving material that occurred prior to the present event, the writer provides the reader with insight into a character's motivation and or background to a conflict.

• Ex. An event that happened when this girl was say 8 years old, she is now 25, that event still has an impact on her life as an adult. Flashback to that event as an 8 year old.

Foreshadowing: hints about events that will occur further on in a story. Hints may appear in dialogue or narration. In a movie it may be a quick thing a character did or said that is our hint.Foreshadowing is used to develop plots, set a mood of intrigue & suspense, & to prepare the reader for what is to come.

Foreshadowing

Genre• Genre: a category of literature

• The four major literary genres are non-fiction, fiction, poetry, & drama

• Specific genres: mysteries, science fiction, epic poems, melodramas, historical fiction, essays, realistic fiction & comic dramas

Literary Terms # 210 new terms

Copy into your RN

1. Denotation 2. Connotation

• Denotation: The dictionary definition of a word– Example: The word “America” indicates the

country south of Canada & north of Mexico

• Connotation: The thoughts, feelings, & images associated with a word– Example: The word “America” suggests or

implies freedom, individualism, & opportunity

3. Hyperbole

• Hyperbole: obvious exaggeration used to emphasize a point or add excitement & humor to a story– Example: I could sleep for a year. Or This

book weighs a ton.

4. Idiom

• Idiom: an expression that has a figurative meaning; meaning different from what the words actually say

• Example: “under the weather”, “raining cats & dogs”.

5. Imagery

• Imagery: words or phrases that appeal to the five senses & conjure up mental images.

• Imagery helps readers imagine the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, & feelings associated with a character’s or author’s experiences.– Example: Paul started up from the seat where he

had lain curled in uneasy slumber, rubbed the breath-misted window-glass with his hand, and peered out. The snow was whirling in curling eddies above the white bottom lands, and the drifts lay already deep in the fields and along the fences while here and there the tall dead grass and dried weed-stalks protruded black above it.

6. Metaphor 7. Simile

• Metaphor: a comparison of two unlike things that uses no connecting words.

Example: The road was a ribbon of moonlight.

• Simile: a comparison between two seemingly unrelated things, using connecting words such as: like, as, or seems in comparison– Example: Mary’s smile is like the sun.

8. Oxymoron 9. Paradox

• Oxymoron: a two or three word phrase that contains opposite word or ideas.– Example: jumbo shrimp, deafening silence

• Paradox: a paradox pits contradictory ideas against one another, so that a statement appears to be untrue but actually is not– Example: “standing is more tiring than walking” – Another Definition of Paradox –

– Paradox is a statement or situation containing apparently contradictory or incompatible elements but upon closer inspection might be true.

Examples of oxymoron

• "That building is a little bit big and pretty ugly."

• the expressions: "act naturally," "found missing," "alone together," "peace force," "terribly pleased," "ill health," "jumbo shrimp," “a working vacation," "small crowd," and "clearly misunderstood"

Examples of Paradox

• "The swiftest traveler is he that goes afoot." • "War is peace."• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of

times.” • "Ignorance is strength."• Less is more• Cowards die many times before their deaths.• *What a pity that youth must be wasted on

the young.

10. Symbol

• Symbol: something that stands for something abstract. It may be a person, place, thing, or action. It may stand for an idea, belief, feeling or attitude.

• A symbol keeps its own meaning while also standing for something else.

• Example: the eagle is a symbol of the United States, our flag, a cross, folded hands, butterflies, or the Nike Swoosh

Lit. Terms #3Copy these terms into your

Reading Notebook

1. theme• In literature, a theme is a broad idea in a

story, or a message or lesson conveyed by a work. This message is usually about life, society or human nature.

2. mood• The atmosphere or feeling in a selection.

• Examples—happiness, peacefulness, fear, suspense

3. onomatopoeia• The use of a word whose sound suggests

its meaning, as in clang, buzz, twang, crackle, flush, whoosh

4. tone• The author’s attitude toward a topic. It is

created by the author’s use of words—it may be serious, humorous, irritation, or anger etc..

5. Author’s Purpose• The reason WHY the story or selection

was written.

• Three main purposes are to inform, to persuade, or to entertain.

6. sarcasm• Is the use of praise to mock someone or something• EXAMPLES• When something bad has happened: “This is just great", or

“That was just perfect". • In response to a bad joke: “That's just so funny, I almost

forgot to laugh", or laughter-"Ha. Ha. Ha. NOT." • When a boring statement has been made: "Wow, great,

neat idea!" • When someone has thoroughly botched something: "Great

job, could you do that again!" or "Congratulations, well done!"

• When somebody accuses another of something bad/wrong: "Do I get bonus points if I act like I care?"

7. stereotype• Is a form that does not change. A

stereotyped character has no individuality and fits the mold of that particular kind of person

• For example: Girls should be stay-at-home moms, teachers, or nurses

• Drunks are bums and worthless

• Girls aren’t suppose to be construction workers

8. style• How the author uses words, phrases, and

sentences to form his or her ideas. • Style is also thought of as the qualities and

characteristics that distinguish one writer from another. The words and “style” that make them unique.

• Think of Edgar Allen Poe as opposed to the author of “Charles”

9. diction• An author’s choice of words based on the

correctness, clearness or effectiveness

• Word choices can be very formal, slang, vulgarity/ profanity, normal conversation tones etc

10. characterization• Is the method an author uses to reveal

characters and their personalities

• Tom is somewhat careless about his clothes.• Tom is glad to be home. • Tom is happy to see his family.

11. IronyIrony is a literary device which presents a conflict between appearance and reality; may be intentional or unintentional on the part of a character, but always intentional on the part of the author.

Romeo and Juliet has a classic example of dramatic irony... The audience knows that Juliet only drank a sleeping potion and is not dead. This knowledge makes Romeo's suicide over the sleeping Juliet all the more bitter.

OAT TEST WORDS

Analyze

To think about the different parts of a problem or situation to figure

out the traits of the whole

Compare

• To look at traits or qualities to find out what is alike and what is different.

• “Compare” usually states as “compared with”, to locate similarities.

Describe

To present a thought or an idea such as noting changes taking

place over time.

Evaluate

• To determine the value of something for a given purpose based on certain standards or criteria

• Explaining the pros, cons and/or results of a decision.

Explain*To make clear or give reason for something*explaining factors that cause a certain kind of reaction

Formulate

• To express a thought or an idea based on the review of information

• Coming up with a category to organize what seems to be objects or events that are not alike.

Infer

• To extend information beyond what is directly stated

• Extracting data from a graph

Predict

• To use what is already known to make a statement about what will happen in the future.

Summarize

• To condense information

• Stating the main points of an argument

Support

• To show evidence to back a conclusion or argument

• Citing people with similar points of view

Trace• To describe a path or sequence

• To explain the chronology of events