imagery
visually descriptive or figurative language that makes word pictures appealing to the senses
plot
the sequence of events in a story
foreshadowing
author's use of clues or hints to prepare readers for something to happen later in the story
alliteration
repetition of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words
onomatopoeia
use of a word that imitates or suggests the sound of what it describes
metaphor
direct comparison of two seemingly unlike things
personification
giving human characteristics to an object, idea or force of nature
conflict
central problem, tension, or struggle between two opposing forces in a story
protagonist
central character around whom the main conflict revolves
simile
direct comparison of two seemingly unlike things using "like" or "as
climax
a story's highest point of emotional tension, suspense, or interest
allusion
reference to a well-known character, place or situation from history or from music, art or another story
theme
central message, insight, or "big idea" of a story
antagonist
a person or force that opposes the central character of a story
setting
time and place of the action of a story
irony
a contrast between expectation and reality
narrator
a person who tells a story
point of view
the standpoint from which a story is told
diction
a writer's choice of words
characterization
the methods a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character
direct characterization
writer makes explicit statements about a character or reveals that character's personality through the explicit words or thoughts of other characters in the story
indirect characterization
writer reveals character's personality through character's words, thoughts, and actions
flashback
an interruption in the chronological order of a narrative to describe an event that happened earlier or in the past
voice
the distinct use of language that conveys an author's personality to the reader and is determined by elements of style such as word choice and tone
denouement
the French word for resolution of a story
situational irony
the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected
dramatic irony
audience or reader knows information that the characters do not
verbal irony
person says one thing and means another
tone
an author's attitude toward his or her subject matter
mood
the emotional effect a literary work has on the reader
Pronouns
words that take the place of a noun
Interjections
words that show excitement or emotion but are unrelated to any other part of the sentence
Conjunctions
words that connect other words, phrases, and clauses
Adverbs
words that provide more details about (describe or modify) verbs, adjectives and other adverbs
Nouns
words that name people, places, or things
Prepositions
words that describe relationships between different nouns or pronouns in a phrase or that clarify the action of a verb
Verbs
words that represent the action or state of being of the subject of a sentence
Prepositional phrase
a group of words that begin with a preposition and end with a noun
Adjectives
words used to modify or describe nouns or pronouns
Articles
the three words used to refer to a specific or non-specific noun (generally not listed separately as one of the eight parts of speech; function similar to an adjective)
Linking Verbs
a verb that expresses being, sensing, feeling, or thinking
Concrete nouns
nouns that can be directly experienced with the senses
Abstract nouns
nouns that are intangible or can only be experienced through thoughts or feelings
Dependent clause
a part of a sentence that has a verb and a subject but cannot stand on its own
Independent clause
a part of a sentence that has at least one verb (predicate) and one subject and contains a complete thought all by itself
Simple subject
when only one noun or pronoun (without any of its modifiers) performs the action of the predicate.
Complete subject
contains the simple subject and all the words that modify that noun or pronoun
Predicate
The main verb or verb phrase in a sentence, which describes the action of the sentence's subject.
Simple sentence
A sentence that is made up solely of one independent clause. (The independent clause may contain either a simple or compound subject, and either a simple or compound predicate.)
Compound subject
when more than one noun or pronoun performs the actions of the same predicate.
Compound predicate
when the subject of a sentence performs the actions of more than one verb (or predicate).
Simple predicate
when only one verb (without any of its modifiers) expresses the action of the subject of a sentence.
Compound sentence
A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses and no dependent clauses.
Complex sentence
A sentence that contains at least one independent clause AND at least one dependent clause.
Adjective clauses
groups of words (containing both a subject and a verb) that modify a noun or pronoun in a sentence and begin with a relative pronoun (such as "that," "which," "who," "whose," or "whom").