narrative poetry
Tells a story or recounts events. Like a short story or a novel, this has the following elements: plot, characters, setting, and theme.
speaker
the voice that "talks" to the reader, similar to the narrator in fiction
rhyme
the occurrence of similar or identical sounds at the end of two or more words, such as suite, heat, and complete
repetition
a technique in which a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis or unity
alliteration
the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
stanza
a group of two or more lines that form a unit in a poem, comparable to a paragraph in prose
plot
The sequence of events in a story
exposition
the first stage of a plot in a typical story; provides important background information and introduces the setting and the important characters.
rising action
the stage in a plot in which the conflict develops and story events build toward a climax. During this stage, complications arise that make the conflict more intense.
climax
the point of maximum interest or tension. Usually a turning point in the story
falling action
follows the climax and shows the results of the important action that happened at the climax. Tension eases; however, the final outcome of the story is not yet worked out
internal conflict
character's struggle against him or herself
external conflict
a character pitted against an outside force, such as nature, a physical obstacle, or another character
complications
an additional factor or problem introduced into the rising action of a story to make the conflict more difficult
flashback
an account of a conversation, an episode, or an event that happened before the beginning of a story
foreshadowing
a writer's use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in a story
situational irony
a contrast between what a reader or character expects and what actually exists or happens
verbal irony
someone knowingly exaggerates or says one thing and means another
dramatic irony
the reader or viewer knows something that a character does not know
biography
the true account of a person's life, written by another person
author's purpose
writer's reason for writing: to express thoughts or feelings, to inform or explain, to persuade, to entertain
suspense
the excitement or tension that readers feel as they wait to find out how a story ends or a conflict is resolved
characterization
The way a writer creates and develops characters' personalities
motivation
The reason for a character's behavior
direct characterization
a writer's comments expressing a character's personality or nature; "tells" the reader what the character is like
indirect characterization
a writer's technique that reveals a character's personality of nature through speech, thoughts, actions, etc; "shows" the reader what the character is like
STEAL
an acronym for remembering the methods of indirect characterization
autobiography
a writer's account of his or her own life. In almost every case, it is told from the first-person point of view
point of view
the method of narration used in a short story, novel, narrative poem, or work of nonfiction
1st person
a point of view; the narrator is a character in the story; revealing pronouns include "I" "my" "we
3rd person omniscient
all-knowing point of view; the narrator sees into the minds of all the characters
3rd person limited
a point of view; the narrator tells what only one character thinks, feels, and observes
setting
the time and place in which the action occurs
imagery
vivid descriptions that recreate sensory experiences for
readers
visual
imagery that appeals to sight
auditory
imagery that appeals to sound
gustatory
imagery that appeals to taste
tactile
imagery that appeals to touch
olfactory
imagery that appeal to sense of smell
mood
the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader
tone
the attitude a writer takes takes toward a subject