Allusion
a reference to another work of literature, person, or event
Static Character
a character that does not change from the beginning of the story to the end
Dynamic Character
A character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the story's action
Internal Conflict
a struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions within a single character
External Conflict
a problem or struggle between a character and someone or something outside of the character
Dialect
the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people
Setting
The time and place of a story
Exposition
introduces the characters, setting, and basic situation
Rising Action
A series of events that builds from the conflict. It begins with the inciting force and ends with the climax.
Climax
Most exciting moment of the story; turning point
Falling Action
events after the climax, leading to the resolution
Flashback
a scene or event from the past that appears in a narrative out of chronological order, to fill in information or explain something in the present
Foreshadow
gives clues that suggest what might happen in the future
Inference
logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience
Situational Irony
occurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected
Verbal Irony
A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant
Dramatic Irony
when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't
First Person Point of View
the narrator is a character in the story and used words like I, me, we
Second Person Point of View
The narrator tells the story using the pronouns "You", "Your," and "Yours" to address a reader or listener directly
Third Person Point of View
narrator outside the story sees the world through one character's eyes and reveals only that character's thoughts.
Protagonist
the main character in a literary work
Symbol
something that stands for or represents something else
Theme
The main idea of the story
Tone
The attitude of the author toward the audience and characters
Noun
a person, place, thing, or idea
Pronoun
a word that takes the place of a noun
Verb
A word that expresses action or state of being
Adjective
Describes or modifies a noun or pronoun
Adverb
A word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb
Preposition
word used to show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to some other word in the sentence. Examples: in, under, near, behind, to, from, over
Conjunction
The part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences.
Interjection
an exclamation; an interruption
Direct Object
noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb; tells who or what receives the action; example: Bobby loved his PARENTS.
Indirect Object
comes after the verb, but before the direct object. Names the person or thing that receives something, or for which something is done.
Object of Preposition
the noun, pronoun, phrase, or clause to which the preposition refers
Predicate Nominative
a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject
Predicate Adjective
an adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject of a sentence; includes forms of taste, look, feel, smell, appear, seem
Simple Sentence
one independent clause
Compound Sentence
two or more independent clauses
Complex Sentence
A sentence that includes one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Compound-Complex Sentence
two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses
Alliteration
the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
Apostrophe
a technique by which a writer addresses an inanimate object, an idea, or a person who is either dead or absent.
Couplet
Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme
Didactic Poem
a poem which is intended primarily to teach a lesson
Extended Metaphor
a metaphor which extends over several lines or an entire poem
Metaphor
a figure of speech comparing to unlike things without using like or as
Simile
a comparison of two unlike things using like or as
Irony
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
Free Verse
consists of lines of poetry that do not have a regular rhythm and do not rhyme
Imagery
language that appeals to the senses
Hyperbole
an exaggeration
Narrative Poem
a poem that tells a story and has a plot
Onomatopoeia
a word that imitates the sound it represents
Oxymoron
A figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms
Personification
A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes
Quatrain
a stanza or group of four lines of poetry
Refrain
a regularly repeated line or group of lines in a poem or song
Stanza
a group of lines in a poem
Understatement
a figure of speech that consists of saying less than one means, or of saying what one means with less force than the occasion warrants
impasse
a problem or predicament with no obvious resolution
wunderkind
one who excels in a difficult field at an early age
acumen
ability to discern or discriminate; shrewdness
nanotechnology
the use of single atoms and molecules to construct microscopic devices
notarize
to certify legally
piquant
a strong, stimulating taste
malodorous
having an offensive odor
pungent
a sharp taste; acrid
erroneous
incorrect; mistaken
concurrent
happening at the same time
negligible
of little importance; insignificant
renege
to break a promise or obligation; to revoke
precept
a rule of action; a principle to live by
visage
a face; a facial expression
irrevocable
impossible to retract or revoke; irreversible
confute
to argue or point out error
meritorious
deserving of an award or honor
mezzanine
the lowest balcony in a theater; a partial story between main stories in a building
tribulation
an affliction, trouble, or difficult experience
recumbent
resting or lying down
dynasty
a succession of rulers from the same family or group
purport
to claim; to have or to give the false impression of being
forte
an area of expertise or strength
kleptomania
a continual urge to steal regardless of economic motive
renown
state of being well known and honored; fame
ineffable
too sacred or great to be described; indescribable
fortitude
strength in adversity
botch
to ruin through clumsiness; to bungle
perennial
lasting indefinitely
brinkmanship
pushing dangerous situations to the edge of disaster rather than conceding