idiom
An expression that cannot be understood if taken literally. Ex: He made me start off on the wrong foot.
alliteration
Repetition of initial consonant sounds throughout sentence. Ex: Dill reduced Dracula to dust . . .
exposition
Introduces the characters, settings, and opening situations of a story. Ch. 1
personification
An animal or an object is given human characteristics. Ex: The remains of a picket drunkenly guarded the front yard. . .
dramatic irony
When the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience, but not by the characters in the play. Ex: "Miss Caroline, he's a Cunningham." - we know what it means, she doesn't
situational irony
An outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected. Ex:"Miss Caroline told me to tell my father not to teach me anymore. It would interfere with my reading.
allusion
A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. Ex: "Thus we began to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans . . .
euphemism
A more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable. Ex: The Haverfords had dispatched Maycomb's leading blacksmith . . .
hyperbole
An extreme exaggeration. Ex: He was a year my senior but I towered over him.
simile
A comparison of two unlike things, usually using like or as. Ex: She eats like a bird.
metaphor
A comparison between two unlike things. Ex: Summer was on the way . . . Summer was Dill.
theme/stated theme
Lesson or main idea the author wants you to learn and apply to life. Ex: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.
foreshadowing
Hints at coming events. Ex: ". . . but you'll see - school's different.
diction
The way a person speaks - tells information on where the person if from and other insights. Ex: "Recon I have . . . et them pecans - folks say he pizened 'em and put 'em . . .
ad populum fallacy
a lie repeated that some people believe and others begin to believe. Ex: " . . . although the culprit was crazy Addie . . . people still looked at the Radley Place, unwilling to discard their initial suspicions.