plot
the sequence of events
exposition
conflicts are introduced
rising action
builds suspense and adds complications
climax
turning point, moment of highest emotional pitch or greatest suspense
falling action
action following the climax, may show the result of the conflict
resolution
denoument" (unknotting)
reveals or suggests the outcome of the conflict
character
an individual in a literary work
main characters
are central to the story and are typically fully developed
minor character
displays few personality traits and are used to help develope a story
round character
a character who shows varied and sometimes contradictory traits
flat character
a character who reveals only one personality trait
stock character
flat character of a familiar and often-repeated type (ditsy cheerleader or the dumb jock)
dynamic character
a character that changes throughout the story
static character
a character that remains the same throughout the story
setting
the time and place in which the events of a literary work occur
also includes the ideas, customs, values,a nd beliefs of the particular time and place
1st person
the narrator is a character in the story; "I, me
2nd person
the narrator reveals the thoughts, feelings, and observations of only one character; "he, she
3rd person omniscent
the narrator is not a character in the story, they know everything about the characters and the events and may reveal details that te characters themselves could not reveal; "he, she
theme
the main idea or message of a story, poem, novel, or play often expressed as a general statement about life
irony
a contrast or discrepancy between appearance and reality; or between what is expected and what actually happens
situational irony
the actual outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected
verbal irony
a person says one thing and means another
dramatic irony
the reader/ audience know something that the characters do not know
foreshadowing
an author's use of clues to prepare readers for events that will happen later in a story
characterization
the methods a writer uses to reveal the personality of character
direct characterization
the writer uses to reveal the personality of a character
indirect characterization
the writer reveals a character through that individual's words, thoughts, and actions, and through what other characters think and say about a character
imagery
the "word pictures" writers use to evoke an emotional response in readers. uses descriptions that appeal to ALL your senses
simile
a figure of speech using LIKE or AS to compare seemingly unlike things
metaphor
a figure of speech that compares or equates 2 or more things that have something in common.
doesn't use LIKE or AS
meter
a regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that gives a line of poetry a predictable rhythm. basic unit is a foot
tone
a reflection of a writers attitude toward the subject of a poem
end rhyme
occurs at the end of lines of poetry
internal rhyme
occurs within a line of poetry
approximate rhyme
occurs when words sound similar but may not actually rhyme
onomatopeia
the use of a word or phrase that imitates or suggests the sound of what it describes
alliteration
repetition of sounds most often constant sounds at the beginning of words
personification
a figure of speech in which an animal, object, force of nature, or idea is given human qualities or characteristics
assonance
repetition of sounds most often vowel sounds