English 10 Provincial Terms & Definitions
Allusion
A casual reference to something without mentioning it explicitly
Dynamic Character
A character who encounters a conflict and undergoes a significant or lasting change in some aspect of their personality, attitude, character or behavior
Oxymoron
A figure of speech that combines two words with opposite meanings to convey emotions
Contrast
A juxtaposition or comparison showing striking differences
Genre
A kind of style especially of art or literature (like science fiction)
Epic Poem
A long poem that is often about a neurotic character; the style is elevated and the poetry often represents religious or cultural ideas
Euphemism
A mild of indirect word expression for one too harsh of blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
Crisis
A moment of intense conflict leading up to the climax
Character
A person in a novel, play, ect.
Cliche
A phrase of an idea which is used so often it is no longer interesting, effective of relevant.
Elegy
A poem or song composed especially as a lament for a deceased person.
Conflict
A situation involving serious disagreement or argument; A state of mind in which a person experiences a clash of opposing wishes or needs - Character vs. Character (ext) - Character vs. Self (int) - Character vs.Environment (ext) - Character vs.Supernatural or Fate (int/ext) - Character vs.Technology (ext) - Character vs.Society (int/ext)
Narrative
A spoken or written account of events in order of happening
Description
A spoken or written representation (of a person, object, or event)
First Person P.O.V.
A way of a novel, film, ect. as if one of the characters is telling the story using the word "I"
Epithelium
An ancient lyric poem honoring a bride and her groom
Epiphany
An experience of sudden and striking realization; generally the term is used to describe breakthrough, scientific, religious, or philosophical discoveries, but it can apply in any situation in which an enlightening realization allows a problem or situation to be understood from a new and deeper perspective.
Connotation
An idea or feeling which a word evokes for a person in addition to it's literal or primary meaning
Antagonist
An opponent or adversary; the protagonist's rival
Colloquial
Belonging to or proper to ordinary or familiar language
Dialogue
Conversation in written form especially between characters in a novel, play, ect.
Lyric
Expresses the private emotions or thoughts of the writer; sonnets, odes, and elegies are all classified as lyric poems
Consonance
In a line of poetry a constant letter of cluster of letters that is repeated for emphasis
Imagery
Language that produces pictures in that minds of people reading or listening
Refrain
Lines of poetry that are repeated at regular intervals in a poem; can be one line or even a single word
Irony
Occurs when what takes place contrasts with what was expected or seems appropriate.
Flat Character
Opposite of a round character, this literary personality is notable for one kind of personality trait or character.
Bias
Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, especially in a way considered to be unfair.
Symbol
Something that stands for or represents something else; characters, objects, events, and settings can all be symbols
Mood
The emotional environment created by the author
Denotation
The meaning or signification of a term, as distinct from it's implications or connotations
Round Character
The most recognizable type of character as he or she is realistic and portrays several believable traits
Stanza
The pattern of lines that makes up a unit of a poem; can be referred to as the poems "paragraph"
Audience
The people addressed to by a film, book, ect.
Atmosphere
The pervading tone or mood of a place, situation, or written work; especially with reference to the feelings or emotions evoked
Rhyme
The repetition of accented vowel sound and all succeeding sounds in important or importantly positioned words
Objective P.O.V.
The third person narrator relates only what we can see and hear, without giving access to the thoughts and feelings of any of the characters
Blank Verse
Verse that does not rhyme, generally written in iambic pentameter
Personification
When human characteristics are given to non-human subjects of things
Chronological Order
When something is arranged or considered in order of their occurrence.
Aside
Words spoken in a play for the audience to hear, but not supposed to be heard by other characters
Character Foil
a character who is on contrast with another (usually a minor character who helps set off a major character); their purpose is to illuminate one or more of the significant traits, attitudes, or actions of a main character
Stereotyped Character
a character who possesses one or two easily recognized and identified traits which enable the observer to accurately predict behavior and personality, i.e., the dumb blonde, the town drunk: a figure differentiated by role rather than by psychology
Simile
a comparison made between two unlike things using the connecting words like, as, or then
Exposition; Expository
a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory; intended to explain or describe something.
Tragedy
a dramatic composition, often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction
Metaphor
a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something in common
Sarcasm
a form of irony where apparent praise is used to convey strong, bitter criticism
Satire
a form of written work or art that uses irony or sarcasm to ridicule an idea, person, or thing. The idea behind satire is to expose human flaws, often to provoke change
Comedy
a play, film, ect. of an amusing or satirical character, usually with a happy ending
Ballad
a poem that tells a story similar to a folk tale or legend, usually has a repeated refrain; ballads are often sung
Didactic Poem
a poem written to instruct or inform
Sonnet
a poem, properly expressive of a single, complete thought, idea, or sentiment, of 14 lines, usually in iambic pentameter, with rhymes arranged according to one of certain definite schemes
Suspense
a state or condition of mental uncertainty or excitement, as in awaiting a decision or outcome, usually accompanied by a degree of apprehension or anxiety
Image
a word or phrase that describes something in an imaginative way
Paradox
an apparently absurd of contradictory statement that, upon closer reflection, has truth to it
Foreshadowing
an event that is an indication or sign of later events
Hyperbole
an extravagant exaggeration often made for dramatic or even comedic purposes.
Euphony
harmonious or beautiful sounds that a poet creates with words or combinations of words that are pleasing to the ear.
Figurative Language
language employing figures of speech; language that cannot be taken literally or only literally
Rhythm
refers to the pattern of stresses and pauses in spoken language
Omniscient P.O.V.
reveals the minds of several or all of the characters, knows and tells all from a God-like perspective "outside" the story
Static Character
someone who does not change over time, their personality does not transform or evolve
Understatement
the act or an instance of understating, or representing in a weak or restrained way that is not borne out by the facts:
Climax
the event or point of highest intensity - the fortunes change for the protagonist
Resolution
the final stage in the plot where all the loose ends are tied up
Theme
the general meaning or insight behind a literary work
Protagonist
the main character who must meet and overcome the struggle or conflict in the story
Alliteration
the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent of closely connected words
Rhyme Scheme
the pattern of rhymes used in a poem, usually marked by letters to symbolize correspondences
Point of view
the perspective from which the author tells a story
Rising action
the place in the plot where conflicts are introduced and developed
Flashback
the presentation of an event or situation that occurred before the time in which the work's action takes place
plot
the sequence of events in a literary work. The structure usually consists of exposition, rising action, crisis, climax, falling action, and resolution
Tone
the speaker's attitude toward his or her subject matter
Setting
the time and place in which a story takes place
Onomatopoeia
the use of a word whose sound in some degree imitates or suggests it's meaning
Indirect presentation
the writer presents the character in action, allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions about the personality of that character
Direct Presentation
the writer tells readers what kind of personality the character possesses rather than allowing the character to show his or her personality and allow readers to draw their own conclusions
Limited Omniscient P.O.V.
third person narrator who gives the reader access to the thoughts and feelings of only one character, usually the protagonist
Persuasion; persuasive
to move by argument, entreaty, or expostulation to a belief, position, or course of action; able, fitted, or intended to persuade
Narration
to recount or relate a story, events, experiences, ect.
Falling Action
tries to bring resolution to major conflicts
Free Verse
verse that does not follow a conventional pattern or a rhyme scheme
Jargon
words or expressions used by a particular group or profession
