ELA 30-1 Unit 1 Literary Terms

Genre

A French word that means type or form of literature. (essay, drama, p0etry, short story, novel, screen play, etc.)

Antihero

A central character who has none of the qualities traditionally associated with heroes. Willy Loman, in Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller, is an antihero.

Character

a person or player (it can also be an animal, an imaginary creature) in a story; character can also be used as a word meaning "personal traits," as in "Write a paragraph about the character of the Big Bad Wolf."

Essay

a piece of prose that expresses an individual's point of view; it is a series of closely related paragraphs that discuss a single topic. All strong essays need a clear and specific thesis statement that lets the reader know the writer's opinion and the direction he/she will take.

Allusion

a reference in one story to a well-known character or event from another story, history, or place Examples: the rise of the baseball team from last place to first was a real Cinderella story; at times teachers need the wisdom of Solomon to make decisions

Paraphrase

a restatement of an idea in such a way as to retain the meaning while changing the words and, frequently, the form.

Parable

a short descriptive story whose purpose is to illustrate a lesson or moral. "The Good Samaritan" (Luke 0: 25-37)

Episode

a small event that is part of a larger story; it can stand alone as almost a "mini-story" (events which repeat are typically called episodes) Example: In the Three Little Pigs, the wolf tries blowing down the pigs' houses in three separate episodes; he is successful the first two times but unsuccessful the last (notice that the three events are alike).

Paradox -

a statement that reveals a kind of truth although at first it seems to be self-contradictory and untrue Examples: -It was the best mistake he ever made (he learned a lot from this error). -Good fences make good neighbors (fences do separate people, but they help people get along by making boundaries clear). -The older I get, the more I know the less I know.

Circular Story

a story which begins and ends at the same place, usually following a character through different adventures or events; although the character arrives back where he/she started, he or she should now have a different perspective or feeling based upon experiences Example: A poor farmer travels to the city where he observes many expensive buildings and belongings, all owned by the same man. He is jealous of that man until he sees a funeral, and learns that the rich man is dead. Although the man was extremely wealthy, he could enjoy none of that in death. The poor farmer returns home, happy with what little he owns because he is alive to enjoy it.

Flash-Forward

a sudden jump forward in time, usually used to eliminate unnecessary events between the more interesting events of a story Example: Quietly, Janice slid the book into her backpack. A week later, the teacher asked if anyone had seen her copy of The Magic Mouse. "I've looked everywhere," she explained, "and I just can't find it."

Metaphor

a suggested comparison between two unlike things in order to point out a similarity; a metaphor DOES NOT use the word "like", "as", or "than". Example: Hot orange coals burned at the edge of the woods as the wolves watched and waited with hungry eagerness. (the wolves' eyes are compared to orange coals because of their brightness and color).

Lyric

a type of poetry marked by emotion, melody, imagination, and a unified effect.Lyrics are the words of a song. (Types: elegy, epitaph, ode, and sonnet)

Cliché - a word or phrase that is so overused it is no longer effective in most writing situations.

a word or phrase that is so overused it is no longer effective in most writing situations. Examples: "Never judge a book by its cover." "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." "Avoid clichés "like the plague." (irony intended)

Juxtaposition

an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast.

Event

an action in a story that moves the story forward; usually something happens to the main character, or the main character takes action against someone or something else

Preface

an introduction to a text written by the text's author. NOTE: If an introduction is written by a different person, then it is known as a forward.

Poetic Justice

an outcome in a story where good is rewarded, and evil is punished Example: the wolf is boiled in the pot at the end of the Three Little Pigs; good Cinderella marries the handsome prince; the lazy grasshopper suffers a hungry winter because he did not work hard like the ant to store up food

Foreshadowing

clues used to alert the reader about events that will occur later; used to build suspense Example: I laughed as we snuck out the back door. The plan had worked out perfectly. Nothing could possibly go wrong now!

Inference

conclusions which can be drawn by the reader based upon limited clues or facts presented by the author; the reader is encouraged to discover things for him/herself without being directed by the author. Example: Mark's father was surprised the following week when, all of a sudden, Mark quit begging for a dog. He began spending much more of his time out at the old barn by the creek, and had even begun to ask for seconds and thirds at suppertime.

Irony

contrast between the expected outcome and the actual way things turn out Example: In the book Holes, no one in the courtroom believes that Stanley Yelnats is innocent. Once he gets to Camp Green Lake he lies about committing the crime, but then no one there believes he is guilty! He just can't seem to win.

Alliteration

repeated consonant sound at the beginning of words or within words; used to establish mood and rhythm in a story; true alliteration has three words beginning with the same sound (two words beginning with the same sound would be called alliterative) Examples: bucking bronco; miserable morning; Bed, Bath, and Beyond

Dialogue

spoken lines between characters, set with quotation marks; each new speaker's lines appear in a new paragraph; when one person speaks for an extended time (to himself or the audience) it is called a monologue Example: "Where are you going?" Nicole asked. "To the library," replied Jeremy.

Didacticism

that quality of writing that manifests the author's desire to instruct and improve the reader.

Repetition

the author purposely repeats words or phrases; the author is trying to create rhythm or suspense, or is trying to really emphasize a certain idea.

Characterization

the creation of imaginary persons so they seem lifelike. The six elements used to create a character are: physical description, speech, thoughts/feelings, actions/reactions, what other characters say about him and possible direct comments from the narrator. The portrayal, in writing, of a person - his actions, manner of thought, personality , distinctive qualities and traits.

Connotation

the emotions and feelings that surround a word; they may be negative, neutral, or positive, depending on their context Example: He passed away in his sleep. (Instead of "he died") Think of the different connotation of each word: Cheap, Frugal, Miserly, Economical Which is negative; which is positive?

Ambiguity

the expression of an idea in such a way that more than one meaning is possible. Example: When it is announced that another baby is on the way, Father remarks, "That could create some problems." He means problems with money, but his young son thinks, "You're right, dad! I don't want to share my room and toys with anybody!"

Outcome

the last event of the story which tells how the story ends; it explains whether the main character met his/her challenge Example: "And they all lived happily ever after," is a common outcome in fairy tales.

Denotation

the literal or basic meaning of the word. The denotation of the word "died" is "to cease living."

Atmosphere

the mood or feeling evoked through descriptions of the setting and senses (how things feel, taste, smell, sound, look) Example: Camping in those woods, time went slow. The thick forest air just sat on you, hot and wet like a wool blanket, while mosquitoes droned in your ears and stung you on the back where you could never quite reach to smack them.

Climax

the most exciting moment of the story, where the main character faces his/her ultimate challenge. Example: In Cinderella, the clock begins striking twelve, and Cinderella must rush home before the handsome prince finds out her secret. That is the climax. The following day, when the prince finds her again and fits the glass slipper on her foot, is the outcome, or solution, of the story.

Archetype

the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies Examples: Story archetypes: The hero: Rescuer, champion The maiden: Purity, desire The wise old man: Knowledge, guidance The magician: Mysterious, powerful The earth mother: Nature The witch or sorceress: Dangerous The trickster: Deceiving, hidden

Point of View

the perspective from which a story is seen or told: First Person: (I and me are used; the narrator is actually a part of the story) ex. Feeling overwhelmed, I strolled into the class not knowing what to expect on my first day of class.

Conflict

the problem, or challenge, that the main character faces (and will have to solve or come to grips with by the end of the story). Example: The main character may be challenged by another character (two kids running in a race), by nature (a boy struggling to survive in the wilderness), or by him/herself (a girl who must get over her fear of speaking in front of an audience).

Pathos

the quality or power, especially in literature or speech, of arousing feelings of pity, sorrow, etc

Consonance

the repetition of two consonant sounds close together, such as "pitter patter" or the "sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain."

Form

the shape and structure of a work, as opposed to its content and substance.

Contrast

to compare two or more ideas, characters, or objects so as to show their differences. Used to provide emphasis and clarity.

Internal Rhyme

two or more words rhyme in the same line Example: I bring fresh showers to the thirsting flowers.

3. Omniscient:

(he and she are used; BUT the narrator not only lets characters speak, but can also "get inside their heads" to read their thoughts) ex. The teacher was giving himself a silent pep talk about making his first day great. Casey, who always sat by the window, glanced up and thought he looked like a pretty nice guy.

Extended metaphor

A metaphor that lasts through a whole poem, story or film. Example: The poem "Mother to Son" describes how life hasn't been a crystal stair for the speaker. Instead, it's been a broken-down, dangerous, difficult, torn-up staircase. Consider also the location and condition of Walt's car in Gran Torino.

Epiphany

A moment of revelation or illumination experienced by a character that results in an altered perception.

Catharsis

A purifying or figurative cleansing of the emotions, especially pity and fear, described by Aristotle as an effect of tragic drama on its audience. A release of emotional tension, as after an overwhelming experience, that restores or refreshes the spirit. The audience experiences catharsis at the end of the play following the catastrophe.

Oxymoron

A self-contradictory combination of words (usually paired). Example: jumbo shrimp, dear enemy, bittersweet.

Anecdote

A short narrative that tells the particulars of an interesting and/or humorous event. Example: Parents might use anecdotes as a way to teach children various safety rules.

Comedy

A type of drama in which the characters experience reversals of fortune, usually for the better. In a comedy things work out happily in the end. Comic drama may be either romantic -characterized by a tone of tolerance ad gentility-- or satiric which offers a darker vision of human nature.

Inversion

Changing the normal word order in a sentence to gain emphasis or effect. Example: Compare: I saw in a vision a damsel with a dulcimer. With: A damsel with a dulcimer, in a vision once I saw.

Analogy

a comparison of two objects that are essentially different but have at least one common quality. Analogy is often used to explain unfamiliar idea or concept in terms of a similar and familiar one. Examples: a school is like a garden, where children are lovingly raised and cared for; the rabbit shot from its hole like a rocket; the confetti fell like snow in a blizzard as the parade passed through the city streets (these three analogies are all written as similes)

Hyperbole

obvious exaggeration which is not meant to be taken literally; exaggeration for emphasis. Example: I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!

Figurative Language

Expressive language that is written to create a special effect or feeling. It is the result of the writer's deliberate departure from the usual word usage to gain strength and freshness of expression. The most common figures of speech are: antithesis, apostrophe, climax, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, personification, simile, and synecdoche.

Antithesis

opposition or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction. Example: It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.

Personification

a description in which an object (or animal, or idea, or force of nature) takes on human characteristics or actions Examples: the tornado stooped to snatch the house; the sun hid its face behind the clouds; the rain tapped against the window with its wet, insistent fingers

Allegory

Prose or verse in which the objects, events or people are presented symbolically, so that the story conveys meaning other than and deeper than the actual incident or characters described. (Fables and parables are common forms of allegories.)

Motif

Recurring ideas, images, and actions that tend to unify a work. Example: The motif of love and its complications runs through many of Shakespeare's comedies.

Assonance

Repeated vowel sounds placed near each other for emphasis. Example: "on a proud round cloud in white high night" (e.e. cummings)

Prose

Ordinary speech or writing, without metrical structure. Written language that isn't poetry.

Metonymy

a figure of speech where one word is substituted for another that is closely connected to it (such as using "crown" in place of the word "royalty").

Elegy

a funeral song or a lament for the dead. Elegies can be sorrowful, melancholic, or plaintive (they can call people to remembrance).

Parody

a humorous story that makes fun of another well-known story by imitating it; characters, plot, theme, setting, may all be copied or changed for humorous effect Examples: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by John Scieszka has the story of the "Three Little Pigs" explained from the wolf's point of view, and in his version it was all a big misunderstanding and he was innocent.

Pun

a humorous use of a word or phrase that has more than one meaning (or two similarly spelled words that sound alike) Examples: "If you really want to keep warm, try bear skin," said the trapper. "But won't I be really cold in my bare skin?" asked the boy. Why is it easy for an elephant to travel? He can carry his own trunk.

Catastrophe

The action at the end of a tragedy that initiates the demouement or falling action of a play. One example is the dueling scene in Act V of Hamlet in which Hamlet dies along with Laertes, King Claudius, and Queen Gertrude.

Character Arc

The character's journey from the beginning to the end of a story. In the beginning the protagonist's flaw guarantees struggle. As the character grows or transforms through struggles and conflict, he takes control, gains insight, becomes more capable, thinks clearly, plans and is finally able to solve the key story problem.

Mood

The feeling a piece of literature arouses in the reader. The mood in a murder mystery is suspenseful and scary.

Exposition

The introductory section of the play or novel that provides background information on setting, characters, and plot.

Motivation

The justification of the action of a character by the presentation of convincing and impelling cause for that action. Motivated action is action justified by the particular human qualities of the character who performs it. For example, Shakespeare's Othello is a proud and jealous man; e smothers Desdemona when he thinks her unfaithful. Thus, Othello is said to have been motivated by pride and jealousy.

Falling Action

The last section of a play or story that works out the decision arrived at during the climax.

Denouement

The resolution or the outcome of the play or story. In the denouement, the loose ends of the plot get tied up or answered.

Coherence

The parts of a composition should be arranged in a logical and orderly manner so that the meaning and ideas are clear and intelligible.

Narrator

The person who is telling the story. See point of view for different choices of narration.

Foil

The term is applied to any character who, through contrast, underscores the distinctive characteristics of another.

Diction

The writer's choice of words based on their clarity and effectiveness.

Blank Verse

Unrhymed, but otherwise regular verse, usually in iambic pentameter.

Free Verse

Verse written without rhyme, meter, or regular rhythm.

Aside

Words spoken by an actor directly to the audience, which are not "heard" by other characters on the stage during a play. In Shakespeare's Othello, Iago voices his inner thoughts as he tells the audience about the evil deeds he is going to impart on others.

Dialectic

a method pf logical discussion, inquiry and analysis used to ascertain the truth of an opinion or theory. Plato's Socratic dialogues are examples of dialectic through answers and questions.

Direct metaphor

When the writer directly states both of the things being compared. Example: Life is a long road with many twists and turns.

Indirect metaphor

When the writer states one of the things and the reader must infer the other. Example: You have come to a fork in the road and cannot go back.

Empathy

When you put yourself in someone else's place and imagine how that person must feel. Sympathy is "feeling sorry for" someone while empathy takes us closer to the experience by "feeling the same as" someone else.

Euphemism

When you replace one word or phrase for another in order to avoid being offensive. Example: Corporate "restructuring" or "downsizing" are euphemisms for "laying off" or "firing" workers.

Enjambment

a "run on sentence" in poetry. A thought or clause continues over a line-break, so that meaning "runs on" over the break, connecting one line to the next.

Aphorism

a brief statement expressing some truth as shown is a story; it can be a moral, or proverb, or maxim.

Apostrophe

a brief statement expressing some truth as shown is a story; it can be a moral, or proverb, or maxim. Examples: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. Everyone is afraid of something. Don't make a big fuss if someone isn't like us.

Fable

a brief tale that uses animals as characters and teaches a moral lesson.

Motive

a character's reason for doing what he/she does Example: "So why did you tear up Janie's paper?" demanded the teacher. Margaret said nothing and stared at her shoes. The teacher would never understand. She could never understand how it felt to be the new kid in school, and to have one student turn all the others against you. All because you...

Parallel Story

a narrative or picture story enclosed within another story, where both stories are of equal interest. Example: In a story about kids putting on a play, both the onstage scene is shown, and the backstage happenings. In The Matrix, Neo is a "Christ-figure" whose story parallels that of Jesus.

Caricature

exaggeration or distortion of a physical trait or behavior, to make a character appear comic or ridiculous Example: her nose was needle sharp, with nostrils as small and black as a mouse's eyes

Evidence

information from the text that supports, or proves, an inference or fact Example: We know that the Wolf wants to eat Little Red Riding Hood because a) Red Riding Hood's mother warned her about wolves in the forest b) the Wolf tried tricking her once in the forest c) he has already eaten her grandmother d) he drools when he sees her e) he says things such as, "All the better to eat you with!"

Flashback

interruption of the present action to insert an episode that took place earlier; this gives the reader needed information to understand a current event, or a character's motivation Example: I could tell that Jimmy wasn't going to back down. He stood up to bullies before, like back in first grade when Roger Neary used to eat everybody's snack. One day Jimmy had caught Roger in his snack bag, and...

Dramatic Irony

is when the reader knows things that the characters in a story do not Example: We learn that Mary really likes Frankie because she writes about him in her diary all the time. Frankie, however, is scared to ask Mary to the dance because she is so popular and "cool." We wish we could tell Frankie what we, as the readers, know!

Imagery

mental pictures which are created by descriptions of the senses, so that we can see and feel what the character is experiencing. Imagery conveys word pictures. Imagery evokes an imaginative, emotional response, as well as providing a vivid, specific description. Example: Compare: What you are saying is unpleasant for me to hear. With: These words are razors to my wounded heart. Example: Even the dark, shiny leaves which usually clung to the chimney of my grandmother's house hung dry and brittle on that hot summer day. The tree roots clutched the ground like snarled fingers.

Plot

what happens in a story, told in a sequenced, chronological order; the framework of a piece of fiction or drama Example: Samantha received a new skateboard for her birthday. A week later, however, she lost it. She looked everywhere but couldn't find it. Then one day...

Reverse Stereotype

when a person is portrayed exactly opposite to a fixed generalization (the usual way we would consider them) Example: Bobby's grandmother laced up the red boxing gloves. She danced on her toes as she approached the bully, and smiled as she said, "Okay, you big oaf. I'm gonna give you what you deserve..." And with one swing, she knocked the bully to the ground.

Situation Irony

when a situation occurs that is the opposite of what is expected. (A lifeguard has to be saved from drowning.)

Dramatic Irony

when the audience knows more than the characters on stage, which creates tension. (Example: In a movie, the audience knows the murderer is in the closet but the unsuspecting victim is totally unaware until... it is too late!)

Verbal Irony

when the expression of an attitude or intention is opposite of what is actually meant. (A late-comer is told, "Thanks for joining us.")

4. Limited Omniscient

when the narrator can see into the heart and mind of only one of the characters in the story. ex. The teacher's head was spinning with what he should say first. Casey who sat by the window glanced up to take a look at the new teacher.

2. Third Person

when the narrator tells the events from "outside" the story from a neutral or unemotional point of view (like a camera recording the events) using he or she. ex. The young teacher strolled into his class looking confident and competent. Casey sat up straight and watched him.

Diction

word choice.

Onomatopoeia

words that imitate, or sound like, the actions they describe Examples: bang, slurp, ping, slam, hiss, squish