English 10 H Second Semester FINAL

Iamb: What is the definition? What is an example?

An iamb is a literary device that can be defined as a foot containing unaccented and short syllables, followed by a long and accented syllable in a single line of a poem (unstressed/stressed syllables). Two of Robert Frost's poems, Dust of Snow, and The Road not Taken are considered two of the most popular examples of iamb.

Contrast: What is the definition? What is an example?

Contrast is a rhetorical device through which writers identify differences between two subjects, places, persons, things, or ideas. Simply, it is a type of opposition between two objects, highlighted to emphasize their differences. Point-by-point Contrast - In this type of contrast, writers deal with a series of features of two subjects, and then present their contrast, discussing all points successively. Subject-by-subject Contrast - In this type of contrast, a writer first discusses one subject thoroughly, and then moves on to another.

Ambiguity

Definition: Element of uncertainty in a text, in which something can be interpreted in a number of different ways. Details: Ambiguity adds layers of complexity to a story, for it presents us with a variety of possible interpretations, all of which are valid. Example: Lamb to the Slaughter had an ending where the man had told his wife something that was so terrible that she ended up murdering him with a dead lamb's leg. The reader can only interpret what the man had told his wife that made her commit the murder as it was never reasoned.

Types of Poems: Elegy poem Describe the type of poem. Offer an example.

Elegy is a form of literature that can be defined as a poem or song in the form of elegiac couplets, written in honor of someone deceased. It typically laments or mourns the death of the individual. Usually, elegies are identified by several characteristics of genre: Just like a classical epic, an elegy typically starts with the invocation of the muse, and then proceeds by referencing traditional mythology. It often involves a poet who knows how to phrase thoughts imaginatively in the first person. Questions are raised by the poet about destiny, justice, and fate. The poet associates the events of the deceased with events in his own life by drawing a subtle comparison. This kind of digression gives the poet space to go beyond the main or crude subject to a deeper level where the connotations might be metaphorical. Towards the end the poet generally tries to provide comfort to ease the pain of the situation. Christian elegies usually proceed from sorrow and misery, to hope and happiness because they say that death is just a hindrance in the way of passing from the mortal state into the eternal state. An elegy is not always based on a plot.

Foreshadowing: What is the definition? What is an example?

Foreshadowing is a literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story. Foreshadowing often appears at the beginning of a story, or a chapter, and helps the reader develop expectations about the coming events in a story. There are various ways to create foreshadowing. The final graveyard flower is blooming, and its smell drifts through their house, speaking gently the names of their dead. (Foreshadows death) The evening was still. Suddenly, a cool breeze started blowing and made a windy night. (Foreshadows thunderstorm)

Rhyme: What is the definition? What is an example?

A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounding words, occurring at the end of lines in poems or songs. A rhyme is a tool utilizing repeating patterns that bring rhythm or musicality to poems. This differentiates them from prose, which is plain. A rhyme is employed for the specific purpose of rendering a pleasing effect to a poem, which makes its recital an enjoyable experience. Moreover, it offers itself as a mnemonic device, smoothing the progress of memorization. Syllabic Rhyme- Bottle and fiddle, cleaver and silver, patter and pitter are examples of syllabic rhyme: words having a similar sounding last syllable, but without a stressed vowel. Imperfect Rhyme - Wing and caring, sit and perfect, and reflect and subject are examples of imperfect rhyme. This is a rhyme between a stressed and an unstressed syllable. Assonance or Slant Rhyme exists in words having the same vowel sound. For instance, kill and bill, wall and hall, and shake and ha

Simile: What is the definition? What is an example?

A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things. Unlike a metaphor, a simile draws resemblance with the help of the words "like" or "as." Therefore, it is a direct comparison. Our soldiers are as brave as lions. Her cheeks are red like a rose. He is as funny as a monkey. The water well was as dry as a bone. He is as cunning as a fox.

Solioque: What is the definition? What is an example?

A soliloquy is a popular literary device often used in drama to reveal the innermost thoughts of a character. It is a great technique used to convey the progress of action of the play, by means of expressing a character's thoughts about a certain character or past, present, or upcoming event, while talking to himself without acknowledging the presence of any other person. Example: Hamlet (By William Shakespeare) "To be, or not to be? That is the question— Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune..." Hamlet is in a state of mind that only Shakespeare can describe through his magnificent pen. Uncertain, reluctant Prince Hamlet was literally unable to do anything but merely wait to "catch the conscience of the king" to complete his supposed plan.

Static character: What is the definition? What is an example?

A static character is one that does not undergo inner changes, or undergoes a little change. It is a character that does not develop or grow, such as Sherlock Holmes and James Bond. Example #1: Mr. Collins, Pride and Prejudice (By Jane Austen) The first example of a static character is Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. He plays a vital role in the novel by making efforts to get Darcy and Elizabeth together, and contributes comedy to the story; however, his character does not change. Thus, he is a perfect example of a static character.

Aside: What is the definition? What is an example?

In a play, words spoken by a character directly to the audience or to another character but not overheard by others onstage. Example: In Act II Scene II of Julius Caesar, Trebonius and Brutus speak ominous asides that Caesar cannot hear.

Character Foil: What is the definition? What is an example?

In literature, a foil is a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character. The objective is to highlight the traits of the other character. The term foil, though generally being applied to a contrasting character, may also be used for any comparison that is drawn to portray a difference between two things. Example #1: Paradise Lost (By John Milton) Milton's Paradise Lost, Book I, is based on the comparison of two contrasting characters: God and Satan. Satan, in the entire work, appears as a foil to God. The negative traits of Satan and the positive traits of God are frequently compared, which consequently brings to the surface not only the contrast between the two characters, but also "justify the ways of God..." We reach a conclusion that it is only just for Satan to be expelled from the paradise because of his refusal to give in to the will of God.

Mood: What is the definition? What is an example?

In literature, mood is a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions. Usually, mood is referred to as the atmosphere of a literary piece, as it creates an emotional setting that surrounds the readers. Mood is developed in a literary piece through various methods, including setting, theme, tone, and diction. Let us see how writers use the elements in their literary works to create a particular mood. Example: The Road Not Taken (By Robert Frost) For instance, see how Robert Frost, in his poem The Road Not Taken, creates a gloomy feeling through his tone: "I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Frost informs us about his past with a "sigh" that gives the above lines an unhappy tone and thus evokes an unhappy mood. An unhappy mood is created because the poet convinces us that he regrets a choice he made in the past.

Dynamic character: What would be the definition? What would be an example?

Like a round character, a dynamic character also undergoes changes throughout the narrative, due to conflicts he encounters on his journey. A dynamic character faces trials and tribulations, and takes time to learn from his encounters, his experiences, and his mistakes, as well as from other characters. Sometimes a character learns a lesson, and gains maturity, such as Prince Hal in Shakespeare's Henry IV. Example #1: Harry, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (By J. K. Rowling) The most important conflict in this novel is the inner conflict of Harry Potter, which makes him a dynamic character. Harry perceives that he shares some abilities similar to Tom Riddle, who becomes the evil Lord Voldemort, and this makes him worry that he might also turn out to be an evil character. Dumbledore mentions Harry's presence in Gryffindor House, and Tom Riddle's in Slytherin House. Harry, in a defeated tone, says, "It only puts me in Gryffindor" because Harry did not want to go in Slytherin. Beaming again, Dumbledore says, "exactly ... Which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry ... far more than our abilities." Harry learns this lesson about the importance of the choices one makes. It resolves his inner conflict, making him a good example of a dynamic character.

Types of Poems: Lyric Poem Describe the type of poem. Offer an example.

Lyric is a collection of verses and choruses, making up a complete song, or a short and non-narrative poem. A lyric uses a single speaker, who expresses personal emotions or thoughts. Lyrical poems, which are often popular for their musical quality and rhythm, are pleasing to the ear, and are easily put to music. There are several types of lyric used in poems such as given below: Elegy An elegy is a mournful, sad, or melancholic poem or a song that expresses sorrow for someone who has bee lost, or died. Originally, it followed a structure using a meter alternating six foot and five foot lines. However, modern elegies do not follow such a pattern, though the mood of the poem remains the same. Ode An ode is a lyric poem that expresses intense feelings, such as love, respect, or praise for someone or something. Like an elegy, an ode does not follow any strict format or structure, though it uses refrains or repeated lines. It is usually longer than other lyrical forms, and focuses on positive moods of life. Sonnet A sonnet uses fourteen lines, and follows iambic pentameter with five pairs of accented and unaccented syllables. The structure of a sonnet, with predetermined syllables and rhyme scheme, makes it flow off the tongues of readers in way similar way to a on song on the radio. Dramatic Monologue A dramatic monologue has theatrical quality, which means that the poem portrays a solitary speaker communing with the audience, without any dialogue coming from other characters. Usually, the speaker talks to a specific person in the poem. Occasional Poetry Poets write occasional poetry for specific occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, victories, and dedications, such as John Dryden's "Annus Mirabilis," and Edmund Spencer's "Epithalamion."

Meter: What is the definition? What is an example?

Meter is a stressed and unstressed syllabic pattern in a verse, or within the lines of a poem. Stressed syllables tend to be longer, and unstressed shorter. In simple language, meter is a poetic device that serves as a linguistic sound pattern for the verses, as it gives poetry a rhythmical and melodious sound. For instance, if you read a poem aloud, and it produces regular sound patterns, then this poem would be a metered or measured poem. The study of different types of versification and meters is known as "prosody." People become what they believe. (Trochaic meter) Those who can dream it, they really can achieve it. (Dactylic/Spondaic) Don't search faults. Find remedies. (Iambic meter) When you give and accept gratefully, you feel blessed. (Anapestic meter) The safest place on planet earth. (Iambic meter) Be happy, be positive, be you. (Spondaic meter) Life is short to hold grudges. (Trochaic meter) If you know why to live, then you can tolerate anything. (Dactylic meter)

Monologue: What is the definition? What is an example?

Monologue comes from the Greek words monos, which means "alone," and logos, which means "speech." It is a literary device that is the speech or verbal presentation given by a single character in order to express his or her collection of thoughts and ideas aloud. Often such a character speaks directly to audience, or to another character. Monologues are found in dramatic medium like films and plays, and also in non-dramatic medium like poetry. Example #1: The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (By T. S. Eliot) "And indeed there will be time To wonder, 'Do I dare?' and, 'Do I dare?' Time to turn back and descend the stair, With a bald spot in the middle of my hair ... In a minute there is time For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.'" This entire poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, in which the poet is trying to explore the causes of pain and suffering of an insecure young man who is confused about whether or not he should attend a party. Eliot reveals his thoughts to the audience about how Prufrock feels that, if he goes to the party, it might disturb the entire universe.

Allegory: What is the definition? What is an example?

Narrative in which characters and settings stand for abstract ideas or moral qualities. Detailed: In addition to the literal meaning of the story, an allegory contains a symbolic, or allegorical, meaning. Characters and places in allegories often have names that indicate the abstract ideas they stand for. Example: The pig named Napoleon representing Joseph Stalin, the man that became the new Russian leader after Vladimir Lenin passed during the Russian Revolution.

Types of Poems: Narrative Poem Describe the type of poem. Offer an example.

Narrative is a report of related events presented to listeners or readers, in words arranged in a logical sequence. A story is taken as a synonym of narrative. A narrative, or story, is told by a narrator who may be a direct part of that experience, and he or she often shares the experience as a first-person narrator. Sometimes he or she may only observe the events as a third-person narrator, and gives his or her summation. Example #1: Animal Farm (By George Orwell) Animal Farm, by George Orwell, is a modern narrative example known as a "political satire," which aims at expressing a writer's political views. It uses animals on a farm to describe the overthrow of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, and the Communist Revolution of Russia before WWII. The actions of the animals on the farm are used to expose the greed and corruption of the Revolution. It also describes how powerful people can change the ideology of a society.

Onomatopoeia: What is the definition? What is an example?

Onomatopoeia, pronounced on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh, is defined as a word which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates a sound effect that mimics the thing described, making the description more expressive and interesting. The buzzing bee flew away. The sack fell into the river with a splash. The books fell on the table with a loud thump. He looked at the roaring The rustling leaves kept me awake.

Surprise Ending: What is the definition? What is an example?

PLOT TWIST Chances are good that you've at least toyed with the idea of using a plot twist somewhere in the manuscript you're writing right now. The different kinds affect the characters in your story in different ways.

Personification: What is the definition? What is an example?

Personification is a figure of speech in which a thing - an idea or an animal - is given human attributes. The non-human objects are portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like human beings. For example, when we say, "The sky weeps," we are giving the sky the ability to cry, which is a human quality. Thus, we can say that the sky has been personified in the given sentence. The shadow of the moon danced on the lake. There was a heavy thunderstorm, the wind snorted outside, rattling my windowpanes. The flowers were blooming, and the bees kissed them every now and then. The flood raged over the entire village. The tread of time is so ruthless that it tramples even the kings under its feet. It was early morning - I met a cat yawning and stretching in the street. The skyscraper was so tall that it seemed to kiss the sky. The tree was pulled down, and the birds lamented over its dead body. The tall pines in the hilly area fondled the clouds. The long road to his home was a twisting snake, with no visible end.

Point of View: What is First person? What is Second person? What is Third person?

Point of view is the angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation. In literature, point of view is the mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers "hear" and "see" what takes place in a story, poem, or essay. First person point of view involves the use of either of the two pronouns "I" or "we." "I felt like I was getting drowned with shame and disgrace." Second person point of view employs the pronoun "you." "Sometimes you cannot clearly discern between anger and frustration." Third person point of view uses pronouns like "he," "she," "it," "they," or a name. " Stewart is a principled man. He acts by the book and never lets you deceive him easily."

Allusion: What is the definition? What is an example?

Reference to a statement, a person, a place, an event, or a thing that is known from literature, history, religion, myth, politics, sports, science, or the arts.

Symbol: What is the definition? What is an example?

Symbolism is often used by writers to enhance their writing. Symbolism can give a literary work more richness and color and can make the meaning of the work deeper. In literature, symbolism can take many forms including: A figure of speech where an object, person, or situation has another meaning other than its literal meaning. The actions of a character, word, action, or event that have a deeper meaning in the context of the whole story.

Types of Poems: Ballad Describe the type of poem. Offer an example.

The ballad is probably the simplest form of narrative poem which tells a story in simple and colloquial language. The principal function of a narrative poem is to narrate what has actually happened, that is historical incidents, myths and legends. So ballad is, in a greater respect, short story in verse. Ballad is a song or a poem and its original version is composed by a single author. But he is unknown. A popular ballad exists in many various forms. It differs from heroic poems or epics being shorter and new characters. The Robin Hood ballads were most popular in England. There are still the popular means of entertainment to the children. In any case, ballad composers cannot be compared with Shelley, Browning, T.S Eliot or other sophisticated poets of the modern age. But then, the ballads have strange poetic quality of their own.

Situational Irony

The irony is when something is said that is the opposite of what is meant or when something occurs that is the opposite of what is expected. There are three types of irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic. Situational Irony occurs when actions or events have the opposite result from what is expected or what is intended. 1. In "The Gift of the Magi," by O. Henry, the husband sells his watch to buy his wife combs for her hair and the wife sells her hair to buy her husband a chain for his watch. 2. In the Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Coleridge, the men are surrounded by an ocean of water, but they are dying of thirst ("Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.") 3. "The Story of an Hour," by Kate Chopin tells of a wife who learns that her husband is dead. She feels a sense of freedom as she thinks about a life without restriction. Then, he returns (he wasn't dead after all) and she dies of shock.

Epic: What is the definition? What is an example?

The word epic is derived from the Ancient Greek adjective, "epikos", which means a poetic story. In literature, an epic is a long narrative poem, which is usually related to heroic deeds of a person of an unusual courage and unparalleled bravery. In order to depict this bravery and courage, the epic uses grandiose style. The hero is usually the representative of the values of a certain culture, race, nation or a religious group on whose victor of failure the destiny of the whole nation or group depends. Therefore, certain supernatural forces, deus ex machina, help the hero, who comes out victor at the end. An epic usually starts with an invocation to muse, but then picks up the threads of the story from the middle and moves on to the end.

Dramatic Irony

There are three types of irony-verbal, situational, and dramatic. The irony is defined as the difference between what is said and what is meant or the difference between what appears to happen and what actually happens. Dramatic Irony occurs when the audience (of a movie, play, etc.) understands something about a character's actions or an event but the characters do not. 1. In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows that Juliet is only asleep-not dead-but Romeo does not, and he kills himself. 2. In Macbeth, King Duncan says that he trusts Macbeth ("he was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust), but the audience knows that Macbeth is plotting to kill Duncan. 4. The Greek myth of Oedipus, as told in Sophocles' play Oedipus Rex, is full of dramatic irony. King Oedipus wants to expose the killer of the former king, Laius. The audience knows that Oedipus is the killer, but Oedipus does not realize that he killed the king.

Tone: What is the definition? What is an example?

Tone, in written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is generally conveyed through the choice of words, or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject. Every written piece comprises a central theme or subject matter. The manner in which a writer approaches this theme and subject is the tone. The tone can be formal, informal, serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, or cheerful, or it may be any other existing attitude. Consider the following examples of tone: "I want to ask the authorities what is the big deal? Why do they not control the epidemic? It is eating up lives like a monster." "I want to draw the attention of the appropriate authorities toward damage caused by the epidemic. If steps are not taken to curb it, it will further injure our community." The theme of both tone examples is the same. The only way we can differentiate between them is their separate tone. The tone in the first example is casual or informal while, it is more formal in the second.

Tragedy: What is the definition? What is an example?

Tragedy is a type of drama that presents a serious subject matter about human suffering and corresponding terrible events in a dignified manner. Shaped on the models of Seneca, the first English tragedy appeared in 1561, written by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville. The play chose the story of a British king and his sufferings at the hand of his two disobedient sons as a subject matter. The importance of the play lies in the fact that it transformed the style of English drama, from morality and mystery plays, to the writing of tragedies in the Elizabethan era.

Verbal Irony

Verbal Irony is when words express something contrary to truth or someone says the opposite of what they really feel or mean. Verbal irony is often sarcastic. 1. In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Marc Antony gives a speech in which he repeatedly refers to Brutus as "an honorable man," when Brutus just participated in murdering Caesar. 2. In Beauty and the Beast, an animated Disney movie, Belle refuses to marry Gaston by saying "I just don't deserve you!" 3. In The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, a group of school boys is stranded on an island while a war is going on in the world around them. Piggy, one of the characters, says that they are acting like a "crowd of kids," and that grownups would have "tea and talk" about their situation. His statement is ironic because of the grownup war that is raging in the world.

Diction: What is the definition? What is an example?

Writer's or speaker's choice of words. Individuals vary their diction depending on different contexts and settings. Therefore, we come across various types of diction. Formal diction - formal words are used in formal situations, such as press conferences and presentations. Informal diction - uses informal words and conversation, such as writing or talking to friends. Colloquial diction - uses words common in everyday speech, which may be different in different regions or communities. Slang diction - is the use of words that are newly coined, or even impolite.

Metaphor: What is the definition? What is an example?

a figure of speech in which an indirect comparison is made. usually, the comparison is made using a "to be" verb. Ex: The snow is a white blanket. The hospital was a refrigerator. The classroom was a zoo. America is a melting pot. Her lovely voice was music to his ears. Life is a rollercoaster.