Literary Terms and Unit 1 Review Honors

allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.

antagonist

A character or force in conflict with the main character

simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

metaphor

A comparison without using like or as

personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

foreshadowing

A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.

external conflict

A struggle between a character and an outside force

conflict

A struggle between opposing forces

internal conflict

A struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions within a single character

onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

She will think you are killed, or that some siren has caught you."

Allusion to the sirens in Greek mythology who would lure sailors to their deaths. Here, the siren is referenced as a woman who would make Alan cheat on Diana

Perhaps he is merely a selfish bastard, perhaps his character is flawed, perhaps his childhood was twisted.

Anaphora shows that the narrator is unsure of why Shotwell behaves the way he does

exposition

Background information presented in a literary work.

theme

Central idea of a work of literature

When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills.

Dramatic Irony - the reader knows that she dies of a heart attack because she loses her freedom at the return of her husband. She doesn't die of joy because he is alive as is implied by the final line.

"Au revoir," said the man.

Dramatic Irony that reveals how clever the old man is because he knows that Alan will be back. It also implies that Alan doesn't realize this yet.

resolution

End of the story where loose ends are tied up

mood

Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader

"Then customers come back, later in life, when they are better off, and want more expensive things. Here you are.

Foreshadows that Alan will need to come back to get the 'glove cleaner' from the old man.

Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix-- the villagers pronounced this name "Dellacroy"--eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner

Foreshadows the children participating in the stoning at the end of the story

"Do you mean it is a poison?" cried Alan, very much horrified.

Horrified tone which reveals that Alan is scared

He plays with them, alone, sitting on the floor near the console hour after hour, chanting "onesies, twosies, threesies, foursies" in a precise, well-modulated voice, not so loud as to be annoying, not so soft as to allow me to forget.

Imagery that reveals that the narrator is actually really bothered by Shotwell playing with the jacks.

he appeared in black bathing trunks with the .25 caliber Beretta strapped to his right calf and stood over the console, trying to span with his two arms outstretched the distance between the two locks.

Imagery that reveals the desperation of Shotwell to figure out a way to launch the missile so he can get out of the bunker

The pale green reinforced concrete walls sweat and the air conditioning zips on and off erratically

Imagery that reveals the uncomfortable surroundings in the bunker

She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves.

Imagery which describes a bright and alive scene which contrast sharply with the grief Mrs. Mallard is feeling. Indicates a shift in the mood and a shift in Mrs. Mallard.

figurative language

Language that cannot be taken literally.

climax

Most exciting moment of the story; turning point

But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air.

Personification of the idea that tells us it is something she is afraid of. "Creeping" is an eerie way to describe a feeling

alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

I am not well.I am not well.I am not well.

Repetition that reveals that the narrator is losing his sanity

plot

Sequence of events in a story

There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory.

Simile - a goddess of victory would be standing tall and proud which implies that Mrs. Mallard has fully embraced and is almost drunk on her new freedom.

If we turn our keys simultaneously the bird flies

The bird is a metaphor for a nuclear missile. This reveals that the characters are military men in charge of launching weapons.

setting

The context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.

point of view

The perspective from which a story is told

irony

a special kind of contrast between appearance and reality

suspense

a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.

he is really watching my hand resting idly atop my attaché case, my hand resting atop my attaché case, my hand. My hand resting idly atop my attaché case.

anaphora which reveals that it is the narrator, and not Shotwell that is staring at his hand

if Shotwell behaves strangely I am supposed to shoot him. If I behave strangely Shotwell is supposed to shoot me.

conflict - man vs. man which creates a tense mood in the story

"Is it true," asked Alan, "that you have a certain mixture that has-er-quite extraordinary effects?"

diction - use of '-er-- shows that Alan is stuttering which tells us he is nervous

"Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering.

ebullient tone - the exclamation points reveal Mrs. Mallard's great joy at the thought of her freedom.

hyperbole

exaggeration

The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.

imagery which reveals the setting

protagonist

main character

the storm of grief

metaphor comparing Mrs. Mallard's pain of loss to a storm. Mrs. Mallard is completely overcome by the grief, drowning in it.

One might call it a life-cleaner. Lives need cleaning sometimes."

metaphor/euphemism to make a lethal poison seem less evil

monstrous joy

oxymoron - she doesn't stop to consider that the freedom she feels is a contradiction to her grief. She can be free without guilt.

Alan Austen, as nervous as a kitten, went up certain dark and creaky stairs

simile revealing that Alan is an anxious young man

a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams.

simile that reveals that Mrs. Mallard's grief seems to have a life of its own. It is out of her control.

symbol

something that stands for something else