English 9-2 Final Flashcards

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poem

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an arrangement of words in verse, especially a rhythmical composition, sometimes rhymed, expressing facts, ideas or emotions in a style more concentrated, imaginative, and powerful than ordinary speech or writing (prose). Some are written in free verse.

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prose

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non-metrical language; the opposite of verse

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verse

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metrical language; the opposite of prose

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form

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poems are usually divided into lines, which may or may not be sentences. The lines arranged into groups are called stanzas.

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free verse

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has no regular rhythm or rhyme

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blank verse

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has rhythm, usually iambic pentameter, but has no rhyme

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iambic pentameter

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sometimes referred to as blank verse. Unrhymed and consists of five meters. Most of Shakespeare's plays are written in this.

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iamb

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a metrical foot consisting or one unaccented syllable followed by one accented syllable.

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iambic meter

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a meter in which the majority of feet are iambs. The most common is the English meter.

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rhythm

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the pulse or underlying "beat" of syllables within a poem or lyrics

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poetric foot

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a combination of stress and unstressed syllables--sometimes stated accented or unaccented

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rhyme

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the likeness of sounds at the end of words

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end rhyme

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the likeness of sounds at the end of each line

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internal rhyme

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the use of rhyming words within a line

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foot

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the basic unit used in the scansion or measurement of verse; usually contains one accented syllable and one or two unaccented syllables.

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scansion

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the process or measuring verse, that is, of marking accented and unaccented syllables, dividing the lines into feet, identifying the metrical pattern, and noting the significant variations from that pattern

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ballad

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a fairly short narrative poem written in song-like stanza form--usually meant to be sung.

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Italian sonnet (or Petrarchan)

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a sonnet consisting of an octive riming abbaabba and a sestet using any arrangement or two or three additional rimes, such as cdcdcd or cdecde

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ode

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a lyric poem, rhymed or unrhymed, usually addressed to some person or thing and characterized by lofty feeling elaborate form and dignity of style, but sometimes simple and in form and style

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narrative poetry

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poetry that tells a story (usually a long poem such as an epic poem)

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lyric poetry

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the most common type of poetry--includes all other verse forms (sonnet, ode, ballad, etc). They were originally sung to the accompaniment of this instrument from which the term was derived.

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portrait

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a poem that describes a person

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pastoral

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a poem dealing with life in the countryside

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elegy

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a sad, mournful poem of lament and praise for someone who has died

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epic

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a long narrative poem depicting the adventures of great heroes. Milton's " Paradise Lost" or Homer's "Illiad" and "Odyssey" are examples.

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song

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a dramatic and lyrical poem written in honor or someone or some occasion

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hymn

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lyrics written in praise, honor, or glorification of God

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diamond

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a simple poem of nine lines that builds on the number of words and then diminishes forming this shape. It creates an image describing a single thing or idea.

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picture poem

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the words of the poem not only create a mental image, but also a visual image by actually forming the shape of the thing it is describing

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limerick

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a five line poem with a rime scheme of aabba. Used for humorous or nonsense verse.

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haiku

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a three line poem, Japanese in origin, with the first line consisting of five syllables, the second seven, and the third five. Usually are about an element of nature and very descriptive of a single momentary event.

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figurative language

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employs figures of speech; language that cannot be taken literally or only literally

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tone

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a writer's or speaker's attitude toward his subject, his audience, or himself; the emotional coloring or emotional meaning of a work

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contrast

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showing the differences between two things

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comparison

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showning the likeness or similarities between two things

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personification

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a figure of speech in which human attributes are given to an animal, an object, or concept.

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simile

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a figure of speech in which two unlike things are being compared using like or as.

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couplet

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a rhymed pair of lines

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allusion

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an indirect reference to another literary work or to a famous person, place or event.

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analogy

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a point-by-point comparison between two things that are alike in some respect. Often, they are used in nonfiction when an unfamiliar subject or idea is explained in terms of a familiar one.

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antagonist

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the principle character in opposition to the protagonist or main character of a narrative or drama. Sometime this is not a character, but something else, like a force of nature, some aspect of society, or an internal force within the protagonist.

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aside

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a dramatic device in which a character speaks to his or her thoughts aloud, in words meant to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters.

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assonance

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the repetition of vowel sounds in non-rhyming words

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climax

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often called the turning point; it is the moment when the reader's interest and emotional intensity reach its highest point. It often occurs near the end of a story but not always.

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dramatic conventions

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are the specific actions or techniques the actor, writer or director has employed to create a desired dramatic effect/style.

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conflict

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every plot has a struggle with the main character to some opposing force, which may be internal or external.

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foreshadowing

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Lines that give a hint or clue to future events (It doesn't tell the future but hints at it.)

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tragic hero

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is the main character in a tragedy who makes an error in his or her actions that leads to his or her downfall.

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tragedy

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A serious play having an unhappy ending

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comic relief

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A bit of humor injected into a serious play to relieve the heavy tension of tragic events

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pun

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is a joke that comes from a play on words. They can make use of multiple meanings or of a word’s rhyme. In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio’s says, “Ask me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.”

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tragic flaw

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A character trait that leads one to his/her own downfall or destruction.

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theme

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the central idea or message about life conveyed by a work of literature

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symbol

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is a person, a place, an activity, or an object that stands for something beyond itself

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Shakespearean sonnet

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a fourteen lined poem with an end rime scheme of ababcdcdefefgg. There are three quatrains and a concluding couplet. Usually written in blank verse (iambic pentameter). (Romeo & Juliet).

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alliteration

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is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

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meter

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regularized rhythm; an arrangement of language in which the accents occur at apparently equal intervals in time (the number of poetic feet in a line of poetry)

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epithet

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is a brief descriptive phrase that points out traits associated with a particular person or thing. Some examples would be “Richard the Lionheart” or “Alexander the Great.”

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oxymoron

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is a figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms. In Romeo and Juliet, “cold fire”, “sick health”, and “bright smoke” are examples of these.

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dramatic monologue

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is a lyric poem in which a speaker addresses a silent or absent listener in a moment of high intensity or deep emotion, as if engaged in private conversation. The speaker proceeds without interruption or argument, and the effect on the reader is that of hearing just one side of the conversation.

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verbal irony

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when a speaker says one thing but means another, or when a literal meaning is contrary to its intended effect. An example of this is sarcasm.

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protagonist

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the central character or hero in a narrative or drama, usually the one with whom the audience tends to identify.

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motivation (character)

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the reason a character acts or thinks in a certain way.

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dramatic poetry

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poetry that appears in verse plays, such as Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET or HAMLET.

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blank verse

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is unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter

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situational irony

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Events contrary to what would be naturally expected

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foil

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a character that provides a striking contrast to another character. A writer can call attention to certain traits possessed by a main character or simply enhance a character by contrast using this literary device.

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metaphor

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an implied comparison between two different things; identifying a person or object as the thing to which it is being compared.
Example: 'It is the East and Juliet is the sun.' - 'tossed on the sea of life'

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soliloquy

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A single character on stage thinking out loud (a way of letting the audience know what is in the character's mind)

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consonance

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is the repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words, like the repetition of r and d in “But the father answered never a word.”

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onomatopoeia

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the use of words that supposedly mimic their meaning in their sound (for example, boom, click, plop.)

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adversary

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relating to one who resists or opposes: enemy

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nuptial

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of or relating to marriage or the marriage ceremony

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lament

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to express sorrow or mourning; to regret deeply

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dismal

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disastrous or dreadful; showing or causing gloom

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fickle

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given to erratic changeableness; unconstant

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reconcile

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to restore friendship or harmony

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shroud

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something that covers or conceals; a burial garment

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haughtly

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blatantly and disdainfully proud; conceited; arrogant

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vile

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disgustingly or utterly bad

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gallant

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nobly chivalrous and often self sacrificing

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cunning

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dexterous or crafty, wiliness or trickery

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unwieldy

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not easily managed or handled

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idolatry

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to worship a physical object as a god

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ambiguity

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the state of being doubtful or uncertain; unclear

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boisterous

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a noisy turbulent; rowdy

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banishment

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an order to leave a place or a country

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peruse

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to examine or consider with attention or detail; to read

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predominant

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having superior strength, influence or authority

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dexterity

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mental skill or quickness, especially with the use of the hands

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exile

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to banish or expel from one’s country or home

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loathsome

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to greatly dislike often with disgust or intolerance: to hate

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remnants

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a small part, member, or trace remaining