English Literary Terms 1-5

Front 1

Setting

Back 1

The time, place, physical details, and circumstances in which a situation occurs

Front 2

Imagery

Back 2

Language that appeals to the 5 senses

Front 3

Figurative Language

Back 3

Expressions that are not literally true

Front 4

Simile

Back 4

Figure of speech that compares two unlike things using like or as

Front 5

Metaphor

Back 5

Figure of speech that compares two unlike things not using like or as

Front 6

Mood

Back 6

The feeling that the story gives the reader.

Front 7

Diction

Back 7

a writer's choice of words

Front 8

Connotation

Back 8

The emotional associations and connections of a word or image in addition to its dictionary meaning.
Ex: possible ___________ of "home" is a place of warmth, comfort, and affection

Front 9

Denotation

Back 9

The direct meaning of a word

Front 10

Irony

Back 10

a contrast of appearance and reality, something that happens that is the opposite of what you think is going to happen

Front 11

Exposition

Back 11

Gives the necessary setting or situation for some action

Front 12

Rising Action

Back 12

the series of events or conflicts that lead to the climax of the story

Front 13

Conflict

Back 13

the struggle between enemy

Front 14

Climax

Back 14

The moment of the story that is the greatest moment of emotional intensity

Front 15

Falling Action

Back 15

the sequence of events that follow the climax

Front 16

Denouncement

Back 16

The conclusion of the story

Front 17

Character

Back 17

Figure acting in literary work

Front 18

Antagonist

Back 18

Character in conflict with hero

Front 19

Protagonist

Back 19

also called hero, main character, at center of plot

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Archetype

Back 20

character type that recurs consistently enough to be considered universal

Front 21

Flat Character

Back 21

character with single dominant trait

Front 22

Round Character

Back 22

character who is full developed as complex

Front 23

Stock Character

Back 23

character who represents a stereotype or universally recognizable type

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Dynamic Character

Back 24

character who is changed by actions in which he/she is involved

Front 25

Static Character

Back 25

character who changes little in course of narrative

Front 26

Characterization

Back 26

method used by another to create appearance and personalities of characters, to "bring them to life?

Front 27

Foreshadowing

Back 27

hints or dues that suggest or prepare the reader for later events

Front 28

Theme

Back 28

Central or dominating idea, the message that the author wants to get across.

Front 29

Ambiguity

Back 29

double or multiple meanings

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Dialogue

Back 30

conversation between two or more characters

Front 31

Monologue

Back 31

speech of one character, usually used to reveal thoughts to an audience

Front 32

Motif

Back 32

Recurring image, word, phrase, action, idea, object, or situation.

Front 33

Symbol

Back 33

anything that stands for something else

Front 34

Unity

Back 34

equality of oneness in literary work in which parts are related. Work has _____ when all its parts work together to create one main impression or effect.

Front 35

Allegory

Back 35

narrative in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and writer intends second meaning to be read beneath the surface.

Front 36

Point of View

Back 36

vantage point, or stance from which a story is told.

Front 37

1st Person

Back 37

"I" perspective, narrator tells his or her story

Front 38

3rd Person Omniscient

Back 38

he/she perspective but narrator is god like. Sees everything going on

Front 39

3rd Person Limited

Back 39

he/she, but narrator focuses on thoughts of single character and presents other characters only externally

Front 40

Objective

Back 40

Prohibits any subjective commentary by author (reporter-style)

Front 41

Flashback

Back 41

method of presenting scenes or incidents that took place before opening scene

Front 42

Tone

Back 42

reflection in work of author's attitude towards his subject, characters, and readers (comparable to voice and easily confused by mood)