Literary Terms Quiz 2

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Comedy

Back 1

A dramatic work that is light and often humorous in tone and usually ends happily, with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict

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Tragedy

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A dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character/characters who are involved in historically or socially significant events. The events in a tragic plot are set in motion by a decision that is often an error in judhement. Succeeding events inevitably lead to a disastrous conclusion, usually death

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Tragic hero

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The main character in a tragedy who shows evidence of high rank & nobility of character, is marred by a tragic flaw or a fatal mistake in judgement, gains self-knowledge & wisdom, & comes to an unhappy end

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Dialogue

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In drama, a conversation b/t 2 characters

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Dramatic dialogue

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A poem or part of a drama in which a speaker addresses 1 or more silent listeners, often reflecting on a specific problem or situation

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Soliloquy

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Long speech in which a character who is alone onstage expressed private thoughts or feelings

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Aside

Back 7

In a play, words spoken directly to the audience or to another character, but not overheard by others onstage

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Foil

Back 8

Character who serves as a contrast to another character

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Scene design

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Describe what the stage should look like in order to make the audience believe the story is happening in a specific time & place (includes the set, or background; lighting; costumes; and props)

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Props

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Portable items that actors carry or handle onstage in order to perform the actions of the play

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Stage directions

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A playwright's written instructions about how the actors are to move & behave in a play. They explain in what direction characters should move, what facial expressions they should assume, and so on.

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Imagery

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The use of words & phrases that appeal to the 5 senses

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Metaphor

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Figure of speech that makes a comparison b/t 2 seemingly unlikely things WITHOUT using a connecting word such as like, as, than, or resembles.

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Simile

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Figure of speech that makes a comparison b/t 2 unlike things by using a connecting word such as like, as, than, or resembles

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Personification

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Figure of speech in which a ninja thing/quality is talked about as if it were human

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Hyperbole

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Figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion or create a comic effect

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Idiom

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A phrase or expression that means something different than what words actually say

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Symbol

Back 18

Person, place, thing, or event that stands both for itself & for something beyond itself

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Allegory

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A narrative (story) in which characters & settings stand as symbols expressing truths about human life

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Allusion

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A reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature (often indirect or brief references to well-known characters or events)

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Stanza

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A grouping of 2 or more lines in a poem

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Line

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A sequence of words printed as a seperate entity on the page in a poem

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Alliteration

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Repetition of the same or similar constant sounds in words that are close together, especially at the beginning of words

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Onomatopoeia

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Use of a word whose sound imitates or suggests it's meaning

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Rhyme

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Repetition of accented vowel sounds & all sounds following them in words that are close together in a poem. End rhyme occurs at the end of the line.

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Tone

Back 26

The attitude a writer takes toward a subject, a character, or a reafer. Tone is given though the writers choice of words & details

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Mood

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The emotional effect that a piece of writing evokes in the reader

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Diction

Back 28

A writer's or speaker's choice or words. Diction is an essential element of a writer's style.

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Connotation

Back 29

All meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests. Connotations play an important part in creating diction, mood, and tone

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Denotation

Back 30

The literal, dictionary definition of a word

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Dialect

Back 31

A form of language that is spoken in a particular place or by a particular group of people

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Theme

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The central idea or insight about human life the author wants us to obtain fr reading the authors writings. Theme is the revelation about life the writer wishes us to discover about the subject. To discover theme, two clues to consider are the way the main character has changed & the way the conflict has been resolved

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Inference

Back 33

An educated guess; reading "b/t the lines" to make guesses about what's left unsaid

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Analogy

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Comparison made b/t 2 things to show how they are alike

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Anecdote

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A brief account of an interesting incident or event that usually is intended to intertain or to make a point

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Main idea

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The writers most important point, opinion, or message

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Supporting details

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Specific info, examples, & facts that help a reader better understand the aim idea of a piece of writing and make an argument believable

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Authors purpose

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The purpose is the reason the writer wrote the piece. The piece was most likely written to entertain, to inform, or persuade

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Audience

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The particular group of readers or viewers that the writer is addressing. A writer considers his/her audience when deciding on a subject, a purpose for writing, & the tone & style in which to write

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Argument

Back 40

A statement, reason, or fact for or against a point; this is what a writer tries to prove in an essay, especially a persuasive essay

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Evidence

Back 41

Details that support your claims & make you appear credible

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Thesis statement

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The central idea of an essay. The thesis is a complete entence that established the topic of the essay in clear, unambiguous language

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Hook

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A sentence at the beginning of an essay that grabs the readers attention & makes them want to keep reading

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Bibliography

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A list of materials used to research a topic &/or write a text

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Synthesize

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To combine info from a variety or sources

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Compare

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To identify similarities b/t 2 things

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Contrast

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To identify difference b/t 2 things

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Primary source

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A firsthand account of an event

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Secondary source

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A source thay presents info complied from or based on other sources

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Generalization

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A broad statement about an entire group

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Opinion

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A statement thay reflects the writers or speaker's belief, but which cannot be supported by proof or evidence

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Fact

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A statement that can he proved

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Bias

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A particular tendency or incantation that prevents fair consideration of a question; prejudice

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Objective

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Based on facts

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Subjective

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Includes a writer's personal feelings and opinions

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Credible

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Believable

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Reliable

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From trustworthy sources

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Coherent

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Logically connected; consistent

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Logical order

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When a writer arranges his/her own ideas (or steps in a functional document) in an order thay ales sense & is easy for a reader to follow

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Subtitle

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A secondary, usually explanatory, title of a literary work

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Context clues

Back 61

Hints or suggestions that may surround unfamiliar words or phrases in a piece of writing & clarify their meaning