World Literature Mid-Term Review

Front 1

Alliteration

Back 1

the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Example – “How craven so to strike me stricken so”. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])

Front 2

Allusion

Back 2

an implied or indirect reference in literature to a familiar person, place, or event. Example – The Sphinx in Oedipus the King. (Unit 2: Greece)

Front 3

Assonance

Back 3

the repetition of a vowel sound within non-rhyming words. Example – “The sinking moon floods the rafters of my room”. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])

Front 4

Characterization

Back 4

techniques writers use to develop characters. A writer may:
- describe a character’s physical appearance
- present the character’s actions, words, thoughts, or feelings
- present other characters’ reactions to the character
- make direct comments about the character
(Unit 1: India)

Front 5

Epic

Back 5

a long narrative poem that tells the deeds of a great person, an epic hero. Characteristics of an epic include:
- The epic hero is usually male and holds a high position in society. He may be a king or a prince and is almost always an important historical or legendary figure.
- The hero’s actions reflect the values of a culture; the hero’s character embodies the culture’s ideals.
- The epic setting is vast in scope, often involving the heavens and the underworld.
- The plot may be complicated by supernatural beings or events, and it may involve a dangerous journey.
- The tone of the epic is serious; characters often make long, formal speeches.
- The epic treats universal themes, such as good and evil, and expresses universal values, such as honor and courage.
Example – The Ramayana. (Unit 1: India)

Front 6

Epic Conflict

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a struggle between opposing forces that moves a plot forward. An epic conflict is on a grand scale – supreme good vs. monstrous evil, life vs. death for thousands. (Unit 1: India)

Front 7

Epic Hero

Back 7

usually the main character in an epic who is “larger than life” – the strongest, the smartest, the bravest, the best – because such a hero represents a culture’s ideal.

Front 8

Epithets

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words or short phrases that highlight key qualities of characters or objects. Example – In an excerpt from the Mahabharata, the hero, Arjuna, is called “the king of men” and “terrifier”. (Unit 1: India)

Front 9

General Setting

Back 9

refers to the time and place in which a story is told. Time refers to the year and also the historical period. This refers to the overall work of literature. (Unit 3: China [Novel])

Front 10

Imagery

Back 10

word and phrases that re-create a vivid sensory experience for the reader. Images are visual, but may also include small, hearing, taste, and touch. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])

Front 11

Immediate Setting

Back 11

the time and place of specific events within a work of literature. (Unit 3: China [Novel])

Front 12

Irony

Back 12

the humorous and scornful use of words to express the opposite of what one really means; what is said or written is not what is really meant. There are three types of irony:
- Verbal – the contrast between what is said and what is meant. Most sarcastic comments are examples of verbal irony.
- Dramatic – the contrast between what the character thinks to be true and what the readers know to be true.
- Situational – the contrast between what happens and what was expected.
(Unit 2: Greece)

Front 13

Metaphor

Back 13

a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are basically unlike, but have something in common. Unlike a simile, a metaphor does not contain the words like or as. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])

Front 14

Mood

Back 14

the feeling, or atmosphere, that a writer creates for the reader. The writer’s use of connotation, imagery, and figurative language, as well as sound and rhythm, help to develop it. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])

Front 15

Paradox

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a statement that seems to contradict itself, but actually reveals some element of truth. Example – “The Tao never does anything, yet through it all things are done”. (Unit 1: India)

Front 16

Point of View

Back 16

the perspective from which an author tells a story. There are three different types:
- First Person – the narrator is a participant in the action and is often the protagonist. The reader only sees what the protagonist sees.
- Second Person – indicates the writer is the speaker or narrator.
- Third Person – usually a nameless narrator who can be identified as the author.
- Third Person Omniscient – a godlike narrator; he or she can enter the characters’ minds and know everything that is going on – past, present and future.
(Unit 3: China [Novel])

Front 17

Repetition

Back 17

the use of particular words, phrases, and grammatical structures repeatedly. In epic poetry and stories it serves as a way for poets to memorize their work and it serves as summaries for listeners. (Unit 1: India)

Front 18

Rhyme

Back 18

when the sounds of words accented vowels and all succeeding sounds are identical. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])

Front 19

Rhyme Scheme

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the pattern of end rhymes in a poem. The pattern is charted by assigning a letter of the alphabet, beginning with letter a, to each line. Lines that rhyme are given the same letter. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])

Front 20

Rhythm

Back 20

refers to the pattern or beat of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])

Front 21

Simile

Back 21

a figure of speech that compares two things that are basically unlike, yet have something in common. Unlike a metaphor, which implies or suggests a comparison, a simile states it by means of the words like or as. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])

Front 22

Style

Back 22

the particular way in which a piece of literature is written. Style is not what is said, instead it is how it is said. (Unit 3: China [Novel])

Front 23

Text Connections

Back 23

connecting what you have read to other materials. There are three types:
*Text-to-Self – personal connections that you make between a piece of literature and your own experiences or life.
*Text-to-Text – when you read a piece of literature and it reminds you of other things you have read.
*Text-to-Word – connections that are large. These connections go far beyond personal experiences. Can include connections to television, movies, news, magazines, and newspapers.
(Unit 3: China [Novel])

Front 24

Theme

Back 24

the main idea (ideas) an author develops throughout a literary work. Themes are central ideas or “truths” a work of literature expresses about a human condition. (Unit 3: China [Novel])

Front 25

Theme Statement

Back 25

express the theme of a work of literature and relate it to the outside/real world. (Unit 3: China [Novel])

Front 26

Tone

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an expression of a writer’s attitude toward a subject. It reflects the writer’s feelings and should not shape the reader’s emotions. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])

Front 27

Tragic Hero

Back 27

a hero who has the potential for greatness, but is doomed to fail. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot win. They are born into nobility, responsible for their own fate, endowed with a tragic flaw, and domed to make a serious error in judgment. Eventually, he faces a tragic death with honor. Example – Oedipus. (Unit 2: Greece)

Front 28

Tragic Flaw

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refers to the personality trait of a tragic hero that leads to the hero’s downfall. A character with a tragic flaw is in need of some kind of attitude adjustment. Example – Oedipus. (Unit 2: Greece)

Front 29

Visualization

Back 29

occurs when the reader forms a mental image or picture of what he or she read. It appeals to the five senses. (Unit 4: China [Poetry])