Grade 10 English Literary Terms (Exam Review)

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Paradox

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When one thing in a sentence contradicts another.

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Antagonist

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A person/thing who is against the main character.

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Atmosphere

Back 3

The mood or emotional tone of the story.

 

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Characterization

Back 4

Qualities given to a character communicated through narration or dialogue.

 

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Hyperbole

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Intentional exaggeration.

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Climax

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A decisive moment that is of maximum intensity or is a major turning point in the plot.

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Conclusion

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The end of a plot.

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Conflict

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The opposition between two characters, or between a character and large forces such as nature, technology, the supernatural or society.

 

*internal conflict = character vs. self; ex.(conscience, doubt, fear)

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Denouement

Back 9

French word for falling action.

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Dialogue

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The conversation between characters in fiction.

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Exposition

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Dialogue and description that give the reader background of the characters and the present situation.

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Falling action

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The part of a plot that occurs after the climax has been reached and the conflict has been resolved.

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Flashback

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Takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached.

(Often used to recount events that happened prior to the story's main sequence of events.)

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Flat character

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An easily recognized character type in fiction who may not be fully described or portrayed but is useful in carrying out some purpose of the author.

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Foreshadowing

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Authors provide subtle hints or clues for the reader to predict what might occur later in the story.

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Alliteration

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When two or more words close together begin with the same sound.

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Assonance

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Repetitions of vowel sounds.

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Onomatopia

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Word sounds like the sound it's describing.

ex: Hiss, Buzz.

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Irony

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An incongruity between what is said and what is meant; or between an understanding of reality, or an expectation of reality and what actually happens.

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Situational irony

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When the opposite of what is expected occurs.

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Verbal irony

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What is meant is the opposite of what is said.

(Sarcasm)

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Dramatic irony

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When the reader knows something the characters on stage do not and, as a result, have a greater understanding of that character and her situation than she does.

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Mood

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The feeling the reader gets when she reads the story.

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Motif

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Any recurring element in a story that has symbolic significance. (a repeated image, pattern, incident)

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Narrative perspective

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The perspective from which the story is told.

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Narrator

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The person who tells the story.

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Plot

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The sequence of events in a story which typically follow this pattern: introduction, rising action, climax, falling action & conclusion.

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Point of view

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Refers to the perspective from which the story is told.

(first-person, third-person) 

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Protagonist

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The leading character.

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Resolution

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The last stage of plot development in which conflicts may be resolved.

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Rising action

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The action in a story that leads to the climax.

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Round character

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A character in fiction whose personality, background, motives and other features are fully described or portrayed by the author.

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Setting

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The time and place in which the story occurs.

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Static character

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A literary character who remains basically unchanged throughout a narrative.

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Symbolism

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A person, animal or object that carries greater or more complex meaning beyond its literal significance.

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Theme

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A central idea(s) that a literary work explores; the author communicates a message or truth about society or humanity.

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Theme statement

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A message or truth about society or humanity, communicated by the author, expressed in a complete sentence. This is a general statement that has universal relevance.

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Tone

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The attitude toward the subject of a story, the author's "voice"

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Bildungsroman

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A type of story (novel) about growing up.