English History Vocab - Eng 4 Hon

tragedy

a type of drama that ends in a disastrous or unhappy ending and typically portrays the downfall of a dignified, courageous character

The romantic tragedy had a sharp, poignant, bittersweet ending.

A, B, C noun

soliloquy

a monologue spoken by a character in a play that reveals their motives and fears to the audience

The actor preformed a passionate, touching, comber soliloquy on unrequited love.

A, B, C noun

aside

a moment where a character directly addresses the audience

Both asides and fourth wall breaks feature a character directly addressing the audience, but they aren’t the same thing.

S, conj S

protagonist

the main character of a story

Three examples of famous movie protagonists are: Harry Potter, Marty McFly, and Ferris Bueller.

S: list of particulars

tragic hero

a character, usually the protagonist, who is doomed to fail because of a fatal flaw they posses

A tragic hero is often unaware of their own flaws; consequently, the hero is unable to correct their mistakes before it is too late.

S; SC, S

tragic flaw

a negative character trait that is the cause of a character’s downfall

The protagonist of a tragic story is often burdened by a tragic flaw, such as: excessive pride, unchecked ambition, or impulsiveness

S: list of particulars

foil

a character that contrasts with another character in a story

A character’s foil acts as that character’s opposite, so it is highly likely that they will not get along.

S, conj. S

comedic relief

a lighthearted moment or character that offsets a serious section or moment in a drama

Comedic relief can be useful when writing darker stories; however, if these moments are overused, the reader may stop taking your writing seriously.

S; SC, S

allusion

a reference to an important or popular figure, typically made in comparison to something unfamiliar

Not only are allusions helpful when trying to describe a character’s personality, but they can also influence the setting of a story.

Cor S, Cor S

meter

the rhythmic structure of a poem

blank verse

poetry that lacks rhymes but does follow a specific meter

Even though blank verses don’t include rhymes, they are considered poems.

LB, S

dramatic irony

a literary device used to create suspense where the reader is informed about something the characters aren’t aware of

Because the viewer knew that Juliet was still alive, the moment before Romeo decides to take his life after finding her “corpse” is suspenseful.

LB, S

imagery

descriptive or figurative language meant to paint a picture in the reader’s mind

My aunt, a novice horror author, uses grotesque and vivid imagery to make the reader feel uncomfortable.

N, APP,

personification

a literary device that gives human traits or characteristics to non-living things

The cool, winter breeze pinched her nose, caressed her cheeks, and ran its fingers through her hair as it passed by.

A, B, Conj. C

metaphor

a figure of speech that directly compares two opposite or unrelated things

simile

a figure of speech that uses “like" or “as” to compare two things or ideas

internal conflict

a type of struggle that a character faces within themselves or inside of their own mind

external conflict

a struggle between to characters with conflicting motives or one character and an opposing force, such as nature

In Twister (1996), a film about a group of storm chasers researching ways to predict incoming tornadoes, the external conflicts the characters face are a rival group and an F5 tornado.

NP, APP,