English Exam Study Guide

Personification

Attribution of personal qualities especially : representation of a thing or abstraction as a person or by the human form

Alliteration

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words

onomatopoeia

the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (such as buzz, hiss)

Allusion

A figure of speech in which an object or circumstance form unrelated context is referred to covertly or indirectly. It is left to the audience to make the direct connection.

hyperbole

use of exaggeration as a rhetorical device or figure of speech

imagery

visually descriptive or figurative language especially in a literary work.

mood

the atmosphere of the narrative is created by means of setting, attitude, and descriptions.

tone

in literature, this in a literary work expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience.

metaphor

figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which is not literally applicable.

simile

figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid ( ex: as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox)

assail

to attack someone physically or emotionally

banishment

exclusion or rejection from a place or group

engrossing

capable of arousing and holding the attention

intercession

the act of intervening as to mediate a dispute

analogy

drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity

chronology

an arrangement of events in time

introspective

contemplation of your own thoughts and desires and conduct

symbolism

combines a lot of the ideas presented in metaphor and imagery. Essentially, it is the use of an object to represent a concept

foreshadowing

a warning or indication of (a future event): a hint at what is to come

irony

this occurs in literature AND in life whenever a person says something or does something that departs from what they (or we) expected them to say or do.

dramatic irony

a form of irony that is expressed through a work's structure: an audience's awareness of the situation in which a work's characters exist differs substantially

soliloquy

an act of speaking one's thoughts out loud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play.

rhyme scheme

the pattern of sounds that repeats at the end of a line or stanza

monologue

a long speech by one actor in a play or movie as part of a theatrical or broadcast program

sonnet

a poem of fourteen lines using any of a number of formal rhyme schemes

augument

(verb) to make greater or supplement

boisterous

(adjective) rowdy or rough

valiant

(adjective) courageous

pernicious

(adjective) very destructive or harmful

portentous

(adjective) dealing with a sign forewarning or omen

posterity

(noun) future generations

profane

(adjective) showing contempt torward sacred things

choler

(noun) anger, irritability

virtuous

(adjective) having excellent morals: righteous

prodigious

(adjective) extraordinary marvelous

enmity

(noun) absolute hatred

feign

(verb) to pretend

baleful

(adjective) destructive deadly

wanton

(adjective) immoral lewd

poultice

(noun) remedy

unwieldy

(adjective) clumsy difficult to carry because of bulk or weight

sallow

(adjective) a sickly yellowish hue

peril

(noun) danger

repose

(noun or verb) rest or relaxation: to rest

blazon

(verb) to announce or proclaim