10th grade English 1st semester review

Protagonist

Main character in a story. They are usually the primary focus of the story; we learn the most about them. There can be more than one.

Antagonist

A character in conflict with the antagonist. They do not have to be evil or hostile.

Foil

A character who acts as a contrast to another character. They usually contrast with the protagonist, but not always.

Supporting Character

characters that the story focuses on less. They might help develop a theme or contribute to the conflict.

Indirect Characterization

The author shows what a character is like through speech, effects, actions, thoughts, and looks. The reader has to infer the character traits.

Direct Characterization

The author explicitly states the character's traits.

Character vs Self (Internal Conflict)

Occurs when a character struggles making a decision or with morality. The character might have to grow as a person, decide what they believe, or choose what they think is right.

Character vs. Nature (external conflict)

The main character struggles against an animal, the weather, or the terrain, most often motivated by simple survival.

Character vs. Society (external conflict)

A character struggles against some element of society, whether it be a corrupt government, a religious system, socialized mindsets (e.g. homophobia, misogyny, racism), economic issues (e.g. recessions, layoffs, bankruptcy), inequality, or societal expectations.

Character vs. Character (external conflict)

One character struggles against another. They might have conflicting beliefs and ideas. They might also physically struggle against each other.

Plot

Sequence of events in a story

Exposition

beginning of the story where characters and setting are introduced. The conflict might be introduced.

Rising Action

The majority of the story. During this part of the story, the characters work to overcome the conflict. The tension gradually increases throughout.

Climax

The moment of highest tension in the story. At this point, the characters usually resolve or fail to resolve the conflict.

Falling Action

A portion of the story in which tension is relieved and the immediate results of the end of the conflict are explored.

Resolution

The end of the story in which unresolved sub-plots might be resolved. the author will often make the final developments to the theme.

1st Person Point of View

The narrator is a character in the story. The narration uses 1st-person pronouns ( I, me, my, we, our ).

Point of View

the perspective from which a story is told; you can determine it by the pronouns the narrator uses.

2nd Person Point of View

when the narrator refers to one of the characters (or the reader) as "You." The narrator uses 2nd-person pronouns (You, all of you, yours)

3rd Person Point of View

when a story is told from the perspective of a narrator that is outside the action of the story. The narrator uses third-person pronouns (he, she, they, his, hers, theirs).

Setting

The time, place, mood, and rules of the world. It sets our expectations for the story.

Theme Topic

A single word or short phrase that the theme focuses on.

Theme

Central idea of a work of literature. It always concerns life or the world, not the characters and events of the story.

Comment (Theme)

What the story is "saying" about the theme topic. It should be an insight about life or the world.

Symbol

An object, event, person, or idea that represents something else. They allow authors to convey complex ideas and events quickly.

Claim

the statement your argument is trying to prove (or support)

Evidence

facts and information used in your argument (in language arts we use quotes from the reading)

Commentary

where you explain how your evidence supports your claim (an explanation and interpretation of your quotes)

Signal phrase

a phrase which leads into a quotation; it gives context for the quote

Context

"the 'with' text;" a reminder for the reader of what was happening just before the quote

In-Text Citation

Credit given to the author immediately after a quote, placed just after the quote and before the period.

Counter Argument & Response

A strong argument someone who disagrees with you might make, and your thoughtful response to it

Metaphor

A comparison between unlike things that is not explicit (does not use like or as)

Simile

A comparison between unlike things that is explicit (does use like or as)

Personification

A figure of speech in which something non-human is given human feelings thoughts, or attitudes

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using a part for a whole or vice versa

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person place, event, literary work, or work of art

Paradox

A figure of speech that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses an unexpected truth.

Figurative Term

The thing to which the literal term is being compared. It is what is not real.

Literal Term

The concrete term that is being compared to the figurative term. It is what is real.

Speaker

The persona taken on by the author for a particular text. We describe it by identifying characteristics of the voice the author is using, considering things like emotiveness, formality, identity, how personal or distant they are with the audience, and so on.

Occasion

The time, place, and cultural context in which a text is created. This can include events that cause the author to write and cultural beliefs or conversations (discourses) the author is responding to.

Audience

The readership, or listeners, players, etc.; those to whom a text is addressed. When analyzing, we also consider what they believe or expect.

Purpose

The goal the author wants to achieve. This will be related to form. Consider what the author wants the audience to feel, think, or do.

Subject

who or what the text is about

Tone

Attitude a writer takes toward something, usually the audience, a subject, or a character.

Form

A category of text with specific conventions.

Narrative Nonfiction

A true story written in narrative form usually to explain a particular historical or academic topic.

Commercial Forms

Texts design to promote a product. They usually contain appeals, usually to emotions or identify rather than logic.

Editorial

a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an organization, usually a newspaper, that gives an opinion on a topical issue.

Column

An article, usually published in a newspaper, that expresses the authors opinion on a topical issue. Most contain arguments which focus on appeal to logic.

Podcast

An audio broadcast distributed online. Most focus on a narrow topic of interest and have a small number of hosts who discuss aspects of the topic each episode.

Diary

A personal account of an individual's experiences and feelings. Often written to record events for later reference or to allow the author to process emotions and feelings. The audience is usually only the author.

Essay

A formal text written on a particular subject. They can be argumentative, discursive, or informative. They are usually follow academic conventions.

Literary Narrative Writing

Usually fictional stories that follow literary conventions like plot, theme, etc. They can be written in first, second, or third person.