Mrs. Sturm Final Exam 2025

Plot

Sequence of events in a story

Exposition

Background information presented in a literary work.

Climax

the turning point of the story

rising action

Events leading up to the climax

falling action

Events after the climax, leading to the resolution

Resolution

End of the story where loose ends are tied up

point of view

the perspective from which a story is told

first person point of view

Told from the viewpoint of one of the characters using the pronouns "I" and We"

third person limited point of view

the narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one character and uses "he" or "she"

third person omniscient

the narrator knows all of the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in a work

Flashback

A scene that interrupts the normal chronological sequence of events in a story to depict something that happened at an earlier time

Mood

How the reader feels about the text while reading.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

Hyperbole

exaggeration

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

Metaphor

A comparison without using like or as

Theme

Central idea of a work of literature

Personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

Tone

Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character

Characterization

the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character

Imagery

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

synonym

A word that means the same as another word

antonym

a word that means the opposite of another word

author's purpose

The reason the author has for writing. ( Inform, persuade, express, & entertain)

gerund

a verb ending in ING used as a noun

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

indirect characterization

The character is revealed through their speech, appearance, words, actions, and effect on others

direct characterization

Author directly describes character

Setting

The time and place of a story

internal conflict

A struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions within a single character

external conflict

A struggle between a character and an outside force (another character, society, nature)

participle

verb ending in ING or ED used as an adjective

infinitive

to + verb

claim

the writer's position on an issue or problem

Counterclaim

the opposing viewpoint of a claim

evidence

proof to support one's claim

Ethos

Ethical appeal (credibility)

Pathos

Appeal to emotion

Logos

Appeal to logic

Idiom

A common, often used expression that doesn't make sense if you take it literally.

active voice

The subject of the sentence performs the action

EX: John found the treasure.

passive voice

The subject of the sentence receives the action.

EX: The treasure was found by John.

Gerund

The bold word in the sentence is what type of verbal?

RUNNING is how I stay in shape.

Participle

The bold word is what type of verbal phrase?

DRIVING SLOWLY, the car turned into the police station.

Infinitive

The bold word in the sentence is what type of verbal?

I want TO GO to the movies this weekend.

compare and contrast

Provides similarities and differences between two (or more) items or situations

chronological order

(Time Order) Events are arranged in the order in which they happened

sequential order

Steps by order of importance

Cause and Effect

The reason something happens and the result of it happening.