English 10 Final

Genre

a category of artistic composition, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject.

Allegory

a story poem or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning. Typically a moral or political one.

Autobiography

the biography of oneself narrated by oneself.

Biography

an account of someone's life written by someone else.

Memoir

a subjective, nonfiction account of an author's personal experiences, emotions, and memories from a specific period in their life.

Novel

a long work of prose fiction, typically published as a book, that tells a story with developed characters, plot, and setting.

Universal significance

the ability of work or art, literature, or any cultural artifact to speak to common human experiences that transcend time periods and cultures.

Universal character

a character that is recognized and resonated with a wide audience across cultures and time periods.

Flat character

A character that does not contain many personality traits except for dull. (hehe) lack of depth and complex emotions.

Round character

A character containing many character traits and emotions.

Static character

A character that doesn't undergo any change (emotional not physical).

Dynamic character

A character that does change and has an identity crisis.

Protagonist

Main character.

Antagonist

Opposing main character.

Foil

A character that contrasts the protagonist.

Direct characterization

Author directly tells you character trait, 'He is kind.'

Indirect characterization

Author displays character trait, 'He helped the bunny.'

Conflict

the core problem or struggle faced by the main character.

Narrator

a person who narrates something, especially a character who recounts the events of a novel or narrative poem.

Exposition

the initial part of a narrative where the audience is introduced to key background information about the characters, setting, relationships, and situation.

Rising action

the part of a story that follows the exposition and builds tension and suspense as it leads to the climax.

Climax

the most intense and crucial moment, usually near the end, where the main conflict is resolved.

Falling action

the sequence of events in a story that occurs after the climax and leads to the resolution.

Resolution

the final part of the plot structure where the main conflict is resolved and loose ends are tied up.

Point of view

the perspective from which a story is told.

Setting

The time and place in which a story takes place. It can include weather, historical period, location, and social conditions.

Theme

The central message, idea, or insight about life that a story conveys.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience, shown through word choice and style.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere or feeling a reader gets from the story.

Allusion

A brief reference to a well-known person, event, place, work of art, or literature.

Literary device

Techniques writers use to express ideas and enhance their writing.

Literary form

The type or structure of a work.

Symbolism

The use of symbols to represent larger ideas or themes.

Voice

The distinct personality or style of the narrator or author, shaped by tone, word choice, and point of view.

Cultural and historical significance

The way a story reflects or is influenced by the culture and events of the time in which it was written or set.

Bandwagon

Persuading people to do something because 'everyone else is doing it' — appeals to the desire to fit in.

Testimonial

Using a celebrity or well-known figure to endorse a product or idea, regardless of their expertise on the subject.

Red Herring

Distracting the audience from the real issue by introducing an unrelated or misleading topic.

Repetition

Repeating a word, phrase, or idea to reinforce a point or make it memorable.

Emotion appeal (pathos)

Using emotion (fear, anger, happiness) instead of logic to persuade the audience.

Name calling (ad hominem)

Attacking the opponent personally instead of addressing their argument.

Sweeping Generalities

Making broad statements or stereotypes without supporting evidence (e.g., 'All politicians lie').

Circular Argument

When the conclusion repeats the claim without any actual support (e.g., 'He's a good leader because he leads well').

Appeal to numbers, facts, or statistics (logos)

Using data or logical reasoning to persuade — often powerful when accurate but can be misleading if used selectively.

Logos

Appeal to logic and reason; uses facts, data, statistics, or rational arguments to persuade.

Ethos

Appeal to credibility or ethics; convinces the audience the speaker is trustworthy or an expert.

Pathos

Appeal to emotion; aims to make the audience feel something (sympathy, anger, fear, happiness).

Satire

Writing that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or expose flaws in people, politics, or society (e.g., The Simpsons, Animal Farm).

Metaphor

Comparison without using like or as.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect (e.g., 'I've told you a million times!').

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story, building suspense.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) to create vivid scenes.

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Pun

A form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of a term, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect.

Drama

A form of literature meant to be performed on stage; includes elements like dialogue, action, and conflict.

Dramatic script

The written text of a play, including dialogue, stage directions, and character names.

Comedy

A lighthearted drama that often ends happily; features humor, misunderstandings, and social commentary.

Tragedy

A serious drama with a downfall of the main character due to fate, flaw, or conflict, often ending in death or loss.

Cast

The list of characters or actors in a play.

Dialogue

Conversation between characters that drives the plot and reveals character.

Soliloquy

A long speech by a character alone on stage, revealing their private thoughts (e.g., Macbeth's 'Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow…').

Dramatic monologue

A long speech by one character, usually to another character or the audience, revealing inner feelings or thoughts.

Character foil

A character who contrasts with another, often the protagonist, to highlight particular traits (e.g., Banquo is a foil to Macbeth).

Scene design

The visual elements of a play, including sets, costumes, lighting, and props.

Aside

A brief comment made to the audience (and unheard by other characters), revealing private thoughts or commentary.

Stage directions

Instructions in the script about movement, lighting, emotion, and other elements.

Prop

A movable object used on stage by actors (e.g., swords, letters, cups).

Complication

The event or conflict that begins the rising action and builds tension.

Catastrophe

The final resolution in a tragedy, often involving death or downfall of the protagonist.

Anagnorisis

The moment of realization or discovery when the tragic hero recognizes the truth or their flaw.

Peripeteia

A reversal of fortune or turning point — when events suddenly shift from good to bad.

Catharsis

The emotional release or cleansing felt by the audience after the downfall in a tragedy.

tragic hero

A protagonist of a tragedy who has noble qualities but is brought down by a tragic flaw (e.g., Macbeth, Oedipus).

Hubris

Excessive pride or arrogance that leads the tragic hero to ignore warnings or fate.

Hamartia

The tragic flaw or error in judgment that causes the downfall of the tragic hero.

Chorus

A group of performers in Greek drama who comment on the action, represent public opinion, or provide background.

ode

A lyrical poem or song performed by the chorus, often reflecting on the events of the scene or praising a character.

Feet/Foot

A basic unit of meter in a poem, made up of a set pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Iamb

A foot with one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (da-DUM), e.g., aWAY.

Iambic Pentameter

A line with five iambs (10 syllables total). Used often by Shakespeare.

Line

A single row of words in a poem.

Meter

The rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem.

Stanza

A group of lines in a poem, like a paragraph in prose.

Speaker

The narrator or voice of the poem (not always the poet).

Structure of a Poem

The poem's organization, including line length, stanza form, rhyme scheme, and meter.

Couplet

Pair of lines, the last two lines of a sonnet.

Ballad

A narrative poem that tells a story, often with a repetitive, song-like structure.

Blank Verse

Unrhymed iambic pentameter (common in Shakespeare).

Elegy

A mournful poem, often written to honor someone who has died.

Epic Poem

A long narrative poem about heroic deeds and grand adventures (e.g., The Odyssey).

Free Verse

Poetry with no regular rhyme or meter.

Haiku

A three-line Japanese poem with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, usually about nature.

Lyric Poem

A short poem that expresses personal feelings or emotions, not a story.

Narrative Poem

A poem that tells a story with characters, conflict, and plot.

Sonnet

A 14-line poem, usually written in iambic pentameter, often about love. Common types: Shakespearean and Petrarchan.

Irony

A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.

Situational Irony

A surprising twist — outcome is opposite of what's expected in a situation.

Verbal Irony

Saying the opposite of what you mean. (often sarcastic)

Dramatic Irony

Audience knows something the characters don't.

Paradox

A seemingly contradictory statement that actually reveals a truth (e.g., "Less is more").