ELA 10-1 Final Exam Cards

Poem

is a piece of writing that uses language creatively to express ideas, emotions, images, or experiences. often focus on sound, rhythm, meaning, and imagery.
Example: A short piece about winter that uses strong sensory details and rhythm.

A piece of writing that conveys a message through language and often relates to culture, art, nature, or life. emphasizes language’s musical qualities.

Line

one row of words in a poem. can be short or long, and they help create the poem’s shape and rhythm.
Example:
“Snow falls softly” is one ——.

A unit in poetry that consists of any words arranged in one row

Verse

can mean a single line of poetry, or poetry in general.
Example: A poem may be described as “written in —-.”

A single line of poetry or a composition written in meter; can also refer to poetry in general.

Stanza

is a group of lines in a poem, like a paragraph in prose.
Example: A 4-line group separated by a blank space from the next group.

A grouped set of lines within a poem, often set apart by a space, functioning similarly to a paragraph in prose.

Quatrain

is a stanza with four lines.
Example: A poem section with four lines that may rhyme ABAB or AABB.

a four-line stanza or grouping of four lines of verse

Couplet

is two lines of poetry, often rhymed.
Example:
“The moon shone bright above the tree,
Its silver light fell soft on me.”

two successive lines of poetry, often rhymed

Tercet

is a stanza with three lines.
Example: A 3-line group of poetry.

a set or group of three lines of verse rhyming together or connected by rhyme

Cinquain

is a poem or stanza with five lines.
Example: A five-line poem describing a season or object.

a poem or stanza, also known as a quintain or quintet, composed of five lines

Refrain

is a line or group of lines that repeats in a poem.
Example: A repeated line like “Never give up” appearing at the end of several stanzas.

a specific line or lines that are repeated in a poem

Sonnet

is a 14-line poem, often about love, beauty, time, or deep thought. Many use iambic pentameter.
Example: Shakespeare’s —-.

a fourteen-line poem written in one stanza, traditionally in iambic pentameter and it must have a formal rhyme scheme

Ode

is a poem that praises a person, object, idea, or event.
Example: A poem praising the stars, friendship, or spring.

A lyric poem that praises or celebrates an event, a person, or a thing

Ballad

is a poem that tells a story, often with rhythm and rhyme.
Example: A poem about a tragic love story or a heroic event.

A plot-driven song with one or more characters and often constructed In quatrain stanzas

Anthology

is a collection of poems or other writings gathered into one book.
Example: A book of poems by many different poets.

Speaker

is the voice in the poem. It is not always the poet.
Example: In a poem about heartbreak, the —- may be a fictional character, not the author.

the voice behind the poem; the character or narrator saying the

poem

Point of View

is the perspective from which the poem is told.

• First person: I, me, my

• Second person: you

• Third person: he, she, they

Example:
“I walked alone” = first person.

Context

is the background information that helps you understand the poem, such as the time period, culture, or situation.
Example: Knowing a poem was written during war can change how you interpret its meaning.

Topic

is what the poem is about in the most basic sense.
Example: love, death, nature, war, school, friendship

Theme

is the deeper message or life lesson in the poem.
Example: “People often learn the value of kindness through hardship.”

the message or idea that an author expresses in a poem about the subject

Mood

is the feeling the poem creates in the reader.
Example: eerie, peaceful, joyful, sad, tense

the feeling(s) and atmosphere that a piece of writing creates within the reader

Tone

is the speaker’s or author’s attitude toward the subject.
Example: sarcastic, serious, angry, loving, playful

the attitude of the speaker or author as interpreted by the readEr

Symbol

is an object, person, place, or action that stands for something beyond itself.
Example: a dove for peace

an object or action that stands for something beyond itself

Symbolism

is the use of symbols to represent deeper ideas.
Example: rain standing for sadness or cleansing

Allegory

is a poem or story where characters, events, or settings represent deeper moral, political, or spiritual meanings.
Example: a poem where a journey stands for the struggle of life

Allusion

is a brief or subtle reference to a well-known person, event, place, book, myth, or idea.
Example: “He was a real Romeo” to Shakespeare’s Romeo.

A subtle, intentional reference to a historical,

mythic, or literary person, place, event, or movement

Irony

is when what happens or what is said is the opposite of what is expected.
Types include:

• Verbal : saying the opposite of what you mean

• Situational : an unexpected outcome

• Dramatic : the audience knows something the characters do not

Example: Calling a terrible storm “beautiful weather.”

when contradictory statements or situations reveal a reality that is different from what appears to be tru

Paradox

is a statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth.
Example: “Less is more.”

: a situation that appears to be contradictory and

absurd but contains some measure of truth (“the days are

long but the years are short”)

Juxtaposition

means placing two contrasting things close together to show differences.
Example: A poem may place childhood innocence beside the harshness of war

when two things are placed close together to create a

contrasting effect

Satire

uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or wit to criticize people, society, or behavior.
Example: A poem making fun of greed or hypocrisy in society.

Parody

a humorous imitation of another work, style, or genre.
Example: A poem that copies the style of a famous poem in a funny way.

Cliché

A cliché is an overused expression or idea that has lost its originality.
Example: “Only time will tell.”

Proverb

A proverb is a short saying that expresses a general truth or piece of advice.
Example: “Beggars can’t be choosers.”

a short saying that states a very general truth or

piece of advice (“Beggars can’t be choosers“)

Simile

A simile compares two unlike things using like or as.
Example: “Her voice was like honey.”

the comparison of two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”

Metaphor

A metaphor compares two unlike things without using like or as.
Example: “Time is a thief.”

the comparison of two unlike things that share something in common without using the words “like” or “as”

Personification

Personification gives human traits, actions, or feelings to nonhuman things.
Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”

when an idea or object is given human attributes and/or feelings as if it were human

when an inanimate object is described as having human-like traits. For example-Night swallowed the sun's last ray of light

Hyperbole

Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.
Example: “I’ve been waiting forever.”

Hyperbole is extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.
Example: “I’ve been waiting forever.”

Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a combination of contradictory words.
Example: “Deafening silence” or “bittersweet”

a combination of two words that appear to contradict each other (such as: “bittersweet”)

Idiom

An idiom is a phrase with a meaning that cannot be understood literally.
Example: “It’s raining cats and dogs” means it is raining heavily.

a common expression whose fixed order has a particular meaning that can not be determined from its literal meaning (such as, “You’re in a pickle.”)

Pun

A pun is a play on words that uses multiple meanings or similar sounds for humor.
Example: “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough.”

a play on words usually when a single word with more than one meaning is used humorously to exploit both meanings (such as: “Make like a tree and leave

Euphemism

A euphemism is a softer, kinder, or less direct way of saying something unpleasant.
Example: “Passed away” instead of “died”

Apostrophe

is when the speaker addresses someone or something that is not present, dead, or unable to respond.
Example: “O moon, why do you hide tonight?”

Metonymy

is when a word or phrase is used to represent something closely related to it.
Example: “The crown” can mean the monarchy.

Alliteration

is repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
Example: “Wild winds whispered.”

the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words

Assonance

is repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.
Example: “The light fire brightened the night.”

repetition in vowel sounds in words that don’t end with the same consonant

Consonance

is repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words.
Example: “blank and think” or “pitter patter”

repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase

Onomatopoeia

is a word that imitates a sound.
Example: buzz, bang, hiss, splash

Rhyme

is the repetition of similar sounds, usually at the ends of words.
Example: cat / hat, light / night

Internal Rhyme

happens within the same line of poetry.
Example: “I went to town to buy a gown.”

External Rhyme

, also called end rhyme, happens at the ends of lines.
Example:
“The cat sat on the mat,
And wore a tiny hat.”

Rhyme Scheme

is the pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines, shown with letters like ABAB or AABB.
Example:
Line 1 ends in “day” = A
Line 2 ends in “play” = A
Line 3 ends in “night” = B
Line 4 ends in “light” = B

Slant Rhyme

is a near-rhyme, where the sounds are similar but not exact.
Example: worm / swarm, ways / grace

Rhythm

is the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem.
Example: A poem may feel fast and bouncy or slow and calm depending on rhythm.

Meter

is the regular pattern of rhythm in poetry.
Example: Many poems follow a consistent beat pattern.

Poetic Foot

A poetic foot is a repeated unit of meter made of stressed and unstressed syllables.
Example: The basic beat units that build a poem’s rhythm.

is a basic repeated sequence of meter composed of two or more accented or unaccented syllables

Iamb

is a poetic foot with one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable.
Example: re-LAX, be-LIEVE, de-SIRE

a metrical foot consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable

Iambic Pentameter

is a line of poetry with five iambs, or ten syllables total.
Example: Shakespeare often wrote in iambic pentameter.

a traditional form of rising meter consisting of Lines containing five iambic feet, or ten syllables

Caesura

is a pause within a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation.
Example: “To be, or not to be — that is the question.”

Enjambment

is when a sentence or phrase continues from one line to the next without a full stop.
Example: A line ends in the middle of a thought, and the meaning continues on the next line.

Repetition

is the repeated use of words, phrases, sounds, or ideas for emphasis.
Example: “Never, never, never give up.”

Anaphora

Anaphora is repetition at the beginning of successive lines or phrases.
Example:
“Every day I learn.
Every day I grow.
Every day I try.”

Diction

is the poet’s word choice.
Example: A poet might use formal diction in one poem and slangy, casual diction in another.

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing, reflecting the writer's style and tone.

Colloquialism

is informal, everyday language used in conversation or writing.
Example: gonna, y’all, ain’t, kinda

language that is informal or is used in ordinary conversation. Groups of people or regions can share colloquial words/language.

Connotation

is the emotional or associated meaning of a word, beyond its literal definition.
Example: “Home” suggests warmth, comfort, and safety.

Denotation

is the literal dictionary definition of a word.
Example: “Home” = the place where someone lives.

Imagery

is descriptive language that appeals to the senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
Example: “The sharp scent of pine filled the cold air.”

the mental images created in a reader’s mind. Imagery is created using descriptions, figurative language, rhyme, etc

Description

Poetic description often uses imagery to create strong mental pictures.

Contextual meaning

Words and images can mean more when you understand the poem’s background or setting.

Juxtaposition

As above, juxtaposition places contrasting ideas side by side.
Example: A peaceful garden beside a ruined city.

When two things are placed close together to create a contrasting effect

Oxymoron

Two opposite words together.
Example: “Act naturally”

a combination of two words that appear to contradict each other (such as: “bittersweet”)

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Paradox

A statement that seems impossible but contains truth.
Example: “The more you know, the more you realize how much you do not know.”

a situation that appears to be contradictory and absurd but contains some measure of truth (“the days are long but the years are short”)

Theme vs. Topic

• Topic = what it is about

• Theme = what it means

Example:
Topic: war
Theme: war destroys innocence

difference between rhyme and rhythm

Rhyme is the repetition of similar sounds in words, often at the end of lines, while rhythm is the pattern of sounds and beats in a line, created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Cliche

A phrase or expression that has been overused and lacks originality, often to the point of losing its original meaning or impact.

Figurative Language

Language that conveys meanings beyond the literal, often using techniques such as similes, metaphors, and personification.

describing something by comparing it to something else (like metaphors, similes, hyperboles, etc)

What is a Literary Device?

A literary device is either a literary element or a literary structure found in fictional writing

Readers analyze literary devices to develop a deeper understanding of the text

Character: Protag and Antag

a character is a person (or animal) in a literary work that takes part in the action

Protagonist: The leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text.  the main character in a work.

Antagonist: a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.  the character or force whose opposition to the protagonist is the main source of conflict

Static Character

characters that do not change throughout the course of the narrative. a static character does not go through a transformation or learn an important life lesson

Dynamic character

characters that change throughout the course of the narrative

a dynamic character experiences a transformation and/or learns a valuable life lesson

Round Character

-characters that display multiple character traits

-a complex character

-a character the audience know a lot about

-a relatable character

Flat Character

-characters that are two-dimensional and are relatively uncomplicated

-usually a side-kick

-oftentimes included infiction as comedic relief

Setting

The setting of a short story is the time andplace in which it is set.

When: time (hour of the day, day of the week,year, time period, season, etc.)

Where: location

plot

Plot - the events that make up a storyline

Exposition

Inciting Incident

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Conclusion

exposition

Introduces background

information about events,

settings, characters etc. to the

audience or readers.

 introduces the characters, and provides the setting and necessary background information.

inciting incident

The event that sets the

central conflict in motion.

 is the first point of conflict in the story. It sets the story in motion and drives the plot ahead. The initial incident focuses on what the story will be about.

rising action

A related series of incidents

in a literary plot that build

toward the point of greatest

interest.

is what happens between the initial incident and the climax of the story. It involves the obstacles and complications, the cause and effect.

climax

The point in a narrative at

which the conflict or tension

hits the highest point.

 is the turning point of the story, the highest point of tension. It is the point at which the conflict is to be resolved.

falling action

The part of a literary plot that

occurs after the climax has

been reached and the conflict

has been resolved.

 is part of the story right after the climax. The conflicts created in the initial incident are resolved.

conclusion/resolution

the conclusion of the story

where the conflict is fully

resolved.

s the final event in which the conflict is completely resolved. The author explains how and why everything turned out as it did.

conflict

the conflict is a literary element that involves

a struggle between two opposing forces –

usually the protagonist and an antagonist

the conflict is the main problem in the story

 A conflict is a struggle. Every story includes at least one of the four main types of conflict.

Internal Conflict

a struggle happening within a character’s mind

Character vs. Self – involves a struggle between the character and his/her conscience. Examples are a woman who is tempted to steal money from her employer and a child who cannot decide whether or not to lie to his mother.

External Conflict

a struggle between a character and an outside force (another character or nature)

Character vs. Character –

involves a direct struggle between two of the characters in a story. Examples include: a man and a wife who disagree about how their money should be spent; two little boys engaged in a fistfight; a boss who is firing an employee.

Character vs. Nature –

involves struggle between a character and elements of nature that are beyond his/her control. Examples are a family stranded by a snowstorm; a woman who is unable to function because of illness; a man stalked by a wild animal in a forest.

Character vs. Society –

involves a struggle between a character and the rulers or laws that govern the society in which he/ she lives. Examples include: a woman who runs a red light, a child who skips class.

point of view

the point of view is the narrator's position in

relation to the story being told

1st person:

The narrator is in the story

EX: I woke up that morning and wanted to buy some ice

cream.

3rd person:

The narrator is an outsider telling the

story

EX: He woke up that morning and wanted to buy some

ice cream.

3rd Person Point of View Limited

the outside narrator has

limited knowledge about

the characters

the outside narrator only

knows the thoughts and

feelings of one character

3rd Person Point of View omniscent

the outside narrator knows

everything

the outside narrator knows

the thoughts and feelings of

all of the characters