English Language Arts Flashcards

Blank Verse

Unrhymed iambic pentameter, often used in dramatic and narrative poetry.

Comic Relief

A humorous scene or character in a serious work to lighten the mood.

Allusion

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

Foil Character

A character who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities.

Soliloquy

A speech in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, typically alone on stage.

Iambic Pentameter

A meter in poetry consisting of five iambs per line.

Pun

A play on words that exploits the different meanings of a term or sounds of words. For example, 'Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.'

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that juxtaposes contradictory terms. For example, 'bittersweet' is an oxymoron that highlights conflicting emotions.

Tragedy

A dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character.

Monologue

A long speech by one character in a play or narrative.

Aside

A remark by a character intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters.

Tragic Hero

A protagonist with a fatal flaw that leads to their downfall.

Sonnet

A 14-line poem typically written in iambic pentameter.

Prose vs. Poetry

Prose is written in ordinary language, while poetry often uses meter, rhyme, and figurative language.

Figurative Language

Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning different from the literal interpretation.

Foreshadowing

A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally. For example, 'I've told you a million times!'

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality, often highlighting discrepancies.

Simile

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things. For example, "Time is a thief that steals our moments."

Personification

Attributing human characteristics to non-human objects or abstract concepts. For example, 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

Symbolism

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses and creates visual representations.

Tone

The author's attitude or approach towards the subject matter.

Mood

The atmosphere or emotional condition created by a piece of writing.

Theme

The central idea or underlying message of a literary work.

Characterization: direct and indirect

Direct characterization describes a character explicitly, while indirect shows character through actions and dialogue.

Connotation

The implied or suggested meaning of a word beyond its literal definition. For example, the word 'home' connotes warmth, comfort, and security, while 'house' simply refers to a physical structure.

Epic Hero

A larger-than-life figure who embodies the values of a particular culture.

Epic Simile

A detailed comparison in the form of a simile that extends beyond a single phrase.

Epithet

A descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.

Damsel in Distress

A literary trope that depicts a young woman in need of rescue.

The 3 major stages of an epic hero’s journey

Separation: the hero leaves home, Initiation: the hero faces trials, and Return: the hero returns home transformed.

In “Media Res”

A literary technique where a story begins in the middle of the action.