Vocab and Lit Terms

Exposition

The beginning of the plot where the author introduces the reader to characters, setting, narrator, and point of view.

Rising Action

The second part of a plot diagram where events begin and build suspense and create conflict.

Climax

The third part of the plot diagram; the turning point of the story

Falling action

The fourth part of the plot diagram with no new events or plot points; after the crisis and before the resolution

Resolution/Denouement

The fifth part of the plot diagram where conflict is resolved and the story concludes.

Foreshadowing

A hint to things to come 

Internal conflict

a character struggles with his or her own opposing desire, beliefs, or needs

External conflict

a character struggles against an outside force

Mood/Atmosphere

the feeling  the reader gets from a piece of literature

Point of View

the perspective from which the story is told

First-person point of view

the narrator is a character who participates in the action of the story and uses I and me to describe himself or herself

Third person omniscient point of view

the narrator knows everything, including the thoughts and felling of all the characters 

Third person limited point of view

The narrator see things through one character’s eyes and reveals that character’s feeling and thoughts 

Symbolism

a symbol is an object, person, place, etc. that means more than what it actually is

Setting

Time and place in which a story occurs

Assuage

To ease, to mitigate to make less painful or burdensome, to calm

Malevolent

Showing a desire to harm another

Erratic

Acting in a way that is not regular or expected

Fractious

Causing trouble

Scuppernongs

A type of grape native to the southern part of United States

Asinine

Stupid or silly

Benign

Not causing harm

Impudent

To be shamelessly bold and disregard other, rude, disrespectful

Dismemberment

The act of cutting off a person’s or animals limbs

Taciturn

Almost always silent

Aberration

The act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course

Adjacent

Lying near, close, or contiguous: neighboring: adjoining

Deportment

demeanor ; conduct; behavior

Inconspicuous

 Not noticeable or prominent

Inordinately

Not within proper or reasonable limits; immoderate; excessive

Invective

An insulting or abusive word or expression

Libel

Defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or any form other than by spoken words or gestures

Obstreperous

Noisy and difficult to control

Rudiments

The elements or first principles of a subject

Unfathomable

Not able to be completely understood; incomprehensive

Hyperbole

figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion

Metaphor

comparison between two things without using like or as

Allusion

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

Juxtaposition

an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast

Euphemism

a mild word substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing

Colloquialism

informal speech that people use in everyday language

Broad generalization

 a statement mostly based on limited knowledge about a large group of things, places, or people

Protagonist

main character or hero of story

Antagonist

a  character or force in conflict with main character or protagonist

Allegory

a story with two or more levels of meaning - a literal level and one or more symbolic levels 

Analogy

comparison between two or more things that are similar in some ways but other ways unlike

Direct Characterization

a method of indicating what a character is like by directly setting their personality traits 

Indirect Characterization

 a method of indicating what a character is like by revealing their personality through descriptions of their actions, speech, appearance, and interaction with other character

Foil

 a character who provides a strong contrast to another character

Motif

 recurring object, theme, idea, etc.

Narrator

speaker or character who tells the story

Testimonial

formal statement testifying to someone or something’s character

Tone

reflection of a writer's or speaker's attitude toward a subject of literary work

Ambidextrous

equality skillful with each hand

Degradation

a state of low honor or moral character

Detached

showing lack of emotional involvement

Devoid

completely wanting or lacking

Expunge

remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line

Formidable

extremely impressive in strength or excellence

Infallible

never wrong

Scrutiny

the act of examining something closely,  as for mistakes 

Stifle

hold back; suppress

Venerable

impressive on account of age or historic associations.

Analogous

Similar; comparable

Cordial

Warm and friendly

Ensuing

Occurring afterward or as a result

Indicative

Serving as a sign or indication of something

Placidly

Calmly; quietly

Prowess

Superior ability or skill

Succinct

Clear and brief

Subtlety

The quality or state of being subtle

Perpetrate

To bring about or carry out

Subsequent

following in time, order, or place

Anecdote

Brief story told to entertain or to make a point.

Author purpose

An author main reason for writing

Dynamic character

A character who experiences a physical or mental change throughout a work.

Static character

A character who remains the same throughout the work.

Round character

A character who has many different qualities

Flat character

A character a reader knows for having one main quality

Context

Set of facts or circumstances surrounding and event or a situation in a piece of literature

squander

spend thoughtlessly; throw away

flounder

behave awkwardly or with difficulty

elude

be incomprehensible to, failure to understand

reprimand

 censure severely or angrily

irascible

having or showing a tendency to be angry

staccato

abrupt, disjointed, short

turmoil

 a state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, or commotion

indentation

an angular cut or something resembling such a cut in an edge

competent

having the capacity to function or develop in a particular way

acquiescence

passive acceptance or submission

archetype

type of character, detail, image, or situation that appears in literature throughout history

onomatopoeia

use of words that imitate sounds

symbol

an object, person, place etc. that means more than what it is

theme

central message of a work

simile

comparison of two unlike things using like or as

fallacy

erroneous reasoning that renders arguments logically unsound

paradox

statement that seems to say two opposite things, but that may be true