English 10 Accelerated Lit Terms

allusion

an implied or indirect reference in literature to a familiar person, place, thing, event, etc.

verbal irony

when one means the opposite of what he/she says—creates a sarcastic tone

dramatic irony

when the audience knows more than the characters in a work

situational irony

an action or event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result

metaphor

comparison between two unlike things where no words of comparison are used

similie

a comparison using “like” or “as”

hyperbole

an exaggeration or overstatement

literary non-fiction

non fiction that uses literary elements—biography, travel, memoir, blogs, some historical writinf

author’s purpose (macro)

to inform, entertain, persuade, or convince

author’s purpose (micro)

a message/idea/concept/philosophy that the author subtly imparts to the reader; something that the author wants you to take from the work

allegory

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

paradox

something that appears contradictory but is actually true

symbolism

the use of an object to represent an idea

point of view

the perspective from which a story is told (1st, 2nd, 3rd limited/omniscient)

tone

the attitude of the author toward the audience, characters, or subject of the work itself (expressed as an adj)

mood

the way an audience feels during reading (expressed as an adj)

archetype

a character, action or symbol, or situation that is a prototype/pattern of human life

imagery

descriptive or figurative language in a literary work

characterization

the method an author uses to reveal characters and their traits

direct characterization

description that you can rely on as truth because it is free of bias (stage direction, 3rd person omniscient)

indirect characterization

description that is colored by bias or opinion (1st person, dialogue, 3rd person limited)

conflict

a struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions

setting

the time and place in which a story unfolds

dialogue

conversation between characters or speakers in a literary work

exposition

a narrative device, often used at the beginning of a work, that provides necessary background information about the characters and their circumstances

plot

the structure of a story, sequence of events in which the author arranges events in a story, includes rising action, falling action, climax, and resolution

bias

the subtle presence of a positive or negative approach to a topic

true rhyme

when ending consonants and vowel sounds are the same (ear, dear)

slant rhyme/near rhyme

when the ending consonant and vowel sounds are similar, but not exactly the same (manage/damage, principle/invincible)

rhythm

the measured flow of stressed and unstressed syllables

alliteration

repeated beginning sounds in consecutive words

assonance

repeated vowel sounds within words

consonance

repeated consonant sounds within words

onamatopoeia

life sounds—words that imitate a sound found in life (buzz, splash, boom, sizzle)

free verse

poetry that doesn’t rhyme