English Final Review

Foreshadowing

be a warning or indication of (a future event)

Metaphor

A comparison between 2 things that does not use “like” or “as”

Simile

A comparison between 2 things with the use of “like” or “as”

Personification

where human qualities or actions are given to non-human things

Imagery

the use of vivid, descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch) to create mental pictures for the reader

Symbol

something that stands for or represents something else

Situational irony

occurs when the outcome of an event is the opposite of what is expected

Dramatic irony

when the audience knows more than a character does

Verbal irony

when what is said is the opposite of the literal meaning

• sarcasm

Point of view

the perspective from which a story is told

Omniscient

omniscient narrator is one who knows everything about the story and characters

Limited third-person

the story is told by a narrator who is not part of the story, focusing on the perspective of a single character

Narrator

the person who tells a story, whether in a book, movie, or another medium

Author’s purpose

the reason why an author wrote a text

Theme

the main idea or message conveyed by a text or work of art

Tone

the overall feeling or attitude expressed by a piece of writing, speech, or sound

Diction

the choice and use of words in writing or speaking

Dialogue

a conversation between two or more people

Syntax

the rules governing the arrangement of words in a sentence to form phrases and clauses

arrangement of words and phrases in a specific order, shaping meaning

• “she only loves pizza” versus “only she loves pizza”

Dialect

a form of a language by a specific group

Anecdote

a short, interesting story or account of a particular incident or event

Stereotype

a simplified and often negative or untrue image or idea about a group of people or things

Setting

the time and place where a story or event occurs

Exposition

the introduction of background information in a story, play, or other narrative

Internal conflict

a struggle or tension that a character experiences within their own mind

External conflict

a struggle or opposition a character faces with an outside force, such as another character, nature, society, technology, or fate

Rising action

the part of a story that builds up the tension and suspense, leading towards the climax

Climax

point of highest intensity or turning point in a story or event

Falling action

what happens after the climax and before the ending, where the main conflict is resolved

Resolution (denouement)

where the main conflict is resolved, and loose ends are tied up

Nonfiction

writing that is based on real events, facts, and informatio

Autobiography

a story of a person's life, written or recorded by that person themselves

Biography

a written account of someone's life, typically focusing on their experiences, achievements, and the impact they had

Memoir

a type of autobiographical writing, but it typically focuses on a specific time or period in the author's life, rather than their entire life story

Sermon

a religious lengthy speech

Speech

the act of speaking or the ability to speak

Indirect characterization

reveals a character's traits and personality through their actions, speech, thoughts, and how other characters react to them, rather than directly stating them

• show; don’t tell

Direct characterization

when an author explicitly tells the reader what a character is like

Dynamic (round) character

a character in a story who undergoes significant change or growth throughout the narrativea

Static (flat) Character

a character in a story who remains largely unchanged throughout the narrative

Antagonist

a character, force, or idea that opposes the protagonist (main character) of a story

Protagonist

the main character in a story, play, or movie

Archetype

a basic, universal symbol or pattern of behavior that is recognizable across cultures and throughout history

Rhetoric

the art of using language effectively to persuade or influence others

Ethos

demonstrating trustworthiness and credibility to an audience

Pathos

an appeal to emotion in writing or speaking to persuade an audience

Logos

an appeal to logic and reason in persuasion

Puns

humorous use of words that have multiple meanings or sound similar to other words

• funny wordplay

Allusions

a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, event, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance

• "Her smile was as radiant as the Mona Lisa's."

Dramatic Irony

the audience is aware of something that the characters in the story are not

Soliloquy

an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play.

Monologue

a long speech delivered by a single character, often expressing their thoughts or emotions aloud, either directly to another character or to the audience

Aside

a brief comment or remark made by a character that is intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters in the scene

Foil

a character, element, or event that contrasts with another character, element, or event to highlight their qualities or significance

Paradox

a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd, but which, upon closer examination, may reveal a deeper truth or make sense

• "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

• “Save money by spending it.”

Double entendre

word or phrase that has two interpretations, with one often being suggestive, sexual, or offensive

Iambic Pentameter

a metrical line of poetry containing five iambs, each consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable

Sonnet

a 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter, meaning each line has 10 syllables with a stressed-unstressed rhythm

Onomatopoeia

words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they describe

Alliteration

the repetition of beginning consonant sounds in multiple words in a single line, sentence, or phrase

Assonance

a literary device that uses the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words
- "The cat sat on the mat" - repeated “a” sound

Consonance

a literary device that occurs when two words have the same consonant sound following different vowel sounds

• "Mike likes to hike and ride his bike.” - repeated “k” sound

Hyperbole

a figure of speech using extreme exaggeration for emphasis or effectIdiom

Idiom

a phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be derived from the literal meanings of the individual words within it

Oxymoron

a figure of speech where TWO contradictory terms are used together in a single phrase

• jumbo shrimp

• pretty ugly

Euphemism

a word or phrase substituted for another that is considered harsh, blunt, or offensive

• passed away instead of died

• let go instead of fired

Colloquialism

the use of informal, everyday language in writing

Epiphany

sudden, often transformative realization or moment of insight experienced by a character

Malapropism

the humorous misuse of a word in place of one that sounds similar, often to comedic effect

Cliche

an overused phrase, plot device, or character type that has lost its originality and impact due to repeated use

Comic relief

an author's use of humor to give the reader or audience an emotional break from the tension and heavy mood of a serious or tragic plot.

Apostrophe

a literary device in which the speaker addresses either an absent person or a non-human object, idea, or being

Couplet

a unit of poetry containing two lines of verse that form a singular thought or idea

Tragedy

a type of drama or narrative that focuses on a significant character who experiences a downfall or suffering, often due to a flaw in their character or unfavorable circumstances

Motif

an object, image, sound, or phrase that is repeated throughout a story to point toward the story's larger theme

Foreshadowing

a literary device where an author hints at or suggests events that will occur later in the story