parks lit term final

Conflict

occurs when the protagonist is opposed by some person or force: man vs. self, man, society, or nature

Point of View

Perspective from which the story is told

Characterization

Method a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character

Protagonist

Hero or central character of the story.

Antagonist

The character or force that opposes the protagonist.

Foil

A character who sets off the main character by comparison-usually the opposite of the main character.

Soliloquy

A moment when the character is alone and speaks his or her thoughts.

Aside

A character alone makes a short speech directly to the audience, but not to the characters in the play.

Stereotype

a character who possesses 1-2 easily recognized & identified traits which enable the observer to accurately predict behavior and personality.

Archetype

A typical character that represents universal patterns of human nature; the "collective unconscious" of mankind (Jung). I.E. Hero, Villain, Tempter, Sidekick, Caregiver, Love interest

Plot

The structure of a story; sequence in which the author arranges events.

Exposition

background information in a story - setting, characters, conflicts - that helps set up the storyline.

Setting

time and place of a story.

Rising Action

Follows the exposition, the events leading to the climax and builds suspense.

Climax

Point at which the conflict solves, the ending becomes clear-the turning point in the story

Falling Action

The events after the climax that lead to the end/resolution.

Resolution

The part of the story that establishes a new way things are going to be- life after the conflict is solved.

Flashback

A reference to an event that took place prior to the beginning of the story.

Foreshadowing

The author's use of "hinting" what's to come.

Style

How authors create meaning using figurative language, diction, sound effects and other literary devices

Syntax

The way words are structured together to make meaning

Diction

Author's choice of words

Denotation

The literal meaning of something - the dictionary definitions

Connotation

The unspoken, emotional meaning, or the associations that are implied by a word

Ambiguity

A statement which can contain two or more meanings

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in a group of words.

Imagery

A group of words appealing to one or more of the senses - sound, smell, touch, see, taste.

Symbolism

Device in literature in which an object represents an idea

Allusion

Reference to another literary work/event/person/history/etc..

Personification

Figure of speech in which something nonhuman is given human characteristics.

Simile

A comparison between two things using the word "like" or "as"

Metaphor

A comparison is made without using "like" or "as".

Oxymoron

A statement in which two opposing words are paired together. (E.g. Open Secret)

Motif

an idea, object, symbol or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work to develops or explains a theme/overall message.

Juxtaposition

The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with a contrasting effect.

Inference

A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and/or reasoning.

Hyperbole

An exaggeration or overstatement

Understatement

A statement that lessens or minimizes the importance of what is meant.

Verbal Irony

The contrast between what is said and what is meant.

Dramatic Irony

A contrast between what the character thinks and what the reader knows.

Situational Irony

The contrast between what happens and what is expected to happen.

Rhyme Scheme

Order in which rhyming words occur in a poem.

Tone

The emotion of a work - the author's attitude toward the subject.

Mood

The atmosphere created or emotions a reader feels in a literary work.

Theme

The main idea, lesson to be learned, view/opinion of life (or patterns of life) that the author wants to show.