English Literary and Figurative Language

Plot

The sequence of events in a story or play

The sequence of events

1. Exposition (character, setting, background)
2. Rising action
3. climax
4. falling action
5. resolution

The climax & resolution happen at the same time

Scene

The parts of the story in which events take place

Conflict

Opposing forces that tie incidents together and move the plot

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Internal conflict

Character vs self

External conflict:

Character vs character, nature, society

Setting

The time and location a story takes place

Character

A person in a fictional story

Characterization

The process by which the writer reveals personality of a character. Direct and indirect

Protagonist

The main character. All major events are important to this character

Antagonist

The enemy of the main character

Character Foil

Taking two characters and putting them together to highlight their personalities. Make them seem more.

Point of View

The angle from which the story is told. First, second, & third.

Theme

The author’s message or moral of the story

Allusion

A reference to someone or something

Symbolism

Anything that stands for or represents something else which is used to represent something abstract

Tone

The attitude of the writer toward a subject or auidence

Verbal irony

We understand the opposite of what the speaker says

Situational irony

When one event is expected to occur but the opposite happens.

Dramatic irony

When the auidence knows more than the character

Foreshadowing

A warning or indication of something that will happen in the future. Often to create dramatic irony

Flashback

An interruption of the chronological sequence of an event of an earlier occurrence. They go back to past events to provide context to the current event.

Juxtaposition

Two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effects

Metaphor

A direct comparison of two unlike things

Simile

A comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as”

Personification

A specific type of metaphor where human qualitites are given to non living objects

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken seriously

Dicition

The deliberate choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing

Imagery

Visually descriptive or figurative language; appeals to the five senses