GHE 1 Final Exam Vocab Review

Allusion

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

Aside

a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage

comedy

A humorous work of drama

Comedy of Manners

Comedy that ridicules the manners (way of life, social customs, etc.) of a certain segment of society

comic relief

A humorous scene or speech intended to lighten the mood

Crisis or Climax

a turning point in the plot after which the situation for the main character will either improve or grow worse

descriptive writing

writing that paints a picture of a person, place, thing, or idea

dramatic irony

Irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.

expository writing

writing that explains or informs

fantasy

a story that concerns an unreal world or contains unreal characters; a fantasy may be merely whimsical, or it may present a serious point

farce

(n.) a play filled with ridiculous or absurd happenings; broad or far-fetched humor; a ridiculous sham

figurative language

Language that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.

Flashback

a scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story.

Foreshadowing

A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.

Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Imagery

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

Inferences

A conclusion logically drawn from presented information; not directly stated

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

Melodrama

A literary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response.

Metaphor

A comparison without using like or as

Mood

Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader

Motif

a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition

Narrative

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.

Personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

persuasive writing

writing that attempts to convince the reader or listener to adopt a particular opinion or course of action

poetic justice

When characters "get what they deserve" in the end of a story.

problem play

a drama that represents a social issue in order to awaken the audience to it

sensory details

words and phrases that create imagery by using the 5 senses

simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

sililoquy

a speech when a character is alone on a stage and expresses thoughts aloud

style

the choices a writer makes; the combination of distinctive features of a literary work

Symbol

A thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.

tone

Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character

Tragedy

A serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character

tragic flaw

A weakness or limitation of character, resulting in the fall of the tragic hero.

Assonance

Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity

Conssonance

Repetition of consonant sounds

Example: Smuck, Truck, Duck