BrainPower english exam prep

Allusion

A reference to famous or well known text

Atmosphere

The emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene

Character

A person in a story

Characterization

A method an author uses to let readers know more about the characters and their personal traits.

Conflict

a struggle between opposing forces;

person vs person

person vs self

person vs society

person vs supernatural

person vs nature

Dialogue

Conversation between characters

Foreshadowing

a technique for providing clues about events that may happen later in the story

Irony

a particular tone created when the speaker intends a meaning that is opposite to the words he or she says

Verbal Irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant aka Sarcasm

Dramatic Irony

when the audience knows more about a character's situation that the character does

Literary Devices

techniques or words used to create a particular effect; include allusion, foreshadowing, imagery, symbolism, metaphor, simile, sound devices, etc.

Mood

the overall feeling created by Diction, setting, Literary Concepts

Narrator

the speaker who tells the story; may be a character who participates in the story or may be the author of a story or poem; speaker and author are not always the same

Plot

the author's arrangement of events that make up the action of a story

Climax

the moment when the action comes to its highest point of dramatic conflict

Falling Action

follows the climax and leads to the resolution and a sharp decline in dramatic tension

Resolution

follows the falling action and pulls together all the loose threads of the story; also called the conclusion or denouement

Point of View

the perspective the author establishes to tell the story

First Person Participant

the narrator participates in the action of the story (I)

Third Person Observer

the narrator does not participate in the action of the story; may be classified as omniscient (he, she, Mary, Mr. Tucker, etc)

First Person Limited

the narrator presents his or her own thoughts which is only one side of the story

Sarcasm

harsh or bitter verbal irony in what one is saying

Setting

time and place

Alliteration

the repetition of the beginning sounds in groups of words, usually at the beginning of a word or stressed syllable

Assonance

the close repetition of the me vowel sounds between different consonants

Figurative Language

language that uses figures of speech, such as simile, metaphor, personification, and alliteration; used extensively to create imagery

Free Verse

poems characterized by their nonconformity to established patterns of meter, rhyme and stanza

Hyperbole

an exaggerated statement used not to deceive, but for humorous or dramatic effect

Imagery

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

Onomatopoeia

the sound of a word resemble its meaning

Personification

a literary device in which human qualities or actions are attributed to non-human beings or objects

Poetry

A kind of rhythmic, compressed language that uses figures of speech and imagery designed to appeal to our emotions and imagination.

Repetition

the deliberate use of the same word, words, or events to create an effect

Rhythm

the beat of the song or poem

Stanza

what a paragraph is to a piece of prose; they a separated from one another by the use of spaces within a poem

Suspense

a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.

Symbolism

A person, place or object which has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well

Bias

person belief about something based on a benefit or experience in the past

Diction

the author's choice of words, the vocabulary level of the story

Essay

A brief examination of a subject in prose, usually expressing a personal or limited view of the topic.

Essay Structure

Introduction, 3 Supporting Details Conclusion

Genre

a type or class of literary texts within which there are sub categories of forms

Thesis

in the central argument of an essay; a complete sentence that establishes the topic of the essay in clear, unambiguous language

Topic Sentence

a sentence stating the main idea of the paragraph

Chorus

the main part of a poem or song

Drama

a play that has a special genre

Soliloquy

the act of talking while or as if alone; often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermost thoughts

Stock character

based on stereotypes

Verbal irony

a phrase that means the opposite of what the speaker has said

Dramatic irony

when the audience or a character knows something another character doesn't know

Situational Irony

when the result is opposite of what is expected

Point of view

perspective

Static character

a character who's attitude doesn't change throughout the story

Dynamic character

a character who's attitude does change during the story

Symbol

something that represents a deeper meaning

Tone

the vocal attitude of the character or person

Protagonist

the leading character

Antagonist

the protagonists opponent

Simile

a comparison using like or as

Metaphor

a comparison with is or was, a direct comparison

Rhyme scheme

the order in which the poem or story rhymes

soliloquy

a character that speaks while the others on stage can not hear them

First person

the story is being told from a certain character's perspective

Third person

a narrator that tells the story based on the actions of the characters

Pun

a phrase used to suggest a second meaning usually witty

Oxymoron

when a phrase contains two words contradict each other

Rhyme

two words that sound similar

Third Person Omniscient

Point of view in which an all-knowing narrator who is sharing the thoughts and actions of any or all characters.

Third Person Limited

Narrator sees the world through only one characters eyes and thoughts.

Third Person Objective

The narrator is an outsider who can report only what he or she sees and hears. This narrator can tell us what is happening, but he can't tell us the thoughts of the characters.

Inciting Incident

event that introduces the central conflict

Rising Action

Events leading up to the climax

Narrative

simply a story

Visual Imagery

sight

Auditory Imagery

sound

Tactile Imagery

touch

Olfactory Imagery

smell

Gustatory Imagery

taste

Moral

A practical lesson about right and wrong conduct often stated at the conclusion of an instructive story such as a fable.

Pathetic Fallacy

when the weather matches the character's moods

Verse

A single line of poetry

Narrative Poem

a poem that tells a story

Explicit Theme

theme actually stated in the text

Implicit Theme

theme is suggested by the author but not stated

Theme

The universal truth about humans in general

Play

a story acted out live, using dialogue and action