English Lit Terms (S1)

Theme

An insight about human nature that is revealed through a literary work. More than simply identifying a thematic topic.

Story arc

A classic pattern used to tell a story

Exposition

Introduction to the story, includes the character’s, setting, mood, and time

Mood

The atmosphere and emotion created by the setting and tone.

Conflict

The primary problem that drives the plot of the story. The main goal for the protagonist to achieve or overcome.

Protagonist

Main character, the ‘hero; who is driven to find a resolution to the conflict, usually experience some change over the story.

Rising Action

All of the events leading up to the eventual climax, includes the caharacte’s development and events that create suspense

Climax

The most exciting part of the story, the turning point for the plot or goals of the main character

Falling action

everything that happens as a resist of the climax, the wrapping-up or plot points, questions being answered and character development.

Resolution

not always a happy ending, but it does complete the story. It can leave the reader with questions, answers, frustration, or satisfaction.

Figurative language

creates an image or picture in the mind of the reader

Simile

A comparison of two things using like or as

Metaphor

A comparison of two things without using like or as.

Hyperbole

An exaggeration

Onomatopeia

A word meant to imitate a sound

Personification

Giving a non human thing human like characteristics

Idiom

Not something meant to be taken literally

Alliteration

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

Consonance

Alliteration but with consanants

Assonance

Alliteration of vowels

Point of view/narration

The narrator’s position in relation to the story being told. (Pay attention to pronouns to identify POV)

1st person

Uses I or we to narrate a story, allowing readers to experience events through the narrator's perspective.

Third person limited

Focuses on one character

3rd person omniscient

narrator knows all iner thoughts of every character

3rd objective

a journalistic approach, non biased.

Antagonist

Opponent who block the protagonist

Antihero

When the protagonist is actually a villain of the story, but we empathize with them

Foil

A character who serves as a direct contrast to another character as a device to emphasize the qualities of the main character

Symbols and symbolism

When something that has meaning itself represent something else or stands for a bigger idea.

Tone

The author’s attitude and feelings being portrayed about what is going on in the story though word choice

Mood

The atmosphere and emotions the author wants the reader to feel that contribute and build up the environment.

Archetypes

A theme, motif, symbol, or stock character that holds a familiar and fixed place in a culture’s consciousness.

Allegory

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Extended Metaphor

a version of metaphor that extends over the course of multiple lines, paragraphs, or stanzas of prose or poetry.

Diction

the selection of words an author uses to create a specific impact or tone in their writing

Dialect

a particular form of a language which pertains to a specific region or social group.

Dialogue

conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie.

puns

a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings.

Paradox

Something that contradicts something else

Direct characterization

Directly telling the character’s attributes

Indirect characterization

The author revealing the character by showing throughout certain scenes in a book or movie. Not directly stated

Flat character

characters that are mostly one-dimensional and don't have a lot of backstory or depth.

Round character

lifelike or complex

Static character

one that doesn't change from the start of the story through to the end.

Dynamic character

A character that undergoes change throughout a story

Foreshadowing

When an author suggests something bad is about to happen

Flashback

A time in the story when it goes back to give a reader background informationR

rhetoric

the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.