ENGLISH MIDTERM (LITURATURE)

theme

basic insight into life; the central point of the story

• Ex. good vs. evil; fear of death; innocence vs. experience

Plot

sequence of events

exposition (plot)

the opening of the story

conflict / inciting incident (plot)

the basic problem of the story; what the story is about

types: man v. man (conflict/inciting incident)

• man v. nature

• man vs. God

• man v. himself

• man vs. society/technology

• man vs. fate

development/rising action

the period in the story during which the conflict increases

climax

high point of interest or suspense; the deciding moment

resolution/falling action

end of the conflict; the point at which the problem is solved

denouement

any action that occurs after the resolution (may not be included in the story)

Characterization

how an author creates and develops his characters

Three methods of Characterization:
ONE

through what the author / narrator tells us about the character (direct characterization)

Three methods of Characterization:
TWO

through what the other characters say about him/how they react to him (indirect characterization)

Three methods of Characterization:
THREE

through what the character himself says, thinks, and does (indirect characterization)

(Character types)

Round

shows emotional complexity and development

(Character types)

Flat

exhibiting only a single quality; a stereotype

(Character types)

Static

remain the same throughout the course of the story; events do not cause them to change

(Character types)

Dynamic

affected by plot events and undergo change

Point of View

the speaker or character who tells the story

Three views:

first person, third person limited, & third person omniscient

first person

• A character in the story tells the story.

• The author must tell us only things that the one character knows or experiences.

• told as “I”

• may not be reliable

third person limited

• told from outside the story

• seen through only one character’s eyes

• can reveal only one character’s thoughts /feelings

third person omniscient

• told from outside the story

• all-knowing; can tell (but doesn’t have to tell) everybody’s thoughts/feelings

• sometimes reveals details to readers the characters

Atmosphere/Mood

the overall feeling of the story, usually created by setting and word choice

Tone

the author’s attitude toward a subject

Setting

the time and place of a story

• affects what can happen in a story

• affects mood of story

Style

techniques an author may use in his writing

foreshadowing (STYLE)

hints from the author about what will happen in the story

symbolism (STYLE)

using one thing to stand for or represent something else

allusion (STYLE)

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

flashback (STYLE)

a part of the story that is a recollection of events from a time before the current story

irony (STYLE)

the difference between what is expected and what results, between appearance and reality, or between meaning and intention

verbal irony (STYLE → IRONY)

words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant

dramatic irony (STYLE → IRONY)

what the character thinks is different from what the audience knows to be true

irony of situation (STYLE → IRONY)

something happens that directly contradicts the expectations of the reader, characters, or audience

figurative language devices (STYLE):

hyperbole (overstatement)

an exaggeration for emphasis or humorous effect

figurative language devices (STYLE):

metaphor

A comparison between two objects with the intent of giving clearer meaning to one of them. Often forms of the ”to be” verb are used, such as “is” or “was,” to make the comparison.

figurative language devices (STYLE):

personification

A figure of speech which endows animals, ideas, or inanimate objects with human traits or abilities

figurative language devices (STYLE):

simile

A comparison between two objects using a specific word or comparison such as “like,” “as,” or “than.”