literacy terms part 1

Aesthetic

the beauty of something

Allegory

a story with two or more levels of meaning--a literal level and a symbolic level--in which events

Alliteration

the repetition of initial consonant sounds at the beginnings of words

Allusion

the reference to a person

Ambiguity

vagueness: the state of having more than one possible meaning which often leads to misunderstanding because the meaning is not clear

Analogy

a comparison based on a similarity between things that are otherwise not similar

Analyze

to separate a whole into its parts; to examine and think critically about something

Antagonist

the person or force that creates conflict for the main character in a literary work

Argument

one or more reasons presented by a speaker or a writer to lead the audience or reader to a logical conclusion.

Aside

This is a short speech delivered by an actor in a play which expresses the actor's thoughts. It is usually said directly to the audience and not heard by other actors.

Author's Background

This includes information essential to understanding the author. A reader's experience with a literary work can be enhanced by knowing about the author's life and culture.

Author's Purpose

This is the author's reason for creating written work.

Believability

This is the ability to trust something as true or credible.

Bias

This is a prejudice that is leaning toward a positive or negative judgment on something; a personal judgment or opinion about a particular person

Central Idea

The key point made in a written passage; the chief topic.

Central Message

This is the theme of a story

Character

This is an individual's mental or moral quality.

Characterization

This is the combination of ways that an author shows readers what a person in a literary selection is like.

Characters

These are the people or animals who take part in a literary work.

Climax

This is the part of the plot where the conflict and tension reach a peak.

Comedy

This is a work of literature

Comic Relief

This is a funny or humorous episode inserted in the midst of a serious literary work. It is intended to relieve dramatic tension.

Compare

This is a method of relating how two or more elements or texts are SIMILAR.

Compare And Contrast

This is a method of relating two or more objects in a piece of work.

Complex

something that is complicated

Conclusion

This wraps up a piece of writing and reminds readers of the thesis.

Conflict

the main problem in a literary work.

Controlling Idea

the author's opinion or the perspective he/she wants to convey expressed through the thesis statement for an essay

Dialogue

the words spoken by characters in a literary work.

Diction

the writer's choice of words

Direct Characterization

when an author reveals a person in the story characterization by giving specific descriptions.

Drama

a story written to be performed by actors.

Dramatic Irony

when the audience or the readers know something that the characters do not know.

Dynamic Character

a person in a fictional work that changes during the course of the action.

Evaluate

placing a value

Evidence

information and support

Explain

to give extra information: to tell how

Extended Metaphor

This is a sustained comparison in which a subject is written or spoken of as if it were something else.

External Conflict

This is when a character has a problem with another character

Falling Action

This is the part of the plot where the conflict begins to be worked out and tensions lessen.

Figurative Language

This goes beyond the literal meanings of words to create special effects or feelings.

First Person

This is a point of view where the narrator is a character in the story and refers to him or herself with I.

First-person Point Of View

This is a point of view in which the story is told by one of the characters.

Flashback

This is a scene

Flat Character

This is a person in a fictional work that is never fully developed by the author.

Foreshadowing

the use of hints in written works about what will happen later.

Fourth Wall

the imaginary boundary that separates the audience from the fictional world of a play.

Genre

the category or type of literature.

Hyperbole

extreme exaggeration used in a literary work.

Idiom

This is a phrase in common use that can not be understood by literal or ordinary meanings.

Imagery

This is the use of language that appeals to the five senses--touch