English vocab 2026-27

Alliteration

Repetition of the same/similar first “sound” words make.

Allusion

Reference made to a well known person, event, history, literacy, art, or music work

Antagonist

Force that opposes against the main character

Argument

Type of writing that gives an opinion/idea with supporting evidence

Audience

Intended readers, listeners, or viewers of written, spoken, or visual texts

Bias

Mental leaning/inclination to go for or against something that prevents fair/impartial judgement

Characterization

Methods a writer uses to develop characters

Claim

Position statement (thesis) that asserts an idea or makes an argument for a certain position

Climax

The turning point where the outcome of a conflict is decided

Conflict

Struggle between opposing forces

Connotation

Associations attached to a word beyond its literal definition (the vibe of the word whether it implies positive or negative feeling)

Counterclaim

Position taken by someone with an opposing POV

Credibility

Quality of being trusted or believable

Denotation

The literal definition of a word

Denouement

The end of a story which the main conflict is resolved (resolution)

Diction

writers choice of words that convey voice and tone (how it sounds)

Direct characterization

Specific info on a character provided by the author

Dramatic irony

Reader is aware of something the character isn’t

Dynamic character

Character that grows and learns as a result of the story

Ethos

Rhetorical (persuasion) appeal that looks at the qualifications of the speaker

Evidence

Info that supports/proves an idea or claim

Exposition

Background info needed to understand a story (context usually before the story)

Falling action

Events in a story that follows the climax and leads to resolution

Figurative language

Writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally

Flat character

An uncomplicated character that doesn’t change or grow

Foil

Character who is a contrast to the other (opposites)

Genre

Major category of type of literature

Imagery

Details that appeal to the five senses

Indirect characterization

Character info develops through their thoughts, actions, speech, interactions, and appearance

Inference

Conclusion of ideas or info though it’s not directly stated

Irony

Literary device that involves contradiction (opposite/contrast) between expectation and reality

Juxtaposition

Arrangement of two or more things to show comparison

Logos

Rhetorical appeal that uses factual evidence and logic to appeal to the audiences sense of reason

Metacognition

Ability to know and be aware of one’s own thought process

Metaphor

Comparison of two unlike things where one thing is spoken as if it were the other thing

Mood

Atmosphere or general feeling in a literary work

Objective

Based on factual info

Paraphrase

Restate ideas briefly from another source in your own words

Pathos

Rhetorical appeal to readers senses and emotions

Persona

Voice taken by a writer to express ideas or beliefs that may not be their own

Personification

Figure of speech that gives human qualities to an animal, object, or idea

Plagiarism

Unattributed use of another writers words or ideas (stealing)

Plot

Sequence of events in a story

POV

Perspective which a narrative is told

Protagonist

Central character in a work of literature

Rhetoric

Art of using words to persuade

Rhetorical appeals

Use of emotional, ethical (trust/moral principles), and logical arguments to persuade

Rhetorical devices

Techniques used in writing or speaking to create literary effect (impact on viewer) or enhance effectiveness

Rising action

Series of events that develop into conflict; begins with inciting force and ends with climax

Setting

The time and place in which a story happens

Situational irony

When an event contradicts the expectations of the character or reader (opposite things can make it funny)

Stanza

Group of lines that form a unit in a poem

Symbol

Anything that represents itself but also stands for another thing on a figurative level

Syntax

Arrangement of words in phrases/sentences

Synthesis

Combining ideas from different sources to create, express, or support a new idea

Theme

Writers central idea or main message about life

Thesis

Statement that expresses the main idea of an essay

Tone

Writers/speakers attitude toward a subject

Topic sentence

Sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph

Verbal irony

Occurs when a speaker says one thing while meaning the opposite