English I Exam Review Guide for 2024

Protagonist

The main character of the story; the one the audience usually roots for.

Antagonist

The character or force that opposes the protagonist.

Round Character

A complex, well-developed character with many traits (both good and bad).

Flat Character

A simple, one-dimensional character with only one or two traits.

Static Character

A character who does not change throughout the story.

Dynamic Character

A character who does undergo significant internal change.

S.T.E.A.L.

An acronym for Speech, Thoughts, Effects on others, Actions, Looks.

Internal conflict

Man vs. Self.

External conflict

Man vs. Society, Man vs. Fate/Nature, Man vs. Character.

Plot

The sequence of events in a story that shows cause and effect.

Exposition

The beginning of the story where characters, setting, and background info are introduced.

Rising action

The series of events that build tension and develop the conflict.

Climax

The turning point or most intense moment of the story.

Falling action

Events that occur after the climax as the conflict begins to resolve.

Resolution

The end of the story where loose ends are tied up.

Theme

The underlying message, lesson, or moral of a story.

Narrator/Speaker

The person or voice telling the story or poem.

Setting

The time and place in which the story occurs.

Point of view

The perspective from which the story is told.

Flashback

A scene that interrupts the present action to show something from the past.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.

Tone

Language that shows the author's attitude (based on emotions and perspective).

Mood

Atmosphere created by the author's word choice/style (vocabulary and phrasing).

Alliteration

Repetition of the same starting consonant sound in nearby words.

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell).

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unrelated things (without 'like' or 'as').

Simile

A comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

Symbol

A person, object, or action that represents a deeper meaning.

Personification

Giving human qualities to nonhuman things.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Free verse

Poetry that does not follow a regular meter or rhyme scheme.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate natural sounds.

Repetition

Repeating words, phrases, or lines for emphasis or effect.

Irony

A contrast between what is expected and what actually happens or is said.

Dramatic Irony

The audience knows something the characters do not.

Situational Irony

When the opposite of what is expected actually happens.

Verbal Irony

Saying one thing but meaning the opposite (often sarcasm).

Connotation

The emotional or cultural meaning of a word beyond its dictionary definition.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Epic

A long narrative poem that tells the adventures of a hero who embodies the values of a culture.

Epic hero

The main character in an epic—usually brave, noble, and admired for great achievements or affected by grand events. Example: Odysseus in The Odyssey is an epic hero.

Epic Setting

The time and place of an epic. It's vast—often includes multiple nations, worlds, or even the universe. Example: The Odyssey spans ancient Greece, islands, and oceans.

Archetypes

Universal character types or symbols found in literature across cultures. Examples: The hero, the villain, the mentor, the journey, the temptation.

Epic simile

An extended, elaborate simile that goes on for several lines, comparing heroic or epic events to everyday things. Example: 'As a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze / in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam... / just so that eye sizzled around the spike.' (The Odyssey)

Epic themes

Universal ideas like good vs. evil, life and death, courage, loyalty, or the power of fate. Example: Loyalty and perseverance are key themes in The Odyssey.

Epic plot

A long, complicated journey full of strange creatures, large-scale events, and dangerous challenges. Example: Odysseus facing the Cyclops, Sirens, and gods on his way home.

Epithet

A brief descriptive phrase used to characterize a person or thing—often repeated. Examples: 'Swift-footed Achilles', 'rosy-fingered dawn'.

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work. Example: Mentioning 'the Trojan Horse' in a modern story alludes to Greek mythology.

Tragedy

A serious play with a sad or disastrous ending, usually involving the downfall of a main character due to a flaw or fate. Example: Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy.

Tragic hero

A protagonist who is noble but has a fatal flaw (tragic flaw) that leads to their downfall. Example: Romeo's impulsiveness and Macbeth's ambition are their tragic flaws.

Character foil

A character who contrasts with another (usually the protagonist) to highlight certain traits. Example: Benvolio (peaceful) is a foil to Tybalt (hot-headed) in Romeo and Juliet.

Word play

Clever use of words—often puns, double meanings, or witty exchanges. Example: Shakespeare uses lots of wordplay in his comedies and tragedies alike.

Blank verse

Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter (used in most of Shakespeare's serious dialogue).

Soliloquy

A long speech by a character alone on stage, revealing their inner thoughts. Example: 'To be, or not to be...' - Hamlet.

Aside

A brief comment a character makes directly to the audience (or to themselves), not heard by other characters. Example: When a character mutters under their breath or shares a secret thought.

Comic relief

Humorous scenes or characters in a serious play that relieve tension.

Iambic pentameter

A line of poetry with 10 syllables (5 pairs of alternating unstressed and stressed beats). Example: 'But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?'

Pun

A joke based on a play on words—same sound, different meaning. Example: 'Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.' - Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet.

Stage directions

Instructions in the script for actors' movements, actions, or emotions (often in italics or parentheses). Example: (Enter Lady Macbeth with a letter).

Dialogue

The conversation between characters in a play. Example: All spoken exchanges in a script.

Plot Diagram

Identify each part of the plot.

Lead-in

Quote introduction. Example: According to....

Paraphrase

Restating information or ideas from a source in your own words, while keeping the original meaning.

Transitional Phrase

Words or phrases used to connect ideas and ensure a smooth flow in writing.

In-text citation

A brief reference within your writing that gives credit to the source of information or ideas.

Counterclaim

An opposing viewpoint or argument to the one you are making.

Direct Quotation

Using the exact words from a source, enclosed in quotation marks, with proper citation.

Plagiarism

Presenting someone else's work, ideas, or words as your own without proper credit.

Ways to avoid plagiarism

Cite sources, use quotation marks, paraphrase properly, keep track of sources, etc.

Punctuation of titles for books, films, magazines, newspapers, plays

Italicize

Example of italicized title

To Kill a Mockingbird, The New York Times

Punctuation of titles for short stories, poems, articles, essays, songs

Use "quotation marks"

Example of quoted title

"The Road Not Taken," "A Modest Proposal"

Components of a 3-5 paragraph essay

Introduction Paragraph, Body Paragraphs, Conclusion Paragraph, Transitions

Introduction Paragraph

First paragraph of the essay - Hook to grab the reader's attention, Background or context, Thesis statement

Thesis Statement

Last sentence of the introduction - Clear, specific claim or main idea, Roadmap of points to be discussed

Body Paragraphs

Middle paragraphs (usually 1-3) - Topic sentence (main point), Supporting details, evidence, examples, Commentary/analysis

Conclusion Paragraph

Final paragraph - Topic sentence (main point), Supporting details, evidence, examples, Commentary/analysis

Transitions

Between paragraphs and ideas - Words/phrases like "Furthermore," "On the other hand," "For example"

2-CHUNK Academic Model Paragraph

A structure for body paragraphs consisting of Topic Sentence, Concrete Details, Commentary Sentences, and Concluding Sentence

Topic Sentence (TS)

1st sentence - Introduces the main idea of the paragraph, Should support the thesis statement

Concrete Detail (CD)

2nd and 5th sentences - Facts, quotes, examples, or evidence from the text, Supports the topic sentence

Commentary Sentence (CM)

4 sentences - Writer's explanation, analysis, or insight, Shows how the CD supports the TS

Concluding Sentence (CS)

Final Sentence (8th) - Wraps up the paragraph, Reinforces the main idea in a new way

Proper way to format the title of a novel

To Kill a Mockingbird

Proper way to format the title of a short story

“The Veldt”

Proper way to format an in-text citation

"The street was silent and long and empty, with only his shadow moving like the shadow of a hawk in midcountry" (Bradbury 644).

First paragraph of an essay

Introduction

Location of the thesis statement

Introduction

Where to write a topic sentence

At the beginning of a body paragraph

Sentence that helps transition between paragraphs

Transition

Purpose of a topic sentence

To introduce the main idea of a paragraph

First step of the writing process

Prewriting

Second step of the writing process

Rough draft

Third step of the writing process

Revising

Basic 2-chunk paragraph

8 sentences

Details to support and develop the main idea

Body supporting sentences