9th FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE

Protagonist:

the main central character in a literary work

Antagonist:

a person or group  of people who oppose the protagonist

Characterization:

attributes of a character that can be described (physical or emotional/personality

Symbol:

Any object, person, place, or action that has a meaning in itself and that also stands for something larger than itself, such as a quality, an attitude, a belief, or a value.

Imagery: 

Words or phrases that create pictures or images in the reader’s mind.  Images are primarily visual, that is, they usually appeal to the reader’s sense of sight, but can also appeal to the other senses: touch, taste, smell, and hearing. 

Figurative Language:

Writing that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to add images and abstract associations (examples are the use of metaphor, simile, personification, and hyperbole)

Metaphor:

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are not alike 

(examples: her hair is silk; the backyard was freedom; the snow was a blanket)

Simile: 

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things, using the words like or as 

(examples: sick as a dog; brave as a lion; strong like an ox)

Personification:

A figure of speech in which something nonhuman is given human qualities (examples: the ocean waves welcomed me; the tree teaches me to stay grounded)

Hyperbole:

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally 

(examples: I had a million hours of homework; I’m so hungry I could eat a horse)

Allusion: 

A reference to a person, a place, an event, or a literary work that a writer expects a 

reader to recognize. Allusions may be drawn from literature, mythology, religion, history, or 

geography (example: I wish I could just click my heels - this is an allusion from The Wizard of Oz) 

Irony: 

The difference between what is stated and what is meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. 

Verbal irony:

 in which a writer or speaker says one thing and means something entirely different

Dramatic irony:

 in which a reader or an audience perceives something that a character in the story or play does not know.

Situational irony:

 in which the writer shows a difference between the expected result of some action or situation and its actual result.

Emotional Appeal:

Writers may appeal to fear, anger or joy to sway their readers by using emotive words and/or describing the experience of a primary source (firsthand experience adds impact). They may also add climax or excitement. This technique is strongly connected to the essay's mood. 

Repetition:

Overly repetitive writing can become tiresome. However, when used sparingly for effect, it can reinforce the writer's message and/or entertain the reader. Writers may repeat a word, a phrase or an entire sentence for emphasis

Rhetorical Questioning:

Sometimes, a writer will ask a question to which no answer is required. The writer implies that the answer is obvious; the reader has no choice but to agree with the writer's point.

Conflict:

The struggle between two opposing forces in literature.  Examples: man against man, man against nature, man against self.

Tone: 

The attitude a writer takes toward his or her subject, characters, and readers.  Through 

tone, a writer can amuse, anger, or shock the reader. 

Theme:

A universal idea, lesson, or message explored throughout a work of literature.

Inference:

 the act or process of reaching a conclusion about something from known facts. 

Textual evidence:  

verified text that has been collected from the original source or document that 

supports a thesis or an argument, often appearing as a quotation or descriptive text. 

Close-Reading:

an analysis tool used to break down the meaning in a text in which one highlights or underlines selected words/phrases and writes down their thoughts on the meaning. This includes the denotation (dictionary definition) and connotation (emotional implications) of the selected word(s).

Analytical Paragraph Structure:

(Claim, context, textual evidence & analysis, clincher/conclusion sentence)

Claim:

a statement in which a writer presents an assertion as truthful to substantiate an argument. 

Context:  

the setting and background information related to a literary work or scene in the work.  Adding 

context provides meaning and clarity, especially when introducing textual evidence. 

Clincher/conclusion sentence:  

A concluding sentence reinforcing your key message.