Untitled Flashcards Set

Foreshadowing – When an author gives hints about what will occur later in a story.

Genre - The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose,

poetry, and drama. However, genres can be subdivided as well (poetry can be classified into lyric, dramatic,

narrative, etc.). The AP Language exam deals primarily with the following genres: autobiography,

biography, diaries, criticism, essays, and journalistic, political, scientific, and nature writing.

Gothic – Writing characterized by gloom, mystery, fear and/or death. Also refers to an architectural style

of the middle ages, often seen in cathedrals of this period.

Imagery - Word or words that create a picture in the reader's mind. Usually this involves the five senses.

Authors often use imagery in conjunction with metaphors, similes, or figures of speech.

Invective – A long, emotionally violent, attack using strong, abusive language.

Irony - When the opposite of what you expect to happen does.

Verbal irony - When you say something and mean the opposite/something different. For example,

if your gym teacher wants you to run a mile in eight minutes or faster, but calls it a "walk in the

park" it would be verbal irony. If your voice tone is bitter, it's called sarcasm.

Dramatic irony - When the audience of a drama, play, movie, etc. knows something that the

character doesn't and would be surprised to find out. For example, in many horror movies, we (the

audience) know who the killer is, which the victim-to-be has no idea who is doing the slaying.

Sometimes the character trusts the killer completely when (ironically) he/she shouldn't.

Situational irony - Found in the plot (or story line) of a book, story, or movie. Sometimes it

makes you laugh because it's funny how things turn out. (For example, Johnny spent two hours

planning on sneaking into the movie theater and missed the movie. When he finally did manage to

sneak inside he found out that kids were admitted free that day).

Juxtaposition - Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison. Authors often use juxtaposition

of ideas or examples in order to make a point.(For example, an author my juxtapose the average day of a

typical American with that of someone in the third world in order to make a point of social commentary).