Professional Documents
Culture Documents
22. autobiography A form of non-fiction in which a person tells his or her own life story
23. ballad a song-like poem that tells a story, often one dealing with adventure or romance
24. balance Arranging words and phrases in a similar way to give them equal importance. Balance gives writing a pleasing
flow or rhythm.
25. biography a form of non-fiction in which a writer tells the life of a person
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26. body the main or middle part in a piece of writing. The body comes between the beginning and the ending (closing)
and explains the writing’s main ideas.
27. brainstorming a pre-writing process which collects ideas by talking openly about all the possibilities
28. caricature a description of a character in which his or her features are exaggerated and appear funny or ridiculous
29. catastrophe
30. catharsis
31. cause what makes something happen
32. central idea the main idea or point in a piece of writing, often stated in a thesis statement or topic sentence
33. character a person, animal, or a natural force presented as a person appearing in a literary work. A character can be
described as
dynamic
static
flat
round
stock
34. character the process of looking at how the author presents a character by looking at what the character says, does, or
analysis things and at how others describe or react to the character in the cultural context of the story and the time in
which it was written
Direct characterization--the author tells us directly:
• what the character looks like or is like
Indirect characterization—the author shows us
• what a character thinks, says, or does
• what others think about the character
• what others say about the character
• how others respond to the character
35. characterization the means by which a writer reveals a character’s personality; the act of creating and developing a character
36. clarify, clear up or make a point clear or understandable
clarification
37. cliché a phrase or sentence that has been overused. It is better to find a new way of saying the same thing.
38. classification to group items or ideas by things they have in common
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39. climax the high point or turning point in the story; the decisive point in a narrative or drama; the point of greatest
intensity or interest
40. closing the summary or final part in a piece of writing. In a paragraph, the closing is the last sentence. In an essay or
report, the closing is the final paragraph.
41. coherence putting ideas together in such a way that the reader can easily follow them.
42. colloquial (ism) a common word or phrase that is used when people talk to one another. Colloquialisms are usually not used in
a formal speech or in most assigned writing.
43. comedy drama characterized by a happily-ever-after ending
44. comic relief
45. compare, to show how things are alike
comparison
46. compassion to show understanding or feel sympathetic
47. complication an entangling circumstance which makes a situation more difficult to resolve
48. concede, to agree that another argument or a point might be right
concession
49. conceit
50. conclusion ending or resolution; a decision based on evidence
51. conflict a problem or struggle between two opposing forces or characters in a short story, novel, play, or narrative
poem. Conflict may be internal or external
Person vs. person
Person vs. self
Person against society
Person against nature
Person against fate (gods)
Person against science or technology
52. connotation all of the emotions associated with a word
53. context the set of facts or circumstances surrounding an event or a situation in a piece of literature
54. contrast to show how things are different
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t
57. crisis an incident that causes a permanent change in the life of one or more of the characters
58. deductive to reason from general information (a generalization) to make a valid inference about a specific detail.
reasoning (“DOGS”)
59. denotation the dictionary definition of a word
60. denouement the outcome of a plot; conflict is resolved
61. description writing that uses details to help the readers clearly imagine a certain person, place, thing or idea
62. details details are most commonly the facts given by the author or speaker as support for the attitude or tone
63. deus ex machina a literary device by which, in a hopeless situation, the situation is resolved by the “hand of god” or a
supernatural occurence
64. dialect the characteristic speech of a particular region or social group
65. dialogue conversation or spoken words of two or more people
66. diary a personal journal, usually revealing innermost thoughts
67. diction the type of words a writer chooses to use to create an effect (monosyllabic or polysyllabic; colloquial/slang,
informal, formal, academic, archaic; denotative or connotative; concrete or abstract; euphonious or
cacophonous)
68. didactic literature that instructs or presents a moral or religious statement
69. drama the story written out to be acted on a stage by actors; it contains dialogue and stage directions
70. dramatic a literary work or part of a literary work in which a character is speaking about him-or herself as if another
monologue person were present. The speaker’s words reveal something important about his or her character.
71. effect the result of an action
72. elements of Concrete elements of literature can be pulled directly from the piece of literature:
literature figurative language; sound devices; poetic or sentence structure; controlling image; diction and syntax;
dialog; humorous devices; narrator; rhetorical shift
Abstract elements of literature are those devices which cannot be literally pulled from a piece of literature.
They are created by the author’s use of concrete devices
characterization; humor; mood; pathos; suspense; style;
theme; tone; voice
73. emotion, a person’s feelings; an appeal based on the use of words, sentence order, figurative language to create a strong
emotional feeling
74. emphasis giving great importance to a particular idea in a piece of writing. Emphasis can be achieved by placing the idea
ina special position, by repeating a key word or phrase, or by writing more about one idea than about the others.
75. epilogue
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76. epigram
77. epiphany
78. essay A prose work, usually short, that deals with a subject in a limited way and expresses a particular point of view.
They are usually categorized as formal, humorous, or informal.
79. euphemism
80. exposition 1. Writing that is intended to make clear, or explain, something that might otherwise be difficult to understand.
2. In a play or novel, the portion that helps the reader to understand the background or situation in which the
work is set; the beginning of a story which introduces character and setting.
81. extended writing that goes beyond the basic dictionary definition of a term. An extended definition can include personal
definition definitions, similes, metaphors, quotations, and so on.
82. fable a brief story that is told to present a moral or practical lesson; often have characters that are animals.
83. fact something that can be looked up or proven to be true
84. fairy tale a type of folktale featuring extraordinary characters such as magical beings such as gnomes, elves, trolls, ogres,
or fairies; setting is not specific.
85. fallacy error in the reasoning or the basis of the reasoning; logical error
86. falling action the action that follows the climax or turning point of the story; action that leads to the resolution where all the
problems or conflict is worked out
87. fantasy a story that takes place in an imaginary world in which the characters often have supernatural powers or
abilities
88. farce
89. figurative language that is not intended to be interpreted in a literal sense
language
90. flashback a scene in a short story, novel, narrative poem, or play that interrupts the action to show an event that happened
earlier
91. focus the specific part of a subject that is written about in an essay, a paragraph, or a report
92. foil someone who serves as a contrast or challenge to another character
93. folk tale a story told primarily for entertainment that was originally passed from generation to generation by word of
mouth; feature human or human-like animals. Folktale characters are usually all good or all bad and end up
getting the reward or punishment they deserve.
94. foreshadowing the use of hints or clues in a narrative to suggest what action is coming
95. form the way a piece of writing is structured or organized:
business letter
essay
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journal entry
literary analysis
news story
personal narrative
poem
report
social letter
story
96. freewriting writing whatever comes to mind about a particular topic
97. generalization a general statement that gives an overall, general view, rather than focusing on specific details; a statement
based on inductive reasoning which gives the relationship about concepts that are true and verifiable for all
cases
98. genre a category or type of literature based on its style, form, and content. (mystery novel, fable, poem, drama, etc.)
99. hamartia
10 hero
0.
10 historical fiction a made-up story based on actual historical times, places, and facts.
1.
10 homograph a word that is spelled alike but has a different origin and meaning (bow-weapon; bow-curtsey)
2.
10 homonym a word that looks or sounds the same or similar but has a different meaning, often used to make puns. There
3. are two types: homophones and homographs
10 homophone a word that is pronounced the same but is spelled differently and has a different meaning
4.
10 hubris
5.
10 humor a quality that appeals to the sense of the ludicrous or incongruous. Writers create humor through a variety of
6. devices:
• exaggeration
• choice of funny details
• unlikely comparisons
• odd or ridiculous situations, props, or details
• contrasting what someone expects with what happens
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12 local color the use of details that are common in a certain place (a local area). A story taking place on a seacoast would
9. probably contain details about the water and the lives of the people near it.
13 logic the science or reasoning. Logic uses reasons, facts, and examples to prove or support a poin.
0.
13 logical to think things through in a step-by-step, reasonable manner; argument or appeal that uses reasoning such as
1. classification, cause/effect, research or facts
13 lyric a poem, usually a short one, that expresses the speaker’s personal thoughts and feelings
2.
13 literary elements
3.
13 main character the most important character in a story, novel, or play. A piece of literature may have more than one main
4. character. (protagonist)
13 main idea the most important part of what you remember about a paragraph or a passage. The main idea is different from
5. the topic. The main idea is the most important concept the paragraph gives about the topic. The main idea is
usually stated in a complete sentence. If the main idea is not stated directly in the paragraph, it must be inferred
(figured out from information in the text and put in your own words). One method is to ask: “Who….did
what…why?”
13 melodrama a play with exaggerated plot and emotion
6.
13 metaphor a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things which are basically dissimilar.
7.
13 Metonymy a form of metaphor in which the name of one thing is used for another thing with which it is closely associated.
8. (pronounced “meh-tah-no-mee”)
“I love Shakespeare.”
13 minor character less important characters in a story, novel, or play
9.
14 monologue a speech delivered or said by one character as if he were speaking to himself
0.
14 mood the feeling a literary work creates in the reader or listener, often developed through descriptions of setting and
1. development of atmosphere
14 moral the meaning or lesson that the reader draws from the story. Whilte the theme presents the viewpoint of the
2. author, the moral is the final reaction of the reader
14 motif an often-repeated idea or theme in literature. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck is constantly
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coming into conflict with the “civilized” world. This conflict becomes the motif throughout the novel.
14 motivation something that prompts a person to act in a certain way or determines the outcome of a situation or story
4.
14 mystery
5.
14 myth a story, often about immortals and sometimes connected with religious rituals that attempts to give meaning to
6. the mysteries of the world; considered truthful by their originators.
14 narration the kind of writing or speaking that tells a story
7.
14 narrative poem a poem that tells a story
8.
14 narrator one who narrates or tells a story
9.
15 novel a fictional work that is longer than a short story. The plot, characters, and settings are much more developed in
0. a novel than they are in a short story.
15 novella
1.
15 objective writing that gives factual information without adding feelings or opinions
2.
15 occasion What caused the author to write this particular piece
3.
15 onomatopoeia the use of a word sound in some degree imitates or suggests the meaning
4.
15 oral history telling aloud or passing along information based on real events considered to be factual by the teller
5.
15 oral tradition stories told to keep the past alive, teach lessons, and reveal the values of society. Oral traditions include myths,
6. legends, folk tales, fairy tales, and oral histories.
15 oxymoron a technique in which two words with opposite meanings are put together for a special effect
7.
15 parable
8.
15 paradox a statement that is true but that seems to be saying two opposite things. Ex: The more free time you have, the
9. less you get done.
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16 parallelism the repetition of grammatical structure (words, phrases, or sentences) to give writing rhythm.
0.
16 passion strong emotion
1.
16 pathos the quality in a work of literature that arouses a feeling of pity or sorrow as compassion in a reader
2.
16 person
3.
16 persona
4.
16 personal writing that shares an event in the writer’s life
5. narrative
16 personification a figure of speech in which something non-human is given human qualities
6.
16 persuasion the type of speaking or writing that is intended to make an audience or reader adopt a certain opinion, perform
7. an action, or do both
16 pity feel sorry for
8.
16 plagiarism taking someone else’s words or ideas and using them as your own
9.
17 plot the sequence of events or actions in a short story, novel, play, or narrative poem
0.
17 plot line the graphic display of action or events in a story; The five basic elements in a plot line: exposition, rising
1. action, climax, falling action, and resolution
17 poetry a type of literature that uses concise, colorful, and often rhythmic language to express ideas or emotions.
2.
17 point of view the vantage point from which a narrative is told
3. Participant Point of View The story is told by one of the
(First Person) characters in his or her own words
1. Narrator as major
character
2. Narrator as minor
character
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Describe
Inspire
Entertain
13 realism writing that shows life as it really is
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16 surprise ending an unexpected event that comes at the end of the story
4.
16 suspense a feeling of curiosity or uncertainty about the outcome of events in a literary work; the quality of a short story,
5. novel, play, or narrative poem that makes the reader or audience uncertain or tense about the outcome of events
16 symbol any object, person place, or action that has a meaning in itself and that also stands for something larger than
6. itself, such as a quality, an attitude, a belief, or a value
16 sympathy having the same feeling or similar feelings
7.
16 Synecdoche a form of metaphor in which
8. – a part of one thing is used to stand for the whole,
– “All hands on deck.”
– the whole represents the part
– “Canada beat the U.S. in the world hockey play-offs.”
– the container represents the thing contained within.
– “The pot is boiling.”
16 synonym a word that has the same or almost the same meaning (but may have a different connotation)
9.
17 syntax the word order in a sentence; the structure or pattern of the sentence
0. the physical arrangement of words in a sentence
17 tall tale a humorous, exaggerated story often based on the life of a real person. The story is exaggerated more and more
1. until the main character can seemingly do impossible things.
17 theme the idea behind the story, the idea that the author intends to develop through the telling of his tale; the general
2. idea or central insight about life that a writer wishes to convey in a literary work (Note: a theme often makes a
statement about the “big” topic). The theme of a literary work often reflects the culture, history, and time
period when the piece was written.
Sample themes:
ambition (ambition is of no avail against fate)
anger
bravery
courage
fear
folk art
friendship
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hate
humility
jealousy
importance of home
love
nature
poverty and homelessness
pride
quiet times
self-discovery
survival
terror
the search for community
war
17 thesis a statement of opinion that is the writer’s focus or main idea that is developed in an essay
3.
17 title the name of a literary work, often useful as a tool to predict what the work is about
4.
17 tone the attitude the writer takes toward his/her subject, characters, and readers. A Partial Vocabulary for
5. Tone:
affectionate afraid allusive
angry apologetic audacious
benevolent bitter boring
candid childish cold
complimentary condescending confused
contemptuous didactic dramatic
dreamy emotional fanciful
flippant frivolous giddy
glib happy hollow
horrific humorous irreverent
joking listless lugubrious
mocking nostalgic objective
peaceful pitiful poignant
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18 verse
9.
19 voice a language style adopted by an author to create the effect of a particular speaker
0.
Sources:
Ross Sterling AP Vertical Team Manual Doris R. Sanders’ Junior High Pre-AP English from “Literary Terms for Junior High” by Ronda
Brandon and Jamie Stanley, GCCISD
A Guide for Advanced Placement English Vertical Teams. The College Board.
Short Stories. H.C. Schweikert, ed. Harcourt, Brace and Company, Chicago, 1937.
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