active voice

1a

Describes the relationship betweenthe action (and state) that the verbexpresses and the participantsidentified by its arguments (subject,object, etc.). When the subject is theagent or actor of the verb, the verb isin the active voice.

1b

allegory

2a

An extended narrative,which carries a secondmeaning along with its

surface story; the peopleand events are symbolic.

2b

alliteration

3a

The repetition of similarconsonant sounds at the

beginning of words.

3b

allusion

4a

Referring metaphorically topersons, places, and things fromhistory or previous literature.Enrich their contexts byreminding the reader of relevantassociations.

4b

analogy

5a

An explanation of onething by comparing it point

by point with somethingelse.

5b

anecdotal evidence

6a

Usually relate to howcertain types of evidence

cannot be used to logicallyconclude something.

6b

antagonist

7a

The forces arrayed againstthe main character (persons,things, conventions ofsociety, or traits of theprotagonist's own character).

7b

anti-climax

8a

An abrupt declension (either deliberate orunintended) on the part of a speaker orwriter from the dignity of idea which heappeared to be aiming at. (ex. "The holypassion of Friendship is of so sweet andsteady and loyal and enduring a naturethat it will last through a whole lifetime, ifnot asked to lend money.")

8b

antithesis

9a

Using contrasts for effect(ex. Deserts are dry; oceans

are wet)

9b

apostrophe

10a

The direct addressing of aperson, an inanimateentity, or an abstract

quality as though it werepresent and listening.

10b

archaic language

11a

Old-fashioned, out-of-datelanguage and expressions.

11b

argumentative essay

12a

An essay, which attemptsto convince the reader ofthe truth of a premise bymeans of logic and otherforms of persuasion.

12b

aside

13a

A stage convention used toindicate words spoken by acharacter but heard only bythe audience and not byother characters on stage.

13b

assonance

14a

The repetition of vowelsounds without the repetitionof the same consonants. (ex.The rain in Spain staysmainly in the plain.)

14b

atmosphere

15a

The mood the reader getsfrom the setting, the

characterization and thetone of the narrator.

15b

audience

16a

The people for whom awritten work or

presentation is intended.

16b

autobiography

17a

A non-fictional account of aperson's life written by the

subject.

17b

ballad

18a

Traditionally, narrativepoems that began as songs

and were handed downorally.

18b

ballad stanza

19a

Four-line stanzas(quatrains) with alternatingfour-beat and three-beatlines, and rhymes in thesecond and fourth lines.

19b

bias

20a

A subjective point of viewin which the writer's

opinion affects the integrityof the work.

20b

biography

21a

A non-fictional account ofsomeone's life.

21b

blank verse

22a

Usually iambic pentameterbut no rhyme. (ex.

Shakespeare's plays)

22b

cacophony

23a

A combination of harsh,unpleasant sounds, whichcreate an aggregate effect.

23b

caricature

24a

A description of a personusing exaggeration of some

characteristics andoversimplification of others

for comic reasons.24b

case study

25a

A detailed analysis of anindividual, group, or event.

25b

catastrophe

26a

One name for theconcluding action of a

tragedy; a disaster of hugeproportions.

26b

cause and effect

27a

Two events are related whenone event brings about orcauses the other. The event thathappens first is the cause; theone that follows is the effect.

27b

character

28a

A person who isresponsible for the

thoughts and actionswithin a story, poem, or

other literature.28b

character foil

29a

A character that contrasts withanother character (usually theprotagonist) and so highlightsvarious facets of the maincharacter's personality.

29b

characterization

30a

A method of presenting thespecial qualities or features

of a character.

30b

chorus

31a

A group of people who serve mainlyas commentators on the charactersand events. Add to the audience'sunderstanding of the play byexpressing traditionally moral,religious, and social attitudes.

31b

chronological order

32a

The order in which eventshappen in time.

32b

cliché

33a

An over-used, time-wornexpression or idea.

33b

climactic order

34a

To save the most importantto last.

34b

climax

35a

Turning point, point of maximuminterest, and highest tension in theplot of a story, play, or film. Usuallyoccurs towards the end of story afterthe reader has understood theconflict and become emotionallyinvolved with the characters.

35b

colloquial language

36a

Informal language;language that is

"conversational".

36b

colloquialism

37a

A word or phrase used inan easy informal style of

writing or speaking.

37b

comedic relief

38a

The inclusion of ahumorous character orscene in an otherwise

serious work of literature.38b

comedy

39a

A ludicrous and amusingevent or series of events in

a work of literature.

39b

compare and contrast

40a

To note the similarities anddifferences between two

things.

40b

comparison

41a

The process of identifyingsimilarities.

41b

conflict

42a

The tension or problem of astory; a struggle betweenopposing forces. (man vs.man, man vs. nature, man

vs. himself)42b

connotation

43a

The cluster of implications thatwords or phrases may carrywith them, as distinguishedfrom their denotative, or exact,meanings.

43b

consonance

44a

A special type of alliterationin which the repeatedpattern of consonants aremarked by changes in theintervening vowels.

44b

contrast

45a

Showing differencesbetween or among things.

45b

couplet

46a

A pair of rhymed lines thatform a stanza.

46b

denotation

47a

The specific, exact meaningof a word, independent of

its emotional coloration orassociations.

47b

denouement

48a

The outcome of a series ofevents, the resolution thatoccurs after the climax of a

work of literature.48b

descriptive essay

49a

An essay that describes aperson, place, or object.

49b

dialect

50a

Language from a particularplace, era, or social class.

50b

dialogue

51a

Lines spoken betweencharacters of a work of

literature.

51b

diary

52a

An informal record of aperson's private life.

52b

diction

53a

The choice of words andword order in a work of

literature.

53b

didactic

54a

Writing used to teach orconvince the reader of a

particular point.

54b

dilemma

55a

A problem that createsconflict within or between

characters.

55b

direct presentation

56a

When the writer tells readers whatkind of personality the characterpossesses rather than allowing thecharacter to show his or herpersonality and allow readers todraw their own conclusions.

56b

dissonance

57a

The deliberate use ofsyllables or words thatsounds harsh together.

57b

drama

58a

Writing presented in theform of a pantomime, play,

or dialogue in front of anaudience.

58b

dramatic form

59a

Various literary forms thatare related and include

dramatic material.

59b

dramatic irony

60a

A situation in a narrative ordrama where the audience

knows more than thecharacter.

60b

dramatic monologue

61a

When a single characteraddresses a silent audience

at a critical moment andreveals something about

himself or herself.61b

dynamic character

62a

A character that developsand changes in a work of

literature.

62b

editorial

63a

An opinion piece about anytopic.

63b

elegy

64a

A mournful poem; a lamentfor the dead.

64b

emotional appeal

65a

Persuading an audiencethrough the use of emotion.

65b

epic

66a

A poem that is a long narrative,has a hero or anti-hero, useselevated language, and in whichthe outcome of a group of peopleis based on the success or failureof the protagonist.

66b

epigram

67a

A short verse at thebeginning of a poem or

novel.

67b

epilogue

68a

A short addition ofconcluding section at the

end of a literary work, oftendealing with the future of

its characters.68b

epiphany

69a

A revelation of such powerand insight that it alters

the world-view of theperson who experiences it.

69b

epitaph

70a

An inscription on a tombstoneor monument in memory of theperson buried there; a summarystatement of commemorationfor a dead person.

70b

euphemism

71a

A "nicer" word or phraseused to replace an offensive

word or phrase.

71b

euphony

72a

Agreeable sounds producedby a succession ofmellifluous words.

72b

expert testimony

73a

An opinion given by aperson highly educated in a

topic.

73b

exposition

74a

The "exposing" of the storybehind the story; an act of

writing a speech for thepurpose of conveying

information.74b

expository essay

75a

A simple essay usuallyfactual and written without

emotion.

75b

extended metaphor

76a

A metaphor that isextended through a stanza

or entire poem, often bymultiple comparisons ofunlike objects or ideas.

76b

external conflict

77a

A struggle between twoopposing characters or

forces.

77b

fable

78a

A short tale with animalcharacters that teaches a

moral lesson.

78b

falling action

79a

The action that occurs afterthe climax of a work of

literature.

79b

fantasy

80a

Literature that containscharacters and a plotinvolving magic andinvented characters.

80b

farce

81a

A light humorous play.

81b

figurative language

82a

Language that containsmany poetic devices; a wayof saying something otherthan the literal meaning of

words.82b

first person point of view

83a

A POV in which an "I" or"we" serves as a narrator of

a piece of literature.

83b

flashback

84a

The presentation of a scenethat takes place before the

present in a work ofliterature.

84b

flat character

85a

A minor character who haslittle depth of personality.

85b

foil

86a

A character that contrastswith and reveals various

aspects of the maincharacter's personality.

86b

foreshadowing

87a

A hint of things to come.

87b

form

88a

The structure of a piece ofwriting.

88b

formal essay

89a

An essay that usesacademic language, logicalorganization, and serious

purpose.89b

formal language

90a

The use of "high" languageor dialect in preference to"low" language or dialect;

academic language90b

frame story

91a

Employs a narrative techniquewhereby an introductory main storyis composed, at least in part, for thepurpose of setting the stage for afictive narrative or organizing a set ofshorter stories, each of which is astory within a story.

91b

free verse

92a

A poem that has nolimitations in its use of

meter or rhyme.

92b

genre

93a

A category of literary work-horror, comedy, tragedy,chick lit., pastoral, etc.

93b

graphic text

94a

A combination of picturesand words to tell a story.

94b

hero

95a

The central character of astory, usually possessespositive qualities (as opposedto a protagonist who can bepositive or negative).

95b

historical reference

96a

A reference to somethinghistorical.

96b

hyperbole

97a

Obvious and intentionalexaggeration.

97b

iambic pentameter

98a

A common meter in poetryconsisting of an unrhymed linewith five feet or accents, eachfoot containing an unaccentedsyllable and an accentedsyllable.

98b

idiom

99a

An expression whose meaning isnot predictable from the usualmeanings of its constituentelements or from thegrammatical rules of a language.

99b

image

100a

Concrete details andfigures of speech that help

the reader to form vividsense impressions of what

is being described.100b

imagery

101a

Representation throughlanguage of sense experience.Most often suggests a mentalpicture, but may also represent asound, smell, taste, or tacticalexperience.

101b

indeterminate ending

102a

Literature with anuncertain ending or wheresome problem or conflictmay remain undecided.

102b

indirect presentation

103a

The writer presents thecharacter in action, allowingthe reader to draw his or herown conclusions about thepersonality of that character.

103b

informal essay

104a

An essay that does not followthe restrictions of a formalpaper. Personal pronounsand casual, spoken languageare acceptable.

104b

informal language

105a

The casual language we useevery day.

105b

interior monologue

106a

A type of stream ofconsciousness that depicts

the inner thoughts of acharacter.

106b

internal conflict

107a

The problem or strugglethat takes place in the maincharacter's minds (person

vs. self).107b

internal rhyme

108a

Rhyme which comes withinlines.

108b

irony

109a

A literary device whichreveals concealed or

contradictory meanings.

109b

jargon

110a

Language especially thevocabulary peculiar to a

particular trade,profession, or group.

110b

juxtaposition

111a

An act or instance ofplacing close together or

side by side, especially forcomparison or contrast.

111b

legend

112a

A story handed down fromthe past about a specific

person, usually someone ofheroic accomplishments.

112b

limited omniscient point ofview

113a

Author tells the story in thirdperson, but from the viewpointof a single character. Thethoughts and feelings of othercharacters are not shown.

113b

literal language

114a

What is said is basedexactly in reality withoutthe comparisons used in

figurative language.114b

lyric

115a

Any short poem intendedmainly to express a state of

mind or feeling.

115b

melodrama

116a

A dramatic form characterizedby excessive sentiment,exaggerated emotion,sensational and thrilling action,and an artificially happy ending.

116b

metaphor

117a

A comparison between twothings which are essentiallydissimilar. Usually impliedrather than directly stated.

117b

meter

118a

Any regular pattern ofrhythm based on stressedand unstressed syllables.

118b

monologue

119a

An extended speech by oneperson.

119b

mood

120a

The overall emotionalatmosphere of a scene or

situation.

120b

mystery

121a

A suspense story whichcontains a crime and asolution by a detective.

121b

myth

122a

Applies particularly to a storyconnected with the religion of aprimitive civilization. Usually aboutgods or superhuman beings andare invented to explain certainbeliefs or some aspect of nature.

122b

narration

123a

The telling of a story.

123b

narrative

124a

The story or account itself.

124b

narrator

125a

The person telling thestory.

125b

objective (language, tone,etc.)

126a

Not about the thoughts ofthe speaker or writer;

giving the facts as they arewithout bias.

126b

objective point of view

127a

The narrator knows onlywhat can be heard and seen

from outside thecharacters' thoughts and

emotions.127b

octave

128a

An eight line stanza.

128b

ode

129a

A lyric poem of somelength, serious in subject

and dignified in style.

129b

omniscient point of view

130a

God-like scope; able toenter the mind of any

character at any time toreveal his thoughts,feelings, and beliefs.

130b

onomatopoeia

131a

The use of words whichsound like what they mean.

131b

oxymoron

132a

Two contradictory wordsplaced side by side foremphasis (ex. jumbo

shrimp).132b

paradox

133a

A statement in which thereis an apparent

contradiction which isactually true.

133b

parallelism

134a

A repetition of sentencesusing the same structure.

134b

parody

135a

A work designed to ridiculethe style and substance of

another literary work.

135b

passive voice

136a

The subject of the sentenceis neither a do-er or a be-er,but is acted upon by someother agent or by somethingunnamed.

136b

pastoral

137a

A literary work that has todo with shepherds and

rustic settings.

137b

pathos

138a

Occurs when the audienceexperiences the emotions

of pity, tenderness, orsorrow.

138b

personal essay

139a

A first person narrative.

139b

personification

140a

Giving humancharacteristics to an

animal, object, or idea.

140b

persuasive essay

141a

An essay designed toconvince a reader of awriter's point of view.

141b

persuasive technique

142a

Strategies employed (suchas emotional appeal or

bias) to convince a readerof a writer's point of view.

142b

plot

143a

The story line ororganization of incidents ina story. Consists of episodesand conflict, usually has arising and falling action.

143b

point of view

144a

Who tells the story andhow the story gets told.

144b

pro and con argument

145a

Expressing arguments thatare both for and against a

position.

145b

prologue

146a

An introductory speech orwritten passage at the start

of a work of literature.

146b

propaganda

147a

Biased writing withextreme examples meant to

sway an audience to acertain POV.

147b

protagonist

148a

The main character.

148b

proverb

149a

A phrase, describing anexample of a basic truth

that is transferred tocommon situations.

149b

pun

150a

A joke or type of wordplay inwhich similar senses or soundsof two words or phrases, ordifferent senses of the sameword, are deliberately confused.

150b

purpose

151a

What the writer is trying toachieve through the

writing.

151b

quatrain

152a

A four lined stanza that canbe rhymed or unrhymed.

152b

question and answer

153a

The process of raising aquestion while reading in

an effort to understandcharacters and events.

153b

refrain

154a

A line or lines that arerepeated in music or verse.

154b

repetition

155a

When a specific word orphrase is used several times

to emphasize a particularidea.

155b

research

156a

Close, careful study usingvarious sources of a topic.

156b

resolution

157a

The part of a work ofliterature that occurs afterthe climax and ties up any

loose ends.157b

rhetorical question

158a

A literary technique thatinvolves asking a questionthat has an obvious answer

that does not need to beanswered.

158b

rhyme

159a

The repetition of similar orduplicate sounds at regularintervals, usually the repetitionof the terminal sounds ofwords at the ends of lines.

159b

rhyme scheme

160a

The pattern of rhyme;traditionally marked byassigning letters of thealphabet to each rhymingsound at the end of each line.

160b

rhythm

161a

A pattern of stressed andunstressed sounds in

poetry.

161b

rising action

162a

The events that lead up tothe climax in a work of

literature.

162b

round character

163a

A many-sided characterthat does not always act

predictably.

163b

sarcasm

164a

Crudely mocking orcontemptuous language; a

form of verbal irony.

164b

satire

165a

A form of literature thatridicules some aspect ofhuman behavior, customs,or attitude in an attempt tobring about change.

165b

sestet

166a

A six line poem or stanza.

166b

setting

167a

The time, place, and moodof a work of literature.

167b

simile

168a

When something isdescribed by comparing itto something else, using

like, than or as (ex. "He ranlike a monkey.").

168b

situational irony

169a

Refers to a contrastbetween what a characteror the reader expects to

happen in a situation andwhat really happens.

169b

slang

170a

A type of informal verbalcommunication that is

generally unacceptable forformal writing.

170b

soliloquy

171a

A dramatic conversationthrough which a character,alone onstage, utters his or

her thoughts aloud.171b

sonnet

172a

A 14 line poem usuallywritten in iambic

pentameter; can beShakespearean or Italian

172b

speaker

173a

The "voice" used by anauthor to tell a story or

speak a poem.

173b

stanza

174a

A "paragraph" in poetry.

174b

static character

175a

A character who does notchange throughout a work;the reader's knowledge of

the character also does notgrow.

175b

statistical evidence

176a

The use of factual numbersto support an argument.

176b

stereotype

177a

A conventional, formulaic,and oversimplified concept,

opinion, or image.

177b

stock/stereotypedcharacter

178a

A one-dimensionalcharacter that possessed

stereotyped qualitiesrelating to gender, class, or

ethnicity.178b

story within a story

179a

A literary device in whichone story is told during the

action of another story.

179b

stream of consciousness

180a

A running or flowing way acharacter or narratorexpresses his or her

feelings and inner-mostthoughts.

180b

style

181a

The characteristics of anauthor's writing.

181b

stylistic technique

182a

The techniques used by anauthor in his or her writing.

182b

subjective (language, tone,etc.)

183a

Language that can beinterpreted in differentways depending on the

reader.183b

surprise ending

184a

An ending that is meant toshock the reader.

184b

suspense

185a

A state or condition of mentaluncertainty or excitement, as inawaiting a decision or outcome,usually accompanied by adegree of apprehension oranxiety.

185b

symbol

186a

An object that representssomething more than its

literal definition.

186b

symbolism

187a

The use of symbols toconvey meaning.

187b

synecdoche

188a

A figure of speech in whicha part is used to represent

the whole (ex. All hands ondeck.).

188b

theme

189a

A unifying or dominantidea in a story usually

implied rather than directlyused.

189b

thesis

190a

The main argument of anessay.

190b

thesis statement

191a

A statement that presentsthe main argument of an

essay.

191b

third person point of view

192a

The point of view thatrelates action through "he"

and "she".

192b

tone

193a

The author's implicitattitude towards the readeror the places, people, and

events in a work ofliterature.

193b

tragedy

194a

A work of literature thatfeatures a catastrophic fall

from grace of itsprotagonist.

194b

understatement

195a

The opposite of hyperbole;the purposeful saying ofless than what is meant.

195b

verbal irony

196a

The use of words wherewhat is said is different and

often opposite of what ismeant.

196b

voice

197a

The dominating tone of aliterary work, not always

identifiable with the actualviews of the author.

197b

wit

198a

Intellectually amusingstatements.

198b