English Language Arts Literary Terms for Mastery

You will be exposed to these terms during 9

th
and 10
th
grade. You will be expected to use them as
you speak and write. You will have mastered use of them by the end of 10
th
grade.
Starred items will likely appear on your midterm and/or final exam, so well pay special attention
to them.
Terms to use when talking or writing about what you read:
Allusion a brief reference to another work (another work of literature, art, a song, or a
person)
Archetype an idealized model of a person, object, or concept from which similar instances
are derived, copied, or patterned. Example: Odysseus is the archetypal hero; Cyclops is
the archetypal monster.
*Audiencethe people whom the author intended to read his or her work. Note that the
audience is never everyone.
*Authors purposethe reason why an author wrote something; what he or she hoped to
accomplish by writing. Note that we must speculate this based on what we read and its
historical and socio-cultural contexts.
Bildungsroman coming of age story.
Characterization the method the author uses to develop a character. Includes
appearance, actions, thoughts, dialogue, and other characters reactions.
*Conflictthe struggle found in fiction. There are four main types:
o Character vs. character
o Character vs. nature
o Character vs. society
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o Character vs. self
Connotation implied meaning of a word. Example: The word hobo implies a person is
lazy, messy, dirty, or crazy.
Denotation literal meaning of a word. Example: A hobo is a poor migrant worker.
Diction word choice
Figurative language describing something by comparing it to something else. Some basic
types:
o Imagery language that evokes one or all of the five senses: seeing, hearing,
tasting, smelling, touching
o Metaphor the comparison of two unlike things. The following are also considered
metaphors.
o Simile the comparison of two unlike things using like or as
o Hyperbole an exaggeration or overstatement. Example: On a cold day, one might
say, Its so cold my fingers are frozen!
o Understatement used to understate the obvious. Example: On a very hot day,
one might say, Is it hot enough for you?
o Personification giving human qualities to animals or objects
Foil a character that contrasts (and thereby highlights) characteristics of another
character. Example: Atticus Finch is a foil to Bob Ewell.
Foreshadowing the use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in literature
Mood emotional atmosphere or attitude of the work
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Motif a recurrent theme in multiple works
*Plotthe progression of a storys event. Each story has the following plot elements:
o *Exposition/status quowhen the author provides background information to the
audience, which could include setting and characterization
o *Inciting incidenta single event that causes the protagonist to go into motion.
It jolts the character out of everyday routine and propels the plot forward.
o *Rising actiona related series of incidents that build toward the point of greatest
interest
o *Climaxthe point of the story when the characters point of view changes. Or its
the most exciting/action-filled part of the story.
o *Epiphanya sudden realization of a great truth. Often coincides with the climax.
o *Falling actionthe conflict unravels and the protagonist either wins or loses to
the antagonist/conflict
o *Resolutionwhen the conflict is resolved; the conclusion of the story. It may be
satisfactory or unsatisfactory
Setting the time and place in fiction
Symbol/symbolism using an object or action that means something more than its literal
meaning. Example: In the Hunger Games, the bird in flight is a symbol for Katnisss
home.
Syntax the way an author constructs his or her phrases and sentences
*Themethe general idea about life of a work; the deeper meaning or moral
Tone authors attitude toward subject matter. Tone is most obviously signified by
diction.
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Terms to use when talking about your writing:
Cite/citation to quote a passage, book, or author
Editing making surface-level changes in your work, like fixing spelling, grammar, and
punctuation
Paraphrase rephrasing the words of an author by condensing the language (cutting it
down). Note: paraphrasing still requires crediting the author through citation.
Plagiarism the imitation or copying of anothers work without citation
Purpose and audience the reason you are writing and who you are writing for
Revision making substantial changes in your work to improve its content, like adding
detail and reorganizing
Voice your individuality expressed in writing
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