Literary Terms Notes

These terms will be referred to regularly as we study literature this year.

Conflict
the struggle or problem between two (or more) people or forces found in fiction Man v. Man struggle between two characters Man v. Society struggle between a few and the majority Man v. Nature struggle between a character and an uncontrollable natural force Man v. Self internal struggle

Plot Elements
Exposition beginning of the story, including setting and characterization Setting time and place of the story Characterization introduction to characters through what they say about themselves, what others reveal about them, their appearance, and/or their thoughts

Plot Elements
Rising Action events leading up to the climax, development of the conflict(s) Climax turning point, which determines the outcome of the conflict Falling Action events that take place after the climax Resolution the conclusion of the story

Plot Element Chart

Climax
Rising Action Falling Action Resolution

Exposition

Point of View
perspective from which the story is told. If the narrator knows everything that is going on he/she is omniscient 1st person told from the perspective of a character in the story. Narrator can only relate what he/she experiences, hears about, or sees 2nd person - narrator speaks directly to the reader 3rd person telling the story from the perspective of an onlooker (narrator sounds like the author)

Stylistic Devices
Flashback action that interrupts to show an event that happened at an earlier time, which is necessary to better understand the story Foreshadowing use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later Imagery descriptive language that evokes one or all of the five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, touch Oxymoron putting two contradictory words together (jumbo shrimp)

Stylistic Devices
Rhyme A word or ending line of text that has the same ending sounds. Example: I speak in rhyme, all of the time. Alliteration The repetition of the initial sound of a word. Example: Heidi Henry had a hard hat. Audience The group of readers to whom a piece is directed. The audience may be one person, a small group, or a large group.

Stylistic Devices
Onomatopoeia A word whose sound suggests the use of the word. Example: buzz, hiss, swoosh, squirt, drip Homophone Words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have a different meaning. Example: there, their, theyre Homograph Words that are spelled the same but have a different meaning. Example: bow (and arrow) or bow(of a ship)

Stylistic Devices
Synonyms Words that have the same or nearly the same meaning. Example: big, large, huge, gigantic Antonyms Words that have the opposite meaning. Example: hot and cold, tall and short Speaker The author or the voice that tells the story. Allusion A reference to something or someone not in the story, that the reader is supposed to be able to understand.

Stylistic Devices
Theme the general idea or insight about life that a writer wishes to express Tone the attitude a writer takes towards a subject or character: serious, humorous, sarcastic, ironic, satirical, tongue-in-cheek, solemn, objective, etc. Tragedy story or play that ends in death Comedy story or play that ends in love, marriage or a celebration

Connotation vs. Denotation

1. Denotation The dictionary definition. This is the literal definition without the feelings or emotions that a word can invoke in a person. Example: Home- a physical location where you live. Example: Cat- A feline with four legs, paws, a tail, whiskers.

Connotation vs. Denotation

1. Connotation The implied meaning of a word. How it is used in culture. Images, feelings & thoughts you have when you hear the word. Example: Home - A place a security, comfort, and family. It could have cozy and safe feelings associated with it. Example: Cat- An animal that scratches, bites, destroys the furniture, and meows loudly. Or, an animal that is furry, warm, caring, and sits on your lap to cuddle when you have had a bad day.

Fact vs. Opinion

A fact is something that is true. It can be verified. It will not vary from one person to another.

Examples: The sun is made of gas The desk is made of wood The chairs in this classroom are black The apple is red

Fact vs. Opinion

Opinion- A persons (or group of people) ideas or beliefs about a particular subject. Other people (or other groups of people) might not agree with this statement.

Examples: He is so cute This apple is delicious Chocolate ice cream is the best kind of ice cream.

Literal vs. Figurative Language

1. Literal Language- It means exactly what it says. It is literal and precise in what it is communicating. Examples: Romeo and Juliet died at the end of the play. Jonathan wore sunglasses to class last week.

Literal vs. Figurative Language

1.Figurative Language- It does not mean exactly what it says. It departs from literal language for the sake of comparison, emphasis, or clarity. Examples: Juliet is as bright as the sun My computer died He is the shining star of our school
Types of figurative language include simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole & irony

Types of Figurative Language

Simile comparison of two unlike things using like or as. Examples: her home was like a prison as hungry as a bear as sharp as a razor as hot as the sun

Types of Figurative Language

1. Metaphor comparison of two unlike things using the verb "to be" and not using like or as. Examples time is money he has a heart of stone life is a rollercoaster her home was a prison & she felt trapped there for 18 years.

Types of Figurative Language

1. Personification giving human qualities to animals or objects. Examples The flowers danced Fear knocked on the door The bathroom begged to be cleaned The sun is jealous of Juliets beauty

Types of Figurative Language

1.Hyperbole extreme exaggeration or overstatement for the purpose of understanding. It is NOT intended to be taken literally. Examples: I am so hungry Id eat a horse. The line was a mile long. He has tons of money. He is as big as an elephant.

Types of Figurative Language

1.Irony The use of words to express something other than their literal meaning. It usually expresses the opposite of the literal meaning & is often humorous. Examples: The procrastinators meeting has been postponed. The name of Englands largest dog was Tiny.

Types of Text
1.Expository- Informational text. Tells how to do something. The purpose is to inform. 2.Narrative.- Purpose is to tell a story. The text has characters, plot, setting, and often has a narrator too. Examples: Romeo & Juliet is a narrative text. Credit Cards vs. Debit Cards is an expository text.