List #1: protagonist, antagonist, conflict, rising action ...



English 9 ~ EOC Vocabulary Terms ~ Jacklin

List #1: protagonist, antagonist, conflict, rising action, climax, narrator, mood, tone, irony, archetype

Antagonist the person or force working against the main character

Archetype very old patterns or images that recur over and over again in literature; they can be

characters, plots, animals, or settings.

Climax the high point of interest or suspense in a story

Conflict struggle between opposing forces

Irony the differences between appearance and reality, expectation and result, or meaning and intention

Mood the feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage

Narrator the person telling the story

Protagonist the main character in a literary work

Rising Action the events leading up to the story’s climax

Tone the writer’s attitude toward his/her audience or subject

List #2: character, characterization, exposition, falling action, narrative hook, plot, point-of-view, setting, symbol, theme

Character the person or animal who takes part in the action of a literary work

Characterization the act of creating or developing a character

Exposition introduction to a story that includes setting, characters, conflict and provides important background information

Falling Action follows the high point/turning point of the story; happens as a result of the climax

Narrative Hook the part of the story that catches the reader’s interest & makes them want to go on

Plot the sequence of events in a literary work

Point of View the perspective from which the story is being told

Setting the location and time-period in which a story takes place

Symbol anything that stands for or represents something else

Theme a central message or insight into life revealed through the literary work

List 3: denouement, dialect, dialogue, figurative language, flashback, foreshadowing, imagery, suspense, resolution, villain

Dialect the form of a language spoken by people in a particular region or group

Dialogue a conversation between characters

Denouement the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel

Figurative Language writing or speech not meant to be interpreted literally

Flashback when the action in a work stops and the reader is returned to some previous time period or event

Foreshadowing the use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur

Imagery the descriptive or figurative language used in literature to create word pictures

Resolution the settling of the main/primary conflict in a piece of literature

Suspense the feeling of curiosity or uncertainty about the outcome of events

Villain the evil person in a piece of literature that seeks to bring about destruction/despair

List 4: acronym, alliteration, autobiography, biography, diction, essay, fantasy, hero/heroine, hyperbole, narrative

Acronym an abbreviation that makes a word; a word made of the initial letters of words in a phrase

Alliteration the repetition of initial consonant sounds

Autobiography a form of nonfiction in which a person tells his or her own life story

Biography a form of nonfiction in which the writer tells the life story of another person

Diction word choice; a writer’s word choice

Essay a short nonfiction work about a particular subject

Fantasy a highly imaginative writing that contains elements not found in real life

Hero / heroine a character who exhibits extraordinary powers such as strength, courage, or intelligence

Hyperbole a figure of speech in which an exaggeration is made for emphasis or humorous effect

Narrative a story told in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama

List #5: audience, elaboration, etymology, fiction, genre, nonfiction, sarcasm, (short story), title, (verbal irony)

Audience those reached by books, magazines, newspapers, etc.

Elaboration expanding something in detail; discussing something at length

Etymology the history of a linguistic form (i.e.: words)

Genre a category or type of literature

Fiction prose writing that tells about imaginary characters and events

Nonfiction prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real people, places, objects or events

Sarcasm criticism that appears to be praise

Short Story a brief work of fiction

Title the distinguishing name of a written, printed, spoken or filmed production

Verbal Irony when something is said and something opposite or nearly opposite is meant

List #6: bibliography, complication, humor, ironic, (local color), novel, parable, prose, (situational irony), verisimilitude

Bibliography a list of source material used in the preparation of a work or referred to in the text

Complication a situation or detail that complicates the main thread of the plot

Humor amusing descriptions, exaggerations or sarcastic remarks used to make readers laugh

Ironic expressing, containing or constituting irony

Local Color specific details that are unique characteristics of a certain area or location

Novel a long work of fiction that explores characters in conflict

Parable a short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle

Prose the ordinary form of a written language (as opposed to poetry, drama or song)

Situational irony an unexpected event ~ an interesting surprise or coincidence

Verisimilitude the appearance of truth; probability; likelihood

List #7: analogy, antonym, expository, coherence, connotation, denotation, description, mode, (narrative writing), persuasion

Analogy a comparison between 2 or more things that are similar in some ways but otherwise unalike

Antonym a word of opposite meaning

Coherence the integration of diverse elements, relationships or values

Connotation the set of ideas associated with a word in addition to its explicit meaning

Description a portrait in words of a person, place or object

Denotation the dictionary definition of a word, independent of other associations it may have

Expository writing that gives information, discusses ideas or explains a process

Mode a form or manner of expression; style

Narrative Writing writing that tells a story

Persuasion writing or speech that attempts to convince the reader/listener to adopt a particular opinion or

course of action

List #8: cliché, euphemism, inference, metaphor, paraphrase, rhetoric, simile, style, synonym, (thesis statement)

Cliché an expression or saying that is ineffective because it’s been overused

Euphemism a kinder or gentler way of saying something in order to avoid offending someone

Inference a conclusion drawn based on facts presented or gathered

Metaphor a comparison not using like, as or than

Paraphrase a restatement of a text passage or work giving the meaning in another form

Rhetoric the art of expressive speech or discourse & skill in its effective use

Simile a comparison using like, as or than

Style the “way” a writer writes ~ includes syntax, diction, sentence structure, and tone

Synonym a word having the same or nearly the same meaning a another word

Thesis Statement a position/proposition that a person advances & maintains or offers to maintain w/argument

List #9: allusion, epic, (epic hero), epithet, (extended metaphor), (Homeric simile), hubris, (in medias res), myth, (narrative poetry)

Allusion a writer’s indirect reference to a person, place or thing that the reader should know about

Epic a long narrative poem about the deeds of gods or heroes

Epic Hero the protagonist in an epic whose actions help decide the fate of a nation or a group of people

Epithet a unique title or description of a character that indicates something about that character

Extended Metaphor a comparison or several comparisons sustained for several lines or for an entire poem

Homeric Simile an elaborate comparison of unlike subjects; also referred to as an epic ___ (answer is 2 words)

Hubris over-whelming pride or self-confidence; arrogance

In Medias Res occurs when a story starts in the middle of the action

Myth a fictional tale that explains the actions of gods or the causes of natural phenomena

Narrative Poetry poems that tell stories

List 10: couplet, end rhyme, meter, onomatopoeia, personification, rhyme, rhythm, scansion, universality, wit

Couplet two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme

End Rhyme when the rhyming words come at the end of lines

Meter a rhythmical pattern which is determined by the number and types of stresses or beats in each line

Onomatopoeia a word whose sounds suggests or communicates its meaning

Personification giving non-human or inanimate objects human characteristics

Rhyme similar vowel and/or consonant sounds between two or more syllables or words

Rhythm the pattern of beats or stresses in spoken or written language

Scansion the analysis of a rhythmic structure

Universality the amount of relevance or appeal a piece of literature has to a large audience

Wit brief, quick, intelligent or thought-provoking humor

List 11: anecdote, editorial, fable, (fairy tale), folklore, (folk tale), (historical fiction), legend, maxim, melodrama

Anecdote a brief story used to illustrate a point

Editorial an article that expresses a view on a matter of current interest or an expression of such an opinion that

resembles such an article

Fable a story of supernatural or highly marvelous happenings that often enforce some truth or precept

Fairy Tale a simple narrative dealing with supernatural beings that is typical of folk origin and written or told for the

amusement of children

Folklore traditional customs, beliefs, dances, songs, tales or sayings preserved orally and unreflectively among a

people or group

Folk Tale a story traditional among a people and characteristically anonymous, timeless & placeless

Historical Fiction a fictional narrative set in an actually historical event or moment

Legend a story coming down from the past, esp. one handed down through time that’s often regarded as historical

although not usually verifiable

Maxim an expression regarded as a general truth, fundamental principle or rule of conduct

Melodrama. a dramatic form that does not observe the laws of cause & effect & that exaggerates emotion &

emphasizes plot or action at the expense of characterization

List #12: literal, mystery, proverb, pseudonym, (realistic fiction), romance, satire, (science fiction), (short history), voice

Literal language in which words are used in their ordinary sense

Mystery a work of fiction in which terror, espionage and suspense occur

Proverb a short sentence or phrase expressing a recognized truth in life

Pseudonym a false name sometimes used by an author; a pen name

Realistic Fiction imaginative literature that seems or appears to be true

Romance a story of knights and extravagant characters

Satire a humorous mocking or ridiculing of a person, group, idea, etc. that has a more serious intent

Science Fiction writing that tells about imaginary events that involve science and technology

Short History a chronological record of events; events that are real – not imaginary

Voice distinctive qualities of a writer’s personality & style; includes diction, attitude & ideas

List #13: colloquialism, parallelism, poem, preface, speaker, stanza, stereotype, synopsis, syntax, tall tale

Colloquialism a local expression, understood best by those from that area

Parallelism repetition for effect: in writing, the deliberate repetition of particular words or sentence structures for

effect

Poem piece written in verse: a complete and self-contained piece of writing in verse that is set out in lines of a

particular length and uses rhythm, imagery, and often rhyme to achieve its effect

Preface introductory part of text

Speaker the person doing the talking in a poem

Stanza a group of words in a poem or song that convey/communicate a complete thought

Stereotype a representative for a certain type of person, belief, opinion, appearance, etc

Synopsis summary of text or subject

Syntax the organization of words in sentences

Tall Tale a short story that stretches the furthest point of the imagination

List #14: aside, comedy, drama, (dramatic foil), (dramatic monologue), foil, monologue, prologue, sonnet, tragedy

Aside a piece of dialogue intended for the audience & supposedly not heard by other characters on stage

Comedy a literary work, especially a play, that has a happy ending

Drama a story written to be performed by actors

Dramatic Foil a character that provides contrast to another character in a play

Dramatic Monologue a speech written as if spoken by an imagined character, in his or her voice and tone. (It is 'dramatic' because

it comes from a character created by the author in the manner of that character speaking or

thinking out loud. It is a 'monologue' because it comes from one character only)

Foil a character that provides contrast to another character

Monologue is a speech by one character within the presence and hearing of other characters

Prologue an introductory passage or speech before the main action of a play, novel or long poem

Sonnet a fourteen-line lyric poem usually written in iambic pentameter

Tragedy a work of literature, especially a play, that results in a catastrophe for the main character

List #15: catharsis, (dramatic irony), epilogue, (iambic pentameter), oxymoron, soliloquy, parody, (stage directions), (tragic flaw), (tragic hero)

Catharsis the purification or purging of emotions

Dramatic Irony occurs when the reader knows important information that a character does not know

Epilogue short section at the end of a book; a concluding speech or the actor giving such a speech

Iambic Pentameter a five-beat poetic line w/ an alternating pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables

Oxymoron the close combining of opposite terms or words to create an ironic effect

Soliloquy a long speech given by a character while alone on stage

Parody a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation

Stage Directions instructions given to actors regarding where to go while performing

Tragic Flaw a character “weakness” that causes the downfall of the protagonist in a tragedy

Tragic Hero a character of high standing who experiences a great tragedy because of a character flaw

List #16: (circular journey), innuendo, (internal conflict), intrigue, (linear journey), paradox, pun, (rhetorical question), subplot, unity

Circular Journey a character begins the story in one location, travels to different locations, & then

returns to the original locations

Innuendo a suggested or sometimes “hidden” meaning

Internal Conflict a personal struggle within a character or entity

Intrigue complications in the plot that serve to create suspense

Linear Journey when a character begins the story in one location and ends the story in another

Paradox an apparently contradictory statement that only makes sense after further study or thought

Pun a humorous twist or play on various words’ similar sounds and/or meanings

Rhetorical Question asked for effect ~ not meant to actually be answered

Subplot a minor or less-important story-line within the major story

Unity a sense of completion or continuity in a piece of literature

List #17: caricature, (direct characterization), (dynamic character), (flat character), (indirect character),

(primary character), (round character), (secondary character), (static character), (tragic hero)

Caricature writing that exaggerates the humorous characteristics of characters

Direct Characterization when the author uses explicit statements or details to provide a character’s description

Dynamic Character someone that changes, develops or evolves throughout the course of a story

Flat Character. someone about which the reader knows or learns very little

Indirect Characterization a character is described through comments, opinions, responses, etc.

Primary Character anyone in the story whose presence is crucial to the plot

Round Character an interesting person with much description & detail given about him or her

Secondary Character someone who adds depth to a story but whose presence is not crucial to the plot

Static Character someone that stays the same or doesn’t grow during the course of study

juxtaposition an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast

List #18: apostrophe, motivation, (point of view), (1st person), (2nd person), (3rd person-limited),

(3rd person-omniscient), sentimentality, understatement, (stream-of-consciousness)

Apostrophe when a writer/character speaks to someone or something that doesn’t really exist

or isn’t there

First Person narrator is a person/character in the story, telling the story from his perspective

Motivation. the reasons that drive or fuel a character’s actions

Point-of-View the vantage point or perspective from which a story is told

Second Person used primarily when giving instructions or directions

Sentimentality the use of various predictable or clichéd techniques to bring about an emotional response

Stream-of-Consciousness a style of writing that seeks to duplicate thoughts as they actually occur in the mind

Understatement an expression or saying that is less intense than what appears to be reality

3rd Person-Limited narrator is outside of the story & info. is confined to what they know or can see

3rd Person-Omniscient narrator is outside of the story & is “all-knowing” or God-like in perspective

List #19: assonance, (blank verse), cacophony, consonance, dactyl, dissonance, (free verse), quatrain, sestet, tercet

Assonance the repetition of words with similar vowel sounds and different ending consonant sounds

Blank Verse unrhymed iambic pentameter

Cacophony the use of jarring or harsh unpleasant sounds in language for literary effect

Consonance the repetition of words with different vowels sounds & similar ending consonant sounds

Dactyl a metrical foot of 3 syllables with one stressed & two unstressed

Dissonance a combination of unpleasant and often unexpected sounds

Free Verse poetry without a particular pattern of rhyme or rhythm

Quatrain a four-line stanza

Sestet a six-line stanza

Tercet a three-line stanza

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download