Literature Terms PDF

◦ Character- a person, animal, or object in fiction; includes main (protagonist) and minor characters, as well as antagonists. Dynamic or Round-characters who change throughout the text Static or Flat-characters who don’t change ◦ Characterization-The method by which a writer reveals a cha...

◦ Character- a person, animal, or object in fiction; includes main (protagonist) and minor characters, as well as antagonists. Dynamic or Round-characters who change throughout the text Static or Flat-characters who don’t change ◦ Characterization-The method by which a writer reveals a character’s traits and motivations through actions, speech, and thoughts. Character trait-characteristics that a character exhibits Character Motivation-reason for action ◦ Conflict- The central problem in a story, which can be internal (within a character) or external (between characters or forces). Internal-conflict within character External-conflict between other things ◦ Setting- The time and place where a story occurs, including historical context and physical features. Time/ Historical Period-period in time of location Physical Features-what a location looks like Geographic Location-exact location ◦ Plot(Narrative Arc)- The sequence of events in a story, comprising exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Exposition-exposure to important information thats important later on Rising Action-complications emerge Climax-turning point of action and where the main character makes a big decision Falling Action-where loose ends are tied up and leads to resolution Resolution-called denouement or how the story ends ◦ Foreshadowing-Hints or clues in a text about future events. ◦ Flashback-Interruptions in the narrative to insert past events for context. ◦ Point of View (POV)-The narrative perspective; includes first-person, third-person (limited and omniscient), and second-person. First Person-the narrator is a character in the story Third Person-third person limited focuses on one character’s thoughts while third person omniscient focuses on all the characters thoughts Second Person-rare, “you” is always used (mga self help books) ◦ Speaker-The individual delivering the story, who may not be the same as the author. ◦ Narrator-A character or voice recounting the story's events. ◦ Editorial-An opinion piece written for publication, reflecting the editor's views on a topic. ◦ Fact-A statement that is true or can be proven. Happens-“meteor showers happen once every couple of decades” Has Happened or is certain to be true-“Jose Rizal wrote El Filibusterismo” Is real or exists-“the sun is a star” ◦ Opinion-A belief or judgment that may not be based on fact. Believed to have occurred Believed to exist Believed to be true ◦ Bias-Prejudice or favoritism towards one side over another. ◦ Imagery-Vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses, creating mental images. ◦ Mood-The emotional atmosphere created by the author, influencing how the reader feels. ◦ Tone-The author's attitude towards the subject and audience, expressed through word choice and style. ◦ Sarcasm-A form of verbal irony where the intended meaning is different from the literal meaning. ◦ Connotation-The implied or suggested meanings of a word beyond its literal definition. ◦ Denotation-The literal, dictionary definition of a word. ◦ Words in Context-Hints within a text that help define unfamiliar words. ◦ Allusion-A brief, indirect reference to a person, place, or idea of significance. ◦ Irony-A contrast between expectations and reality; includes verbal, situational, and dramatic irony. Verbal Irony-when character or narrator says something but means exactly opposite Situational Irony-difference between what appears to be true and what actually happens Dramatic Irony-the reader and audience know something that the characters don’t ◦ Symbol-An object that represents a broader concept or idea. ◦ Theme-The central idea or underlying message of a story. ◦ Stanza-A grouped set of lines in a poem. ◦ Rhyme-Correspondence of sound between words, especially at the ends. ◦ Meter-The rhythmic structure of a poem, based on syllable stress patterns. ◦ Literal Language-Language that means exactly what it says. ◦ Figurative Language-Language that uses figures of speech to convey meanings beyond the literal. Metaphor-contrasting different things with out using “like” or “as” Extended Metaphor-metaphors that continues throughout the lines in a poem Simile -contrasting things with the use of “like” and “as” Onomatopoeia-formation of a word from the sound associated with what is named Hyperbole-exaggeration Alliteration-occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of closely connected words Personification-giving non human objects human characteristics ◦ Paraphrase-Restating a text’s meaning in different words. ◦ Author’s Purpose-The reason an author writes a piece (to inform, persuade, entertain, etc.). ◦ Author’s Style-The unique way an author uses language, including word choice and sentence structure. ◦ Sequence-The order of events in a story.