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indirect characterization

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author gives clues about a character by describing what a character looks like, does, and says, as well as how other characters react to him or her

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satire

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form of literature in which irony, sarcasm, and ridicule are employed to attack human vice and folly

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couplet

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Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme. For example: the last two lines of the Prologue in Romeo and Juliet.

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dialog

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the lines spoken by characters in drama or fiction

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simile

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a comparison using like or as

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setting

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the context and environment in which something is set; the time, place, and psychological state in which a story takes place

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motif

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The repetition or variations of an image or idea in a work used to develop theme or characters. For example: every time something bad is about to happen in a story crows show up

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parallelism

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phrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other. Ex: After returning from the movies, Juanita washed the dishes, put the food away, and got ready for bed.

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end rhyme

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a word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line

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stanza

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a group of lines in a poem

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theme

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The main idea of the story, The main idea or meaning of a text. Often, this is an insight about human life revealed in a literary work

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rising action/ complications

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the series of conflicts or struggles that build a story toward a climax

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irony

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incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs

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free verse

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Poetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme

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understatement

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the opposite of exaggeration. It is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended.

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diction

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word choice--the words in which a writer chooses to use---how clearly words are pronounced when speaking aloud

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internal rhyme

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A word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line

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characterization

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the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character

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character

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

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prose

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the ordinary form of written language--- Ex: the way you would write an essay

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metaphor

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a comparison inwhich one thing is described as being another thing. ex: she was a beautiful rose in a weedy garden.

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exposition

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introduces the characters, setting, and basic situation

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paradox

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an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth--- ex: parting is such "sweet sorrow"----you see a waterfall which flows upward---

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plot

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the story that is told in a novel or play or movie etc.----- the series of events in a story or play which lead to a resolution

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pun

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a humorous play on words---- using the double meaning of words for humorous effect

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symbol

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anything that stands for or represents something else---- dove=peace, crow=ugly, kiss=love

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hero

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the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem- this character will do things which are moral and "good" (not protagonist)

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comic relief

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A humorous scene or speech intended to lighten the mood

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rhetorical question

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a statement that is formulated as a question but that is not supposed to be answered

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approximate/slant rhyme

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rhymes created out of words with similar but not identical sounds.

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first person point of view

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Told from the viewpoint of one of the characters using the pronouns "I" and We"

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figurative language

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Writing or speech that is used to create vivid impressions by setting up comparisons between dissimilar things, [examples are metaphor, simile, and personification.

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foil (dramatic foil) character

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a character who provides a contrast to another character Ex: Benvolio and Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet

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direct characterization

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Author directly describes character. Ex: ---Of all the boys in the ninth grade, Garrett was the meanest-----;

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third person ominiscient

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narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters

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denouement (resolution)

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The conclusion or resolution of a story; French for "unraveling;" mysteries are unraveled, conflicts are solved, questions raised by plot are answered.

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initial conflict

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The first conflict that begins the problem of a story.

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third person limited point of view

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This is a point of view in which the narrator is outside the story and reveals the thoughts of only one character, who is referred to as----he----- or ----she-----

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stage directions

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italicized instructions in a play written by the playwright; describe the setting, entrances and exits of the characters, and how characters look, speak, and react to events or to others; suggest use of props, lighting, scenery, sound effects, and costumes

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irony of situation (situational irony)

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an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience

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personification

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..., representing an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature--or--giving "non-living" things human characteristics

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rhyme scheme

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..., the pattern of rhyme in a poem---ex: AABB,ABAB, AAAC

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monologue

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..., a (usually long) dramatic speech by a single actor with other characters on stage listening to them speak

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falling action

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..., events after the climax, leading to the resolution

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dramatic irony

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..., when a reader (or audience) is aware of something that a character isn't aware of

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point of view

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..., the perspective from which the writer tells the story (1st, 2nd, 3rd person; omniscient, limited omniscient)

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verbal irony

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..., occurs when what is said contradicts what is meant or thought----ex: I am so hungry I could eat a horse.

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blank verse

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..., poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter

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denotation

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..., The dictionary definition of a word

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foreshadowing

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..., the presentation of material in such a way that the reader is prepared for what is to come later in the work

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paraphrase

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..., express the same message in different words, (v.) to restate in other words (n.) a statement that presents a given idea in new language

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connotation

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..., the implied or associative meaning of a word, refers to the implied or suggested meanings associated with a word beyond its dictionary definition

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climax

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..., the point of highest interest in a literary work

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protagonist

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..., main character (do not choose: hero)

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allusion

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..., a reference to another work of literature, person, or event

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oxymoron

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..., A figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms-----ex: jumbo shrimp

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rhythm

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..., the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry

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rhyme

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..., The repetition of sounds at the end of words

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soliloquy

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..., in drama, a character speaks alone on stage to allow his/her thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience

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trickster

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..., a character who, through superior wit or cunning, can deceive and manipulate those who seemingly have greater strength and authority; they also enjoy playing tricks on the stupid, pompous, or greedy---- ex: Bugs Bunny, Brer Rabbitt

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narrative

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..., The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.

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assonance

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..., the repetition of similar vowels in the stressed syllables of successive words, Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity

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sarcasm

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..., the use of irony to mock or convey contempt--ex: You say, "nice shirt" but you don't mean it.

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hyperbole

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..., a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor

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dialect

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..., a regional variety of a language, with differences in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation; also a form of a language spoken by members of a particular social class or profession

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imagery

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...descriptive or figurative language used in literature to create word pictures for the reader

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limerick

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..., a humorous verse form of 5 anapestic lines with a rhyme scheme aabba. ex: There once was a man from Nantucket/who carried his fish in a bucket/he said with a grin /as he pulled at a fin /if this fin was a flower I would pluck it.

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conflict

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..., opposition in a work of drama or fiction between characters or forces (especially an opposition that motivates the development of the plot)

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caricature

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..., a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect---a cartoonish drawing of someone

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alliteration

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..., use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse ex: around the rock the ragged rascal ran

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heroine

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..., a female hero

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aside

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..., a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage

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sonnet

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..., A 14 line poem usually written in iambic pentameter ex: the prologue of Romeo and Juliet

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tone

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..., the writer or speaker's attitude toward the subject of a story, toward a character, or toward the audience (the readers).

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antagonist

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A character or force in conflict with the main character (protagonist)

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external conflict

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A character struggles against some outside force: another character, society as a whole, or some natural force

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internal conflict

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A struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions within a single character.

Virginia Standards of Learning Literary Terms Pre/Post Test – Flashcards

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