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When the character is fighting to control an inner problem such as fear or anger

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internal conflict

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When the character is fighting against something outside herself or himself

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external conflict

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The order of events in a work of fiction

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plot

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The early part of a story that introduces characters, setting, and general situation

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exposition

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Events that create conflict and drive the plot

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complication/rising action

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The high point of suspense in a story

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climax

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Conflict is resolved, and the story comes to a close

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resolution/donoument

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A person, animal, or thing that takes part in a work of fiction

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character

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When a writer directly tells the reader what a character is like, or what a person's motives are

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direct characterization

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The use of clues to hint at events that will occur later

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foreshadowing

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When the reader has to use his/her own judgment to decide what a character is like, based on evidence the author gives

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indirect characterization

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The vantage point from which the writer tells a story (omniscient, first-person, third-person limited)

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point of view

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Verbal: A writer says one thing, but means something completely different Situation: What we expect to happen is the opposite of what really takes place Dramatic: The reader knows something that a character in a story does not know

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irony

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The atmosphere of a piece of literature

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mood

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The time and place in which a piece of literature takes place

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setting

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The uncertainty or anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next in a story

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suspense

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Repetition of initial consonant sounds Example: "start their silent swinging" from line 4 of "Reapers" by Jean Toomer

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alliteration

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A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance Example: "Buffalo Bill's defunct" from lines 1 and 2 of "Buffalo Bill's" by E.E. Cummings. This is an allusion, because the poem is a reference to Buffalo Bill, who was an American hunter and showman.

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allusion

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Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity Example: "life sliding" from line 2 of "Making a Fist" by Naomi Shihab Nye. This repeats the long I sound.

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assonance

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An idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning Example: "Sing sin" from line 7 of "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks. This is a connotation, because the definition of sin is an immoral act. In the poem, it is used as a way to say they speaker and his friends were swearing.

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connotation

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Repetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity. Example: "Sing sin. We Thin gin." from lines 7 and 8 of "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks. This repeats the "in" sound.

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consonance

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The dictionary definition of a word Example: "Sing sin" from line 7 of "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks. In the poem, this is used to suggest the speaker and his friends were swearing. The definition, however, is: An immoral act.

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denotation

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A writer's or speaker's choice of words Example: In "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks, the speaker uses lazy language and words to suggest the speaker thinks highly of himself, and just doesn't care.

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diction

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A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor Example: "My letters! all dead paper, mute and white! And yet they seem alive and quivering" from lines 1 and 2 of "Sonnet XXVIII" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This is hyperbole, because it uses exaggeration. It is impossible for paper to be alive and quivering. The speaker was using it to make a point.

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hyperbole

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Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) Example: "the sound of steel on stones" from line 1 of "Reapers" by Jean Toomer

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imagery

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A comparison of two unlike things without using like or as Example: "My stomach was a melon split wide inside my skin" from line 6 of " Making a Fist" by Naomi Shihab Nye

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metaphor

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A word that imitates the sound it represents. Example: "And there, a field rat, startled, squealing bleeds" from line 6 of "Reapers" by Jean Toomer. This is onomatopoeia, because the word squeal kind of sounds like animal actually squealing.

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onomatopoeia

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A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes Example: "'However,' replied the universe," from line 3 of the poem by Stephen Crane. This shows personification, because the universe is not a living thing, and is not able to talk, and is therefore not able to reply to a person.

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personification

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Repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis Example: "hangin' Danny Deever in the mornin'" from lines 8, 16, 24, and 32 of "Danny Deever" by Rudyard Kipling. The fact that this line was repeated emphasizes the topic of the poem, as well as what the speakers are having a conversation about.

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repetition

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Correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when these are used at the ends of lines of poetry Example: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" and "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May," from lines 1 and 3 of "Sonnet 18" by William Shakespeare.

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rhyme

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A comparison using "like" or "as" Example: "Words put together are as loose as sand" from line from "Sonnet:Poem" by POGIL Group 7

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simile

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A term used for the author, speaker, or the person whose perspective (real or imagined) is being advanced in a speech or piece of writing, or an individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting. Example: In the poem by Stephen Crane, there are three speakers. They are the man, the universe, and the speaker.

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speaker/persona

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A device in literature where an object represents an idea. Example: In "Reapers" by Jean Toomer, the reapers represent death.

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symbolism

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The central idea of a work of literature Example: The theme of "Reapers" by Jean Toomer is death.

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theme

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an interpretive statement articulating the central meaning or message of a text Example: The thematic statement of "Reapers" by Jean Toomer is: Death doesn't stop for anybody.

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thematic statement

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A writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels. Example: The tone in "Reapers", by Jean Toomer is somber. This is because the theme is death, which is a very grave topic.

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tone

Short Story and Poetry Lit Term Cards

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