Introduction to Literature Literary Terms

1. Introduction to LiteratureLiterary Terms English 8 Mrs. Cowan

2. I.Literatureis the author’s written form of expression that reflects his views or opinions on life and living.

3. II. There are three main divisions of literature. A.Prose – any writing that is not poetry; written in sentences and paragraphs (essays, short stories, novels, newspaper articles, and letters) B. Poetry– beautiful thought, image, or emotion, often expressed in rhythmical language and often written according to patterns of lines

4. C. Drama (play) – written by a playwright; tells a group of actors what to do or say on stage

5. III. There are two kinds of writing in • literature. • A. Fiction – literature that is not true 1. Short story – a form of prose fiction that can be read in a single sitting and produces a single effect; few characters; one setting • 2. Novel– a long work of fiction that contains more characters, settings, complicated plots, and subplots

6. B.Non-fiction– literature that is true 1. Biography – a story about a person written by someone else 2. Autobiography – a story about a person written by the person 3. Essay – a short prose composition about a particular subject 4. Article – a prose composition 5. News writing– prose writing about recent events

7. IV. There is a key (or point of emphasis) to each major type of literature. A. Novel– unfolding plot B. Short story – single character C. Play – Struggle or conflict D. Biography – personal growth E. Poem – imagination, emotion, rhythm

8. V. The following list of words are literary terms that we will be using when discussing or analyzing literature in this class. A. Plot– the events (action) of the story 1. Exposition (opening situation; conflict or problem) – the beginning events; introduces us to the characters, setting, etc. 2. Rising action (complications) – the events in the central part of the story where various problems arise; leads to the climax

9. 3. Climax – the event that changes the main character; the turning point • 4. Falling action – the event(s) that follow the climax; the action or dialogue necessary to lead to the resolution; helps the reader solve the conflict • 5. Resolution (Denouement) – the event that happens at the end to help us solve the conflict

10. 6. Plotline – a visual that shows the main events (action) of the story

11. B. Conflict – a struggle between opposing forces; problems and complications in the story 1. Internal conflict (man vs. himself) – conflict within the character

12. 2.External conflict – a struggle with an outside force or problem a.Man vs. Man – one against one

13. Man vs. Society – one against a social issue or problem • Man vs. nature – one against an element or animal

14. d.Man vs. Supernatural – one against ghosts, fantasies, etc.

15. C. Characterization – the description of people in a story 1. static character – remains the same 2. dynamic character – changes during the story; grows and develop 3. stereotype (consistent) – acts like you would expect him/her to act 4. protagonist – hero; main character; good guy 5. antagonist – person (force) against the protagonist; the villain; bad guy

16. D. Flashback – info about the past E. Foreshadowing – clues (hints) of what is to come F. Point-of-view – who is telling the story 1. First person – one of the characters in the story is telling the story 2. Third person omniscient – the narrator knows the feeling and thoughts of all the characters

17. 3. Third person limited omniscient- narrator knows the feelings and thoughts of one character 4. Third person objective(camera view) – we know what the characters are doing, not what they are thinking or feeling

18. G. Setting – time and place of events 1. Time – when events take place a. Day c. Season b. Year d. Historical Time 2. Place – where events take place H. Theme – the central message about life or human nature; a universal truth

19. I. Symbol -an object that stands for an idea or belief J. Irony – a statement, action, or situation that is the opposite of what it normally means or what is expected

20. a.verbal irony - say the opposite of what is meant • b. situational irony - something happens that is the opposite of what is expected • c.dramatic irony – the reader knows something a character doesn’t know

21. K. Mood – the predominant emotion in a story; how you feel L. Moral – the lesson taught by a story M. Style – how the author writes; his choice and arrangement of words; his use of language

22. N. Dialect – a non-standard sub-group of a language that often reveals region, economic, or social class O. Suspense – a feeling of anxious uncertainty about the outcome of events P. Realism – actual or possible experiences in a story Q. Tone – the writer’s attitude toward a subject, character, or audience

23. R. Diction – a writer’s choice of words S. Syntax – the arrangement of words in a sentence; how the writer constructs a sentence T. Imagery – descriptive words and phrases that appeal to the senses

24. U. Connotation – not the dictionary definition of a word V. Denotation – the dictionary definition of a word

25. W. Idiom – a word or expression peculiar to certain language; means something different that the literal meaning It’s raining cats and dogs. X. Blank verse – unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter Y. Free verse – poetry that has no regular pattern of rhythm or rhyme; generally arranged in lines.

26. Z. Affix – a prefix or suffix AA. Prefix – an addition to the beginning of a word BB. Suffix – an addition to the end of a word

27. CC. Root – the base of a word; the essential part DD. Simile– a comparison of two unlike things using the words likeor as. She is as pretty as a picture. EE. Hyperbole – an outrageous exaggeration That weighs a ton.

28. FF. Alliteration– the repetition of consonant sounds. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. GG. Assonance– the repetition of vowel sounds at the beginning of a word. Every elephant eats enormous eagles.

29. HH. Metaphor – comparison of two unlike things not using the words like or as. • She is the picture of health. II.Personification – when an animal or object is given human qualities. The trees sighed as the wind blew through them.

30. JJ. Onomatopoeia – words that mimic the sounds they describe. The bee buzzed around my head. KK. Allusion – a reference from the arts, history, literature, mythology, politics, religion, sports, or science. LL. Inference – an educated guess

31. MM. Analogy – a comparison using something that is familiar to explain something that is unfamiliar. Mesa Verde National Park is an outdoor museum, not a playground.