Alliteration-the repetition of the first vowel or consonant in a series of
words
Assonance- type of alliteration where a vowel is repeated in a series of
words. e.g. Allison’s apple pie is awesome!
Consonance-type of alliteration where a consonant is repeated in a
series of words e.g. The Red Team really rocks!
Antagonist-a character or force in a conflict with the main character
(usually referred to as the “bad guy”)
Character -The people, animals, etc. who take part in a story
Characterization - how the reader learns about the characters of a story;
direct and indirect
direct characterization-the author tells the reader about the character
indirect characterization-the reader must learn about the characters
from their thoughts, feelings, actions and words
conflict -problems involving the characters in a story
internal conflict -A problem within a character
external conflict- a problem between two characters or a character and
some other outside force
flashback-A return to past events in a story
foreshadowing -clues to what will happen next
imagery -using language (words) to create vivid pictures that appeal to
the senses
irony -A difference or a contradiction between two things in a story; a
difference between expectation and outcome
dramatic irony -the difference between appearance and reality
situational irony -the difference between expectation and results
verbal irony- the difference between meaning and intention
metaphor -comparison of two unlike things e.g. Eric’s hair was a
flaming ball of fire.
Mood -feeling created by a work of literature
Narrator -person who tells the story; can be a character or outside the
story; can only be the author in an autobiography
Personification -when human characteristics are given to inhuman
objects
Plot -sequence of events in a story, mapped out in a diagram
Exposition -introduction to the characters and setting of the story;
background information
complicating incident -the event that sets the wheels in motion and
starts the “trouble”
rising action -the development of complications that create the conflict
of the story
climax -the turning point of the story and what the rising action has
been leading up to; the point of highest tension; when the problem is at
its worst
falling action -the events that lead to the conflict’s resolution, or the
solution of the problem
resolution -the point at which the conflict is resolved and the story is
brought to an end
point of view -perspective from which the story is told
first person point of view -the narrator is one of the characters in the
story; uses the pronouns I, me, my, etc.
second person point of view -the narrator is not a character but is
speaking directly to the reader, often giving advice or directions; uses
the pronoun “you”
third person limited point of view -the narrator is not a character in the
story, but sees the events of the story as an outsider; knows what one of
the characters is thinking and feeling; uses the pronouns she, he they,
etc.
third person omniscient point of view -narrator is not a character in the
story, but sees the events of the story as an outsider; knows what all of
the characters are thinking and feeling; uses the pronouns she, he they,
etc.
protagonist -the main character of a story
repetition -the use of a word or a group of words more than once in a
story
rhyme - the repetition of sounds in two or more words
half-rhyme -pattern of rhyme where the sounds of words are similar,
but not identical
exact rhyme -pattern of rhyme where the sounds of words exactly the
same
end rhyme -rhyme at the end of a line of poetry
middle rhyme -rhyme in the middle of a line
rhyme scheme -the pattern of rhyme in a poem
rhythm -the sound pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables
setting -location, time in history, season, and customs or manner of the
society where a story takes place
simile -a comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as” e.g. Her
eyes were as blue as the ocean.
Symbolism -when an object stands for something else e.g. heart = love
Theme-the central message, moral/lesson, or main idea of a story (The
3 Ms)
Tone -the poet’s or speaker’s attitude in a poem
Hyperbole -a severe/extreme exaggeration for effect
Onomatopoeia -words that are sounds or have sounds the reader can
“hear”