conflicts- is a struggle between two people or things in a literary

work.

- It can be internal or external.

- A conflict that takes place between a character and some outside force (another character, society or nature) is external.

- A struggle that takes place within a character (ex. Choosing to do the right thing) is internal.

description A type of writing that portrays a character, object, or

scene.

Description makes use of sensory details – words and phrases that describe how things look, sound, smell, taste, or feel.

Appeals to the senses.

irony•Is the difference between appearance and reality.

themeIs the central idea of a literary work.

Literary workAny type of written work. For example, short story, poem, play, novel, biography, song lyrics etc.

Point of view The vantage point from which a story is told.

First-person – the narrator uses the pronouns I and we and is a part of or a witness to the action

Third-person – the narrator is outside the action and uses words such as he, she, it and they

Second-person – narrator is telling the story to another character and uses the word you, story is being told through the person being addressed point of view – not used very often

Plot A series of events related to a central conflict or

struggle

Exposition (introduction) – set the tone or mood, introduces characters and the setting, provides background information

Rising action – events that lead to an important and dramatic point in the plot

Climax – the point of greatest interest and emotional involvement in the plot

Falling action – the events that develop from the climax

Resolution (denouement) – the final outcome which ties up any loose ends left in the story

SimileThe comparison of two unlike

things using like or as.

Examples:

She’s as fierce as a tiger.

She is like a rose.

My skateboard is like a rocket.

MetaphorA comparison of two unlike things.

Examples:

My skateboard is a rocket.

She’s a tiger when she’s angry.

He was drowning in paperwork.

suspense

A feeling of expectation, anxiety or curiosity created by questions raised in the mind of the reader.

characterization

Is the act of creating or describing a character. This includes a physical description as well as thoughts and feelings of the character.

Personal Essay

Is a short nonfiction work on a single topic related to the life of the writer.

denotationThe dictionary definition of a word.

connotationThe emotional association (positive or

negative) attached to a word.

Ex. – unique and strange both mean highly unusual

unique – positive connotation

strange – negative connotation

ForeshadowingIs the act of hinting at events that will happen later in a poem, story, or play.

Irony of Situationis an event that contradicts the expectations of the characters or the audience

SettingThe setting of a literary work is the time and place in which the story happens

Memoiris a nonfiction narration that tells a

story

A memoir can be autobiographical or biographical.

They are based on a person’s experiences and reactions to historical events.

Anecdote

An anecdote is a brief story, usually told to make a point.

DialectA version of a language, spoken by people of a particular place, time or group. Writers use dialect to give their works a realistic sound and feel.

Hyperbole

is an exaggeration made for effect.