Literary TermsLiterary TermsNotes!!!Notes!!!

Keep up with these notes. Don’t lose these Keep up with these notes. Don’t lose these terms! I might be able to use them – terms! I might be able to use them –

be RESPONSIBLE!!be RESPONSIBLE!!

Contains the following terms:Contains the following terms:Antagonist Protagonist DictionDenotation Connotation ImageryMood Plot AnaphoraExposition Rising Action ClimaxFalling Action Resolution ConflictFlashback Foreshadowing SuspensePoint of View Paradox ParallelismSetting Theme ToneFigures of Speech HyperboleIrony Antithesis JuxtapositionMetaphor Simile OxymoronPersonification Alliteration

Indirect vs. Direct Characterization

Indirect•When information is learned about the character through the ___________________.

•Ex: “Oh, I’m so upset that I can’t reach the sardines on that top shelf!”

Direct•When the author _________ descriptions/information about the character

•Ex: He was a short man that loved sardines.

ProtagonistProtagonist

•The Protagonist is the The Protagonist is the _________ _________ __________________________ in a literary work in a literary work•Can you name some famous Can you name some famous

Protagonists that are found in Protagonists that are found in literature?literature?

AntagonistAntagonist

•The Antagonist is The Antagonist is a character a character or force _____________ with a or force _____________ with a main charactermain character, or protagonist. , or protagonist.

Character Types

• There are several character types:_________ character-one of the most important

characters in the story.__________ character- all other characters.__________ character- they show varied and

contradictory traits._________ character- reveals only one personality

trait.

Character Types Cont.

_______________- a flat character that is familiar and often repeated. (Dumb Blonde, Dumb Jock, Band Nerd, etc.).

____________ character- develops within in the course of a literary work.

_________ character- they remain the same throughout the entire story.

________- a character, usually minor, designed to highlight qualities of a major character.

DictionDiction• Diction is the manner in which we Diction is the manner in which we

express _________; the wording express _________; the wording used.used.

• Diction = enunciationDiction = enunciation• Some easy examples are:Some easy examples are: Don’t say ‘goin’ – say ‘going’, Don’t say ‘wanna’ – say ‘want

to’

DenotationDenotationThe denotation of a word is The denotation of a word is

its __________________ its __________________ meaningmeaning, independent of , independent of other associations that the other associations that the word may have.word may have.

ConnotationConnotationThe connotation of a word is the set of The connotation of a word is the set of

___________ associated with it in it in addition to its explicit meaning. The addition to its explicit meaning. The connotation of a word connotation of a word can be personal, , based on individual experiences. More based on individual experiences. More often, ____________ connotations – often, ____________ connotations – those recognizable by most people in a those recognizable by most people in a group – determine a writer’s word group – determine a writer’s word choices.choices.

Denotation versus ConnotationDenotation versus Connotation

Examples – Examples – Cheap is “low in cost” (denotation) but “stingy” Cheap is “low in cost” (denotation) but “stingy”

or “poorly made” are the connotations of or “poorly made” are the connotations of cheap cheap

Let’s use the word HOT The denotation (or dictionary definition – remember d in denotation =

dictionary) of HOT is: having a temperature higher than that of a human body.

However, when you say “Man! He/She is hot!”, are you saying “Man! He is having a temperature higher than that of a human body!”? No!!

You are saying the CONNOTATION of HOT – which could mean a variety of things – man he/she is cute, attractive, beautiful, and many other meanings – those come from personal experiences and cultural meanings, etc.

ImageryImageryImageryImagery is words or phrases that is words or phrases that

appeal to one or more of the ___ _______. Writers use imagery . Writers use imagery to describe how their subjects look, how their subjects look,

sound, feel, taste, and smell.sound, feel, taste, and smell.

MOODMOODMoodMood, or atmosphere, is , or atmosphere, is the _________

created in the reader by a literary work by a literary work or passage. Writers use many devices to or passage. Writers use many devices to create mood, including images, dialogue, create mood, including images, dialogue, setting, and plot. setting, and plot. Often, a writer creates a mood at the beginning of a work and and then sustains the mood throughout. then sustains the mood throughout.

Sometimes, however, the mood of the work changes dramatically.

PlotPlotPlot is the _____________ of events. The first event The first event

causes the second, the second causes the third, and so causes the second, the second causes the third, and so forth. forth.

In most novels, dramas, short stories, and narrative In most novels, dramas, short stories, and narrative poems, the plot involves both characters and a poems, the plot involves both characters and a central conflict.

The plot usually The plot usually begins with an exposition that introduces that introduces the setting, the characters, and the basic situation. This the setting, the characters, and the basic situation. This is introduced and developed. The is introduced and developed. The conflict then increases until it reaches a high point of interest or until it reaches a high point of interest or suspense, the suspense, the climax. The climax is followed by the . The climax is followed by the falling action, or end, of the central conflict. Any events , or end, of the central conflict. Any events that occur during the falling action make up the that occur during the falling action make up the resolution..

PLOTLINEPLOTLINE

A.______________E.____________

_B._

____

____

__

C.____________

D.____________

Conflict Introduced

ExpositionExpositionThe Exposition is the The Exposition is the

_____________. It is the part . It is the part of the work that introduces of the work that introduces the the characters, setting, and basic situation..

Rising ActionRising ActionRising Action is the part of the plot Rising Action is the part of the plot

that begins to occur that begins to occur as soon as the _____________ is introduced. The rising action . The rising action adds complications to the conflict to the conflict and and increases reader interest..

ClimaxClimaxThe Climax is the point of greatest The Climax is the point of greatest

emotional intensity, interest, or emotional intensity, interest, or suspense in the plot of a suspense in the plot of a narrative. The climax typically narrative. The climax typically comes comes at the _________ pointat the _________ point in in a story or drama.a story or drama.

Falling ActionFalling Action

Falling Action is the action that Falling Action is the action that typically typically ______________ the ______________ the climax and reveals its climax and reveals its ____________________..

ResolutionResolution

The Resolution is the part of the The Resolution is the part of the plot that concludes the falling plot that concludes the falling action by action by revealing or suggesting the _____________ of the conflict..

ConflictConflict

Conflict is the struggle between Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces in a story or opposing forces in a story or playplay. There are ______ types . There are ______ types of conflict that exist in of conflict that exist in literature.literature.

External ConflictExternal Conflict

External conflict exists when a character struggles External conflict exists when a character struggles against some ___________ force, such as against some ___________ force, such as another character, nature, society, or fate.another character, nature, society, or fate.

Man vs. _______ Man vs. ________ Man vs. _______ Man vs. ________ Man vs. _________Man vs. _________

Internal ConflictInternal Conflict

Internal conflict exists __________ the mind of a character who is torn between different courses of action.

Man vs. __________Man vs. __________

FlashbackFlashbackA flashback is a literary device in which A flashback is a literary device in which

an an ______________________ episode, episode, conversation, or event is inserted conversation, or event is inserted into the sequence of events. Often into the sequence of events. Often flashbacks are presented as a flashbacks are presented as a ________________________ of the narrator or of of the narrator or of another character.another character.

The movie The movie TitanicTitanic is told almost entirely in a is told almost entirely in a flashback. flashback.

What are some other films that contain flashback to help tell stories?

HolesHolesWilly WonkaWilly WonkaThink of some more…Think of some more…

Flashback continued…

ForeshadowingForeshadowingForeshadowing is the author’s use of clues to Foreshadowing is the author’s use of clues to

________ at what might happen __________ ________ at what might happen __________ in the story. Writers use foreshadowing to in the story. Writers use foreshadowing to build their readers’ expectationsbuild their readers’ expectations and to create and to create suspense. This is used to help readers prepare suspense. This is used to help readers prepare for what is to come.for what is to come.

Can you think of an Can you think of an element of element of

foreshadowing?foreshadowing?

SuspenseSuspense

Suspense is the Suspense is the ____________ interest and ____________ interest and excitementexcitement readers experience while awaiting readers experience while awaiting a climax or resolution in a work of literature. a climax or resolution in a work of literature. It is a feeling of anxious uncertainty about the It is a feeling of anxious uncertainty about the outcome of events. Writers outcome of events. Writers create suspense create suspense by raising __________________ in the minds by raising __________________ in the minds of their readersof their readers..

Point of ViewPoint of ViewPoint of View is the Point of View is the _______________, or , or

vantage point, vantage point, from which a story is told. . It is the relationship of the narrator to the story..

_______-person is told by a character who uses is told by a character who uses the first-person pronoun the first-person pronoun “I”.

________-person limited point of view is the point of view is the point of view where the narrator uses third-point of view where the narrator uses third-person pronouns such as person pronouns such as “he” and and “she” to to refer to the characters. refer to the characters.

________-person omniscient- same as limited ________-person omniscient- same as limited but the narrator is all knowing. but the narrator is all knowing.

SettingSettingThe setting of a literary work is the The setting of a literary work is the _______ and _______ and

_________ of the action_________ of the action. . The setting includes all the The setting includes all the __________________________ of a place and of a place and

time – the year, the time of day, even the weather. The time – the year, the time of day, even the weather. The place may be a specific country, state, region, place may be a specific country, state, region, community, neighborhood, building, institution, or community, neighborhood, building, institution, or home. home.

In most stories, the setting In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop serves as a backdrop – a – a context in which the characters interact. The setting of a context in which the characters interact. The setting of a story often helps to create a particular mood, or feeling.story often helps to create a particular mood, or feeling.

ThemeThemeThe theme of a literary work is The theme of a literary work is its ________________ its ________________

__________, concern, or purpose__________, concern, or purpose. A theme can . A theme can usually be expressed as a generalization, or general usually be expressed as a generalization, or general statement, about people or life. The theme may be statement, about people or life. The theme may be stated directly by the writer although it is more stated directly by the writer although it is more often presented indirectly. When the theme is often presented indirectly. When the theme is stated indirectly, the reader must figure out the stated indirectly, the reader must figure out the theme by looking carefully at theme by looking carefully at what the work reveals what the work reveals about the people or about ____________about the people or about ____________..

ToneToneTone is a reflection of a Tone is a reflection of a writer’s or speaker’s writer’s or speaker’s

__________________________ toward a subject of a poem, story, toward a subject of a poem, story, or other literary work. Tone may be or other literary work. Tone may be communicated through words and details that communicated through words and details that express particular emotions and that express particular emotions and that evoke an evoke an _____________ response from the reader_____________ response from the reader. .

For example, word choice or phrasing may seem to convey respect, anger, lightheartedness, or sarcasm..

A brief word on tone and theme

Diction creates Tone…Tone creates Theme…The Theme of a story is NEVER one word!!!Example: The theme of Romeo and Juliet is NOT

“Love”. What was Shakespeare really saying about teenage love?

Figures of SpeechFigures of SpeechA figure of speech is a specific device or A figure of speech is a specific device or kind of kind of

figurative languagefigurative language, such as hyperbole, , such as hyperbole, metaphor, personification, simile, or metaphor, personification, simile, or understatement.understatement.

Figurative language is Figurative language is used for ______________ used for ______________ effecteffect, often to imply ideas indirectly. , often to imply ideas indirectly. It is not It is not meant to be taken literallymeant to be taken literally. Figurative . Figurative language is used to state ideas in language is used to state ideas in __________________ and and imaginative imaginative ways.ways.

MetaphorMetaphorA Metaphor is a type of speech that A Metaphor is a type of speech that __________ __________

or equates two or more things that have or equates two or more things that have something in commonsomething in common. A metaphor does NOT . A metaphor does NOT use use likelike or or asas..

Example: Life is a box Example: Life is a box of chocolates.of chocolates.

SimileSimileA Simile is another figure of speech that A Simile is another figure of speech that

compares seemingly ___________ thingscompares seemingly ___________ things. . Simile’s DO use the words Simile’s DO use the words likelike or or asas..

Example: Her voice was Example: Her voice was like nails on a like nails on a chalkboard.chalkboard.NOT a simile: I am not as fast as Michael. (there NOT a simile: I am not as fast as Michael. (there

is NO comparison of unlike things going on is NO comparison of unlike things going on here)here)

OxymoronOxymoronAn Oxymoron is a figure of speech that is a An Oxymoron is a figure of speech that is a

combination of seemingly ________________ combination of seemingly ________________ wordswords. .

Examples:Examples: Same differenceSame differencePretty uglyPretty uglyJumbo shrimpJumbo shrimp

PersonificationPersonificationPersonification is a figure of Personification is a figure of

speech in which an speech in which an animal, object, force of animal, object, force of nature, or idea is nature, or idea is given given _____________ qualities _____________ qualities or characteristicsor characteristics. .

Example:Tears began to fall Example:Tears began to fall from the dark clouds.from the dark clouds.

AlliterationAlliterationAlliteration is the Alliteration is the repetition of __________repetition of __________, ,

most often consonant sounds, most often consonant sounds, at the at the ________________ of words________________ of words. Alliteration . Alliteration gives emphasis to words.gives emphasis to words.

Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepperspickled peppers

Irony• Irony is when something happens that is the

______________ of what’s expected.• ________________ Irony: when the audience

knows what will happen before the characters• _______________ Irony: when something

happens that’s unexpected• ____________ Irony: when a character says

one thing but means another (over/understated)

Hyperbole

• A hyperbole is an ______________ over-exageration.

• Ex: Yo mama’s so fat, she’s got her own zip code.

Paradox

• A statement that _______________ itself

• Ex: I always lie.• Ex: She hid inside herself.

Anaphora

• The ____________ of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses; it helps to establish a strong rhythm and produces a powerful ____________ effect.

• Ex: I have a dream…

Parallelism

• Parallelism is the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the ______; or _____________ in their construction, sound, meaning or meter.

• This method adds balance and _________ to sentences giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be persuasive because of the repetition it employs.

Example of Parallelism

• "Today's students can put dope in their veins or hope in their brains. If they can conceive it and believe it, they can achieve it. They must know it is not their aptitude but their attitude that will determine their altitude." - Jesse Jackson

Juxtaposition• Juxtaposition is a literary technique in which

two or more ___________, places, characters and their actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and _____________.

• Ex: “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightLike a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear;”

• Shakespeare uses the juxtaposition of light and darkness here to describe Juliet’s beauty.

Antithesis

• Antithesis, literal meaning ____________, is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a _______________ effect.

• Ex: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,…”