Fundamental English Fundamental English Literary TermsLiterary Terms

We will be using these literary terms We will be using these literary terms for this unit and throughout the for this unit and throughout the

year. year.

These WILL be used on your FINAL These WILL be used on your FINAL EXAMS!!EXAMS!!

Fill out the notes sheet (powerpoint, Fill out the notes sheet (powerpoint, or your own notes) for these terms!or your own notes) for these terms!

______________________

•The protagonist is the The protagonist is the _____ character in a _____ character in a literary work.literary work.

ANTAGONISTANTAGONIST

The antagonist is a The antagonist is a character or force character or force ____ ________ with a ____ ________ with a main character, or main character, or protagonist. protagonist.

POINT OF VIEWPOINT OF VIEWPoint of view (POV) is the _________, Point of view (POV) is the _________,

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

__________ is told by a character __________ is told by a character who uses the first-person pronoun who uses the first-person pronoun “I”. It doesn’t have to be the “I”. It doesn’t have to be the protagonist as in protagonist as in The Great Gatsby.The Great Gatsby.

Example: Example: The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games (Katniss) and (Katniss) and TwilightTwilight (Bella). (Bella).

_______ PERSON _______ PERSON LIMITED NARRATORLIMITED NARRATOR

• 33rdrd person person limitedlimited point of view is the point of view is the point of view where the narrator uses point of view where the narrator uses third-person pronouns such as “he” and third-person pronouns such as “he” and “she” to refer to the characters. “she” to refer to the characters.

• It is a method of storytelling in which It is a method of storytelling in which the narrator knows the ____________and the narrator knows the ____________and _______ of one of the characters in the _______ of one of the characters in the story.story.

• Example: Example: Harry Potter and the Chamber Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets of Secrets (Harry).(Harry).

THIRD PERSON THIRD PERSON __________ NARRATOR__________ NARRATOR

• 33rdrd person omniscient is a method of person omniscient is a method of storytelling in which the narrator knows the storytelling in which the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of_______ of the thoughts and feelings of_______ of the characters in the story, as opposed to 3characters in the story, as opposed to 3rdrd person limited, which adheres closely to one person limited, which adheres closely to one character's perspective.character's perspective.

• Omniscient means “____________________ Omniscient means “____________________ _____________________________” (merriam-_____________________________” (merriam-webster.com)webster.com)

• Example: Example: The Disreputable History of Frankie The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-BanksLandau-Banks

POINT OF VIEW: POINT OF VIEW: SPECIAL CASESSPECIAL CASES

• Occasionally a book will switch between Occasionally a book will switch between different points of view. For example, there different points of view. For example, there are times the Harry Potter books will briefly are times the Harry Potter books will briefly move to 3move to 3rdrd person omniscient (when Harry person omniscient (when Harry is a baby).is a baby).

• Rarely, books will use 1Rarely, books will use 1stst person omniscient. person omniscient. For example, For example, The Book Thief The Book Thief (narrated by (narrated by Death) and Death) and The Lovely Bones (The Lovely Bones (a dead girl a dead girl looking down on family).looking down on family).

• Or, a book may use 1Or, a book may use 1stst person but switch person but switch between characters (between characters (My Sister’s Keeper).My Sister’s Keeper).

PLOTPLOT•Plot is the _________________. Plot is the _________________.

The first event causes the The first event causes the second, the second causes the second, the second causes the third, and so forth.third, and so forth.

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

PLOTLINEPLOTLINE

______________________

____

____

____

___________

______________

Conflict Introduced

EXPOSITIONEXPOSITION•The exposition is the The exposition is the _________._________.

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

SETTINGSETTING•The setting of a literary work is the The setting of a literary work is the

_______ and _______ of the action. _______ and _______ of the action. • It includes all the details of a place It includes all the details of a place

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

SETTINGSETTING•Details such as dialect, clothing, Details such as dialect, clothing,

customs, and modes of customs, and modes of transportation are often used to transportation are often used to establish setting. establish setting.

• In most stories, the setting In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop – a context serves as a backdrop – a context in which the characters interact. in which the characters interact.

•The setting of a story often helps The setting of a story often helps to create a particular ______, or to create a particular ______, or feeling. feeling.

CONFLICTCONFLICT•The conflict is the The conflict is the struggle between struggle between opposing forces in a story.opposing forces in a story.

•There are _____ types of There are _____ types of conflict that exist in conflict that exist in literature.literature.

EXTERNAL EXTERNAL CONFLICTCONFLICT

•External conflict exists when a External conflict exists when a character struggles against some character struggles against some outside force, such as another outside force, such as another _______, ______, ______, or _____._______, ______, ______, or _____.

•External conflict is expressed as External conflict is expressed as person vs. person, person vs. person vs. person, person vs. nature, etc.nature, etc.

INTERNAL INTERNAL CONFLICTCONFLICT

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

• Internal conflict is expressed as Internal conflict is expressed as person vs. ________person vs. ________

RISING ACTIONRISING ACTIONThe rising action is the part The rising action is the part of the plot that begins to of the plot that begins to occur as soon as the conflict occur as soon as the conflict is __________.is __________.

The rising action adds The rising action adds complications to the conflict complications to the conflict and increases reader and increases reader interest.interest.

CLIMAXCLIMAX•The climax is the point of The climax is the point of

_______ _________ _______, _______ _________ _______, interest, or suspense in the interest, or suspense in the plot of a narrative.plot of a narrative.

•The climax typically comes The climax typically comes at the turning point in a at the turning point in a story or drama.story or drama.

DENOUEMENT or DENOUEMENT or __________ _____________________ ___________

•The denouement is the The denouement is the unraveling of the story. unraveling of the story.

• It consists of the events following It consists of the events following the climax of a story in which a the climax of a story in which a resolution or clarification takes resolution or clarification takes place.place.

• It is also known as “falling It is also known as “falling action.”action.”

RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION

The resolution is the part The resolution is the part of the plot that concludes of the plot that concludes the falling action by the falling action by ________ or _________ the ________ or _________ the outcome of the conflict.outcome of the conflict.

THEMETHEMEThe theme of a literary work is its The theme of a literary work is its

central ________, _______, or ______. A central ________, _______, or ______. A theme can usually be expressed as a theme can usually be expressed as a generalization, or general statement, generalization, or general statement, about people or life. about people or life. The theme may be stated directly by The theme may be stated directly by the writer although it is more often the writer although it is more often presented ____________. presented ____________. When the theme is stated indirectly, When the theme is stated indirectly, the reader must figure out the theme the reader must figure out the theme by looking carefully at what the work by looking carefully at what the work reveals about people or life.reveals about people or life.We will talk much more about We will talk much more about theme!theme!

AlliterationAlliterationAlliteration is the _________ of sounds, Alliteration is the _________ of sounds,

most often _________ sounds, at the most often _________ sounds, at the beginning of words. Alliteration beginning of words. 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

__________________

• A regional or social variety of a language A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, especially a variety of or vocabulary, especially a variety of speech differing from the standard speech differing from the standard literary language or speech pattern of the literary language or speech pattern of the culture in which it exists.culture in which it exists.

• Dialects are spoken by definable groups Dialects are spoken by definable groups of people from a particular geographic of people from a particular geographic region, economic group, or social class.region, economic group, or social class.

• Writers use dialect to contrast and Writers use dialect to contrast and express differences in educational, express differences in educational, class, social, and regional backgrounds class, social, and regional backgrounds of their characters.of their characters.

• Describe the sentry’s dialect in Describe the sentry’s dialect in Antigone.Antigone.

• Notice examples of dialect as we read Notice examples of dialect as we read The House on Mango Street.The House on Mango Street.

_______ of ______________ of _______• A figure of speech is a specific device A figure of speech is a specific device

or kind of figurative language, such as or kind of figurative language, such as hyperbole, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, metaphor, personification, simile, or oxymoron.simile, or oxymoron.

• _______ language is used for _______ language is used for descriptive effect, often to imply ideas descriptive effect, often to imply ideas indirectly. It is not meant to be taken indirectly. It is not meant to be taken literally. Figurative language is used literally. Figurative language is used to state ideas in vivid and imaginative to state ideas in vivid and imaginative ways.ways.

HyperboleHyperbole• Definition- A figure of speech that contains an ___________ Definition- A figure of speech that contains an ___________

for emphasisfor emphasis

• Examples of hyperbole include sayings such as “I haven’t Examples of hyperbole include sayings such as “I haven’t seen you for ages” or “My backpack weighs ________!”seen you for ages” or “My backpack weighs ________!”

• HHypeyperbole has a touch of rbole has a touch of hhypeype..

MetaphorMetaphorA Metaphor is a figure of speech that compares or A Metaphor is a figure of speech that compares or

equates two or more things that have equates two or more things that have something in common. A metaphor does something in common. A metaphor does _______ use _______ use likelike or or asas..

It is an implicit or implied comparison (as opposed It is an implicit or implied comparison (as opposed to the simile, where the comparison is very to the simile, where the comparison is very clear)clear)

Example: Life is a bowl Example: Life is a bowl

of cherries.of cherries.

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

that compares seemingly unlike that compares seemingly unlike things. Similes use the words things. Similes use the words ____________ or or ________________..

Example: Her voice was like nails on a Example: Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard.chalkboard.

PersonificationPersonificationPersonification is a figure of Personification is a figure of

speech in which an ________, speech in which an ________, _____________, or _______ is _____________, or _______ is given human qualities or given human qualities or characteristics. characteristics.

Giving an animal human traits Giving an animal human traits is not personification; it is is not personification; it is called called anthropomorphismanthropomorphism..

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

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

is a combination of seemingly is a combination of seemingly contradictory words. contradictory words.

Examples:Examples: Same differenceSame difference

Pretty uglyPretty ugly

Jumbo shrimpJumbo shrimp

AllusionAllusion•An allusion is a reference to a An allusion is a reference to a

literary or historical person or literary or historical person or event to explain a present event to explain a present situation. The _____, __________, situation. The _____, __________, and ________ are all common and ________ are all common allusions.allusions.

__________________________ ________ is the use of words or is the use of words or phrases that appeal to one or phrases that appeal to one or

more of the five senses. more of the five senses. Writers use imagery to Writers use imagery to

describe how their subjects describe how their subjects look, sound, feel, taste, and look, sound, feel, taste, and

smell.smell.

ImageryImagery• Definition- Language evoking the five senses (taste, touch, sight, sound, Definition- Language evoking the five senses (taste, touch, sight, sound,

smell)smell)

• Example:Example:

““dare to plunge downward, straightdare to plunge downward, straightthrough waters warm and brightthrough waters warm and brightinto that cold unknown,into that cold unknown,deeper and deeper downdeeper and deeper downterrified, into black,terrified, into black,until they touch the stone “until they touch the stone “

• ImageryImagery helps you helps you imagine.imagine.

Local ColorLocal Color

• Local color Local color is sometimes also referred to is sometimes also referred to as _________ literature -- fiction and poetry as _________ literature -- fiction and poetry that focuses on the characters, dialect, that focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features customs, topography, and other features particular to a particular to a _______ ________________ _________..

• The behavior, speech, etc. characteristic The behavior, speech, etc. characteristic of a certain region, location, or time of a certain region, location, or time depicted in a novel or play adds depicted in a novel or play adds authenticity.authenticity.

Local ColorLocal Color• Many local color stories share a dislike for Many local color stories share a dislike for

change and a certain degree of nostalgia for the change and a certain degree of nostalgia for the ways of the past. ways of the past.

• There is sometimes a tension or conflict There is sometimes a tension or conflict between urban ways and old-fashioned values. between urban ways and old-fashioned values.

• A celebration of community and acceptance in A celebration of community and acceptance in the face of adversity characterizes women's the face of adversity characterizes women's local color fiction. local color fiction.

• Be sure to notice elements of local color in Be sure to notice elements of local color in The The House on Mango Street.House on Mango Street.

__________________________

•Definition- A word that is spelled Definition- A word that is spelled like it soundslike it sounds

•Using words that imitate the Using words that imitate the sounds they denotesounds they denote

•Examples: Examples: Bam! Crash! Boom! Bam! Crash! Boom! Pop!Pop!

•Moo, woof, oinkMoo, woof, oink

StyleStyleStyle is the distinctive way in which Style is the distinctive way in which

an author uses language.an author uses language.

Word choice, phrasing, sentence Word choice, phrasing, sentence length, tone, dialogue, purpose, length, tone, dialogue, purpose, and attitude toward the audience and attitude toward the audience and subject can all contribute to an and subject can all contribute to an author’s writing style. Pay author’s writing style. Pay attention to author Sandra attention to author Sandra Cisneros’ style in Cisneros’ style in The House on The House on Mango StreetMango Street..

ToneTone

• The author’s _________ about the _________ The author’s _________ about the _________ matter. matter. – Ask yourself how the writer feels about the Ask yourself how the writer feels about the

subject. Is the writer being sarcastic, serious, subject. Is the writer being sarcastic, serious, celebratory, dramatic, imaginative, comical, celebratory, dramatic, imaginative, comical, etc. etc.

– Think about it like this, a writer can write Think about it like this, a writer can write about Hinsdale Central in many different about Hinsdale Central in many different tones, right? tones, right?

– Tone is shaped by purpose!Tone is shaped by purpose!

__________________________

•The underlying message The underlying message communicated when communicated when characters express one idea, characters express one idea, but they are really thinking or but they are really thinking or feeling something else.feeling something else.

______________________

• A short, usually descriptive literary A short, usually descriptive literary sketch. sketch.

• A snapshot or sceneA snapshot or scene