English Exam Study Guide

struggle between opposing forces; any problem that must be solved

a word/group of words which appeal to one or more of the senses

a division or type of literature - generally prose, poetry, or drama

this character changes as a result of the action in the story

a reason that explains a character's thoughts, feelings, actions

this character is fully developed- writer reveals good and bad traits as well as the background

events that occur between the climax and conclusion

the time/place of the story

one of the qualities that makes up a character's personality

a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

a person/animal who takes part in the action of a literary work

a figure of speech that is an exaggeration for effect

types of figurative language

highly imaginative writing that has elements not found in real life

the point of highest interest, the conflict must be resolved one way or another

the language of everyday speech, may use contractions and slang

an informal, often short-lived kind of language used in place of standard words

the relationship between the narrator and the story he/she tells, perspective of story

an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the character/reader/audience

introduces the central conflict

the story's end

a division of poetry similar to a paragraph in prose

the standard language of written communication, formal speeches...not using slang

the general name given to literary techniques that involve interesting contradictions

a regularly repeated line or group of lines in a poem/song

an inoffensive word or term used in place of another that is felt to be offensive

anything that stands for or represents something else (possibly an item)

the special words or terms used by members of a particular profession/class

judgement based on reasoning rather than direct statement

conversation between characters

an author's use of hints/clues to suggest events that will occur later

prose writing that tells about imaginary characters/events

establishes the setting, identifies the characters, introduces the basis situation

words are used to suggest the opposite of their usual meaning

a form of nonfiction in which a writer tells the life story of another

the author's intent either to inform/teach, to entertain, or to persuade/convince audience

an expression having a special meaning different from the usual meanings of the words

a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike subjects using like/as

this character seems to possess only one or two personality traits

a problem or struggle within a character

a problem or struggle between a character and someone or something outside of the character

the use of words that imitate sounds (buzz, hiss, crack)

The series of related actions or events in a literary work

the quality of the story that makes the reader curious and excited about what will happen next

The arrangement of events in a literary work

this character stays the same throughout the story

the main character in a literary work

the message, central concern, or insight into life revealed in a literary work

a form of language spoken by people in a particular region/group

a figure of speech in which non-human subjects are given human characteristics 

the speaker or character who tells the story

literary tone used to ridicule or make fun of human vice/weakness

The two major types of conflict

the ordinary form of writing; most writing that is not poetry, drama, or song

the attitude toward the subject/audience conveyed by the language/rhythm of the speaker

a fixed, generalized idea about a character, place, or situation

a character or force in conflict with the main character

a form of nonfiction in which a writer tells his/her own life story

a figure of speech that makes an indirect comparison between two unlike subjects (no like/as)

any events leading up to the climax

the feeling created in a READER by a literary work/passage

to suggest/hint at something without stating it clearly

writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally

the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader/audience knows to be true

the fluency, rhythm and liveliness in writing that makes it unique to the writer