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

prose writing that tells about imaginary characters/events

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

judgement based on reasoning rather than direct statement

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

a character or force in conflict with the main character

highly imaginative writing that has elements not found in real life

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

the general name given to literary techniques that involve interesting contradictions

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

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

types of figurative language

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

to suggest/hint at something without stating it clearly

this character seems to possess only one or two personality traits

the main character in a literary work

the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

The series of related actions or events in a literary work

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

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

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

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

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

words are used to suggest the opposite of their usual meaning

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

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

the story's end

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

this character stays the same throughout the story

The arrangement of events in a literary work

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

writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally

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

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

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

conversation between characters

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

a problem or struggle within a character

introduces the central conflict

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

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

the speaker or character who tells the story

a figure of speech that is an exaggeration for effect

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

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

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

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

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

a division of poetry similar to a paragraph in prose

events that occur between the climax and conclusion

the language of everyday speech, may use contractions and slang

the time/place of the story

The two major types of conflict

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

any events leading up to the climax