Download Literary Terms and Techniques

Literary Terms and Techniques- Notes
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--Genre- a particular type or category of literature. Ex. Short story, poem,
drama
-Non fiction- material that is based on fact
-Fiction- material that is made up, unrealistic, or seemingly real but not
completely based in fact
-- Sign posts for readingFICTION--Words of the wiser, epiphany, motif, contrasts &
contradictions, tough questions, flashback
NON FICTION- contrast & contradictions, extreme or absolute
language, facts & statistics, word gaps, quoted words, BIG QUESTIONSWhat surprised me, what does the author think I know, How sis this
challenge, change or confirm my beliefs
--Short story- a brief story that is meant to be read in one sitting.
--Plot – the storyline or a piece. There are 6 parts of a plot.
--Exposition- the part of the plot where you learn about the main
characters and
the setting.
--Conflict- the main problem of the story
(Two kinds of conflict possibleInternal Conflict- the problem is in the character’s mind.
External Conflict- the problem is outside the person’s mind
and can effect him physically.)
--Rising Action- the tensions that build based on the problem
--Climax – the point where the problem is addressed one way or
another
--Falling Action- the part of the story where things fall back into
place
--Resolution- the end of the story
--Antagonist- main character
--Protagonist- opposing character or force (the bad guy)
--Theme- the underlying message or universal idea of the story. Ex. Man vs.
nature,
responsibility
--Symbol- an item used to express something else. Ex. A flag represents
our country.
--Foreshadowing- when the author gives hints as to what will happen next.
--Flashback- when the author moves backwards in time to give you a hint of
background information.
-Characterization- the description of a character. This can be done
directly or indirectly.
--Direct characterization- the author tells you what you need to
know. Ex. Mark loved science.
--Indirect characterization-the author expects you to use clues to
learn about the character. Ex. Mark waved his hand frantically when the
teacher asked yet another science question.
-- Character trait- a quality that makes the character seem real. Ex.
The girl was shy. Normal people can be shy, so this girl seems like someone
we could know.
-- Character motive- a force that motivates or drives the character
into action. Ex. –Tom opened the refrigerator. (His motive is that he is
hungry.)
--Literal Language- can be understood exactly how it is stated. Ex.- A pain
in the neck means that your neck hurts.
--Denotation- the dictionary definition of the word.
--Connotation- the association made with the word. Ex. Home is
associated with
love, safety, and family
--Figurative Language- can not be taken literally. Ex. A pain in the neck
means that someone is annoying.
Examples of Figurative language--Pun- a play on words unsin words that sound the same or are
spelled the same to make a joke. Ex. The bike fell because it was two
tired.
--Idiom- a commonly understood expression. Ex. It’s raining cats and
dogs.
--Simile -–(an imagery technique) a comparison of two unrelated ideas
using “like” or “as”. Ex. My cat is built like a tank.
--Metaphor- –(an imagery technique) a comparison of two unrelated
things that does not use “like” or “as”. Ex. My cat is a tank.
--Personification-–(an imagery technique) giving human
characteristics to inanimate objects. Ex. The bag danced in the wind.
--Onomatopoeia-–(an imagery technique) a word that sounds like its
meaning. Ex. Hum, buzz, bang, boom
-- Hyperbole- great exaggeration. EX.- Everyone knows that! (Really,
everyone or just a lot of people?)
--Oxymoron- two opposite words used together to express and idea.
Ex. Clearly confusing, delightfully awful
-Author purpose-what is the goal or purpose of having written this piece?
(Common purposes are to entertain, inform, explain, clarify…)
-Audience- the age or interest group for whom the piece is written
DRAMA NOTES
--Drama- genre that includes all sorts of plays
--Act- the larger sections of the play. They are the units of action.
--Scene- a smaller section of the play. Many scenes may make on act.
--Set- the construction on the stage that suggests the time and place
of action.
--Props- moveable items that the actors use to make their actions
seem realistic
--Stage Directions- the bracketed information that tells what the
stage looks like
and how the characters should move and speak.
--Dialogue- what the characters say. (NOTE- in drama, dialogue
doesn’t not have
quotation marks. The character name appears before the speech.
-- Script- a written form of a play
Connecting to reading- mentally relating the reading to yourself and your
experiences
-Text-text- relating one reading to another
-Text – self- relating the reading to your personal life
-Text-world- relating the reading to the world
Notes on Poetry--Poetry- a genre that includes all sorts of poems
--Verse a line of poetry
--Stanza – a group of lines of verse. Stanzas are grouped similarly to
paragraphs.
They change with each new idea.
Poetic sound devices
--Rhythm- the beat of a poem. It is made by a combination of
stressed and
unstressed syllables to make a song- like pattern
rhyme
in a
--Rhyme- when words sound similar
--End rhyme -when the words at the end of a line of verse
--Rhyme pattern- (or rhyme scheme)the pattern of rhyming
words in a poem. Ex. (ABAB CDCD)
--Couplets- when two nearby lines rhyme. Ex. Will you eat them
house?/ Will
you eat them with a mouse?
-- Repetition/ Refrain- a line or two that repeats multiple time
throughout the poem. Ex.
Isabel, Isabel didn’t worry/ Isabel
didn’t scream or scurry.
--Alliteration- repetition of a consonant sound. Ex ten tiny toads
tapping to the tune.
Figurative Language is also used in poetry. (See above)