Download Figurative Language

Pre-Ap
Exam Review
Figurative Language
Personification-A figure of speech in which human characteristics are given to something that is not human.
Example: I heard the radio singing in the kitchen.
Metaphor-A comparison not using like or as; stating that something is something else.
Example: He is a busy bee.
Extended metaphor-It builds upon a basic metaphor; two things are compared at some length and in several
ways.
Example: “My mum is a general, she stalks through the house telling me what to do…she barks orders as she
charges through the house…while we, her dutiful soldiers carry out her orders”.
Simile-A simile uses the words “like” or “as” to compare one object or idea with another to suggest they are
alike.
Example: He was busy as a bee.
Alliteration-The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of a word. Alliteration includes tongue twisters.
Example: She sells seashells by the seashore. Example: Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout.
Onomatopoeia-The use of a word to describe or imitate a natural sound or the sound made by an object or an
action.
Example: snap, crackle, pop, moo, buzz
Symbolism-When something represents something else.
Example: Dove represents peace. Example: The tree representing a mother/mother’s love in “The Giving
Tree”.
Repetition-Repeating words, phrases, ideas, etc. to emphasize a certain point.
Example: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep,
and miles to go before I sleep.”-Robert Frost
Allusion-A brief or casual reference to something well known (person, event, historical event, etc.).
Example: He was a real Romeo with the ladies. Example: Chocolate was her Achilles’ heel.
Story Elements
Point of view-The position from which the story is told.
-first person-A character is telling the story from their point of view; they use the pronoun “I” .
-third person limited-A narrator tells the story but only from one character’s perspective, this is usually the
main character. The reader is “limited” to the thoughts and feelings of just that one character, for all other
characters in the scene, the reader can only see what they say or do and doesn’t know the other characters’ inner
thoughts or feelings.
-third person objective-The reader doesn’t see any characters’ inner thoughts or feelings, not even those of the
main character, instead, the reader only witnesses outer actions and dialogue; think of this as using a movie
camera to record an event.
-third person omniscient-The narrator telling the story knows everything and can see into the minds several, or
even all, of the characters to know their thoughts and feelings.
Dialogue-When the characters speak.
Narration-When the narrator speaks.
Setting-The time, place, and general environment in which the story occurs. It may be directly described or
implied.
Plot-The pattern of incidents which make up a story. Each incident has a purpose, grows out of the incidents
that precede it, and leads into those that follow and are related to the main idea of the story.
Characterization-The technique a writer uses to help you become acquainted with a person, or CHARACTER,
in his or her writing.
Five methods of characterization:
1. physical appearance: The character’s physical traits are described by the narrator, by other characters,
or in the character’s own words. It can include hair color/length, eye color, facial expression, body type,
clothing, etc.
2. motivation: The reader gets to see and hear the character’s thoughts and feelings (generally a major
character or characters) in reaction to different situations. It is revealed by the main character
him/herself or by the narrator describing the character’s inner thoughts and feelings, and it tells us why a
character behaves a certain way or says a certain thing.
3. actions: What a character does. This reveals the character’s willingness or unwillingness to participate
in the events of the story. This is generally considered to be the actions of the arms, legs, hands, feet,
and head.
4. speech: The words a character says aloud; these may or may not agree with the character’s inner
thoughts and feelings (revealing more about him/her). Readers can recognize this method in dialogue or
monologue (speech presented when only that character is present).
5. what other characters say: Other characters’ responses may reveal the character traits of a separate
character. This may be as clear as how other characters talk about this character, or as subtle as their
facial expressions when that character walks into the room.
Protagonist-Usually considered the hero(es) or “good guy(s)” of the story. They may not be perfect, but the
reader naturally “cheers” for this character to overcome the story’s conflict(s).
Antagonist-Oppose the protagonist, usually the “bad guy(s)”. Sometimes they are truly evil, but they might
just be town rivals or bullies.
Static-A character that does not undergo a readable change in the story. Usually minor characters or possibly
the story’s antagonist(s).
Dynamic-A character that changes somehow in the course of the story, usually as a result of solving the story’s
conflict. Usually one of, or the only, main character in a story.
Conflict-When something goes wrong in the story.
-internal conflict-A character struggles with their own feelings about something, trying to make a decision.
Example: man vs. self
-external conflict-A character is struggling with outside forces.
Example: man vs. man, man vs. animal, man vs. nature, man vs. God, etc.
Rising action-The part of the plot where there is a struggle between man and things which affect him.
Something has gone wrong in the story, things are getting more interesting.
Climax-The point of highest suspense in a story.
Falling Action-After the climax, where things start to settle down, leads up to the resolution.
Resolution-After the climax, it is where the conflict is resolved.
Theme-An idea about life expressed in a literary work. It may be directly stated or implied. It is the lesson or
moral of the story that the author wants you to learn after reading.
Foreshadowing-When an author hints at things that might happen later in the story.
Flashback-When the author switches from the present to tell about something that has already happened.
Suspense-A feeling of uncertainty or anxiety when reading a story. It keeps the audience interested. This can
be caused by foreshadowing.
Irony-A figure of speech where there is a contradiction of expectation between what is said and what is meant
or a difference between what might be expected and what actually occurs.
-situational irony-A contradiction between the expected result and actual results.
Example: A police station being robbed.
-verbal-When a speaker or author says one thing but means the opposite, or when a literal meaning is contrary
to its intended effect. This can sometimes be referred to as sarcasm.
Example: “This is my brilliant son, who failed out of college.”
-dramatic-When an audience perceives something that a character in the literature does not know.
Example: We know the Titanic is going to sink, but the characters do not know this.
Conventions
Capitalization:
Know the capitalization rules and how to use them correctly in your writing.
1. Capitalize the first word of a sentence and the pronoun I in any location.
Example: The agency bought a computer, and I learned how to use it.
2. Capitalize the first word in a quotation.
Example: Mr. Marsh exclaimed, “Let’s do the best we can!”
3. Capitalize the first word and all titles and nouns in the salutation of a letter and the first word in the
complimentary close.
Example: Dear Miranda
Example: Sincerely yours
4. Capitalize the names of the days of the week, special days (holidays), months of the year, historic events, and
eras.
Example: Tuesday
Example: Memorial Day
5. Capitalize the first, last, and all other important words in the titles of written works (documents, books,
journals, newspapers, reports) and their contents (chapters, sections, articles), works of art and music, and
movies.
Example: The Declaration of Independence
6. Capitalize nouns and abbreviations referring to parts of a written work only when the reference is followed
by a number.
Example: Chapter 6
Example: Volume III
7. Capitalize words referring to the Deity and a specific religion.
Example: Christian
Example: Buddha
8. Capitalize the names of people and words associated with the name (places, diseases, etc.).
Example: Hodgkin’s disease
9. Capitalize titles preceding a name, after a name in and address of typed signature, and used in place of a
person’s name.
Example: Dr. Carl Maxwell
Example: Marvin J. Feldman, Manager
Example: I love you, Grandma
10. Capitalize the specific names of geographical sites and places, regions, organizations, buildings, works of
engineering, and state abbreviations.
Example: Rocky Mountains Example: the South
11. Capitalize words based on nationalities or historical background.
Example: Alaskan
Example: Chinese
12. Capitalize the name brand but not the generic product’s name.
Example: Lava soap
Example: Reebok tennis shoes
13. Capitalize the names of specific courses (followed by a number) but not those of general areas of study
(except languages).
Example: Mrs. Cramer’s record includes many business, mathematics, and political science courses; she is
now studying Spanish and Psychology 267.
Dictionary skills:
Know how to use a dictionary entry to get information about words.
Non-Fiction:
Know the different text features (32) and be able to identify them.
bold font
highlighted text
cross section
opinion
table of contents
flow chart
italics
map
title
editorial
glossary
caption
photograph
timeline
illustration
bullet points
bar graph
layout
statistics
diagram(with steps)
white space
text box
line graph
pronunciation citations
diagram(with labeled parts)
QR code
fact
subtitle
index
side bar
definition
Parts of a Sentence
Noun- A person place or thing.
-proper noun-A specific person, place, or thing.
Example: Memorial Middle School
-common noun-A non specific person, place, or thing.
Example: school
Pronoun-Replaces a noun.
Example: she, he, them, us, we, etc.
Subject- Who or what a sentence is about, it’s always a noun or pronoun.
-compound subject-When you have two or more subjects doing the same thing.
Verb-What the subject is doing.
-action verb-When the subject is performing an action (physical or mental).
Example: The man ran to the store.
-linking verb-Links the subject to a word or words that rename or describe it, usually be verbs.
Example: The lady was happy.
-“be” verbs-Commonly used as linking verbs or helping verbs.
Example: is, are, was, were, am, be, been, being
-helping verb-The first verb in a verb phrase, helps show when the action is taking place, usually be verbs.
Example: The boy was helping his friend with homework.
-verb phrase-When the verb is made up of more than one word, has a helping verb and a main verb.
Example: He is running.
-compound verb-When you have two or more separate verbs.
Example: The man went to the grocery store and bought a cake.
Adjective-Describes a noun.
Example: It was a pretty day.
Adverb-Describes a verb.
Example: She wrote quickly.
Preposition-Shows the relationship between words in sentences (to, from, around, beyond, above, etc.).
Example: The dog went to the door.
Prepositional Phrase-Begins with a preposition and ends with the object of a preposition (a noun or pronoun).
Example: The astronaut walked through the opening.
Direct Objects-A noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb. It always comes after an action verb.
Example: The boy hit the baseball.
Indirect Objects-A noun or pronoun that comes after an action verb and before the direct object. It tells for
whom or to whom the direct object is directed.
Example: He gave us the money.
Predicate Nominatives-A noun or pronoun that comes after a linking verb and renames or could replace the
subject.
Example: The girl was a student.
Predicate Adjectives-An adjective that comes after a linking verb and describes the subject.
Example: The dog was furry.
Genres
Biography-A nonfiction book written about someone.
Autobiography-A nonfiction book written about someone, written by the person it is about.