Notes

anaphora a rhetorical feature that uses the same word or phrase at the beginning of clauses, phrases, or lines of poetry for effect
autobiography the history of a person's life, as told by that person
blank verse unrhymed verse that has a set meter, pattern, and line length
characterization how an author creates a clear picture of a character for the reader
clause a group of words that has a subject and its predicate
dependent clause a clause that cannot stand alone but rather depends on the rest of the sentence to express a complete thought; also called a subordinate clause
figurative language using non-literal words and phrases to draw attention to something's qualities, themes, or symbolic meaning; words and phrases used imaginatively to go beyond the literal meaning
free verse poetry with no set meter; can be either rhymed or unrhymed
independent clause a clause that can stand alone as a sentence
lyric poetry a poem that expresses the thoughts and feelings of the poet
narrative nonfiction prose writing that tells a true story
phrase a group of words that functions as a noun, verb, or other single part of speech
plot the events that structure a story
protagonist the main character in a story or novel; the "hero"
purpose an author's goal when writing a novel; what a writer is hoping to achieve with their work
rhetorical features the aspects of a speech that add interest or the use of effective or persuasive language
setting the place, time, and social context of a text
theme the central message or underlying idea of a work of literature; a message about a particular topic being communicated through the text
tone the speaker's attitude toward the audience or subject, as demonstrated through the author's choice of words, grammatical structure, and details
word choice the way a writer chooses specific words to convey tone or meaning
active voice a grammatical voice where the subject performs the action stated by the verb
alliteration the repetition of a single letter or combination of letters at the beginning of adjacent or nearby words
allusion a reference in a text to another well-known text, person, event or thing
analysis in literature, studying a text in order to determine its most important features
anaphora a rhetorical feature that uses the same word or phrase at the beginning of clauses, phrases, or lines of poetry for effect
archetype an ideal example or model after which other things are patterned.
assonance the repetition of sound between internal vowels in adjacent or nearby words
audience the assembled spectators or listeners at a public event, such as a play, movie, concert, or meeting.
autobiography the history of a person's life, as told by that person
Bildungsroman a coming-of-age story; a story in which a young person has experiences that transform him or her into an adult
blank verse unrhymed verse that has a set meter, pattern, and line length
cadence the internal rhythm of a poem
characterization how an author creates a clear picture of a character for the reader
claim an assertion of the truth of something, typically one that is disputed or in doubt.
clause a group of words that has a subject and its predicate
coming-of-age story a story that traces the main character's growth from childhood through maturity
compare looking at how elements between two subjects are similar in literature
conflict in literature, a struggle between opposing forces; challenges in the story that a main character has to confront and overcome
connotation the deeper meaning of the word; how the word feels or the emotions it elicits
connotative meaning the meanings and feelings we associate with a word, as opposed to the dictionary definition of that word
context all of the information that must be considered when judging a person, place, or idea; the social or historical forces that shape a person, place, or idea; when referring to a text, the text that surrounds an unknown word or phrase
contrast looking at how elements between two subjects are different in literature
decode to break down a word into its component parts so you can understand it
denotation the literal definition of a word
denotative meaning the actual, dictionary definition of a word
dependent clause a clause that cannot stand alone but rather depends on the rest of the sentence to express a complete thought; also called a subordinate clause
euphemism a word or phrase that is used instead of one with unpleasant or offensive connotations
evidence the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
fantasy literature that is based in imagination, rather than reality
figurative language using non-literal words and phrases to draw attention to something’s qualities, themes, or symbolic meaning; words and phrases used imaginatively to go beyond the literal meaning
free verse poetry with no set meter; can be either rhymed or unrhymed
genre in literature, a category of text that includes specific elements and characteristics
historical context the geographic, social, political, and economic events that help shape and define any historical time period
imagery the use of language to give a picture in one's mind
independent clause a clause that can stand alone as a sentence
inference determining meaning not from things told explicitly but rather drawing conclusions based on implications in the text
infinitive the basic form of a verb, without an inflection binding it to a particular subject or tense
inflection a change in the pitch of one's voice
irony a contrast between what is stated and what is meant; when what happens is different from what is expected
lyric poetry a poem that expresses the thoughts and feelings of the poet
meter the beat or rhythm of poetry
modify to describe another word in a sentence
motif a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition.
narrative nonfiction prose writing that tells a true story
nonrestrictive clause an adjective clause that adds extra or nonessential information to a sentence
novella an abbreviated novel or extended short story
paraphrase a restatement of a quote in literature, in different words from the original
participle is a word formed from a verb which can be used as an adjective.
passive voice a grammatical voice where the subject is acted upon by the verb
phrase a group of words that functions as a noun, verb, or other single part of speech
plot the events that structure a story
point of view the perspective from which a story is told
procedural text a text which gives instructions on how to do something.
prose poem a type of literature that combines features of both prose and poetry
protagonist the main character in a story or novel; the "hero"
purpose an author's goal when writing a novel; what a writer is hoping to achieve with their work
quotation an exact reference or passage from a literary work
reader-friendly prepared to be suited for readers
rhetorical features the aspects of a speech that add interest or the use of effective or persuasive language
rite of passage a formal or informal ceremony or event which marks a major transition in a person's life
sarcasm the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.
setting the place, time, and social context of a text
Shakespearean sonnet a poem composed of three quatrains and a terminal couplet in iambic pentameter with the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg.
soliloquy a dramatic technique in which a character speaks when alone, usually used to communicate thoughts to the audience
stanza two or more lines of poetry that make up the smaller groupings within the poem
structure the way an author arranges and organizes the poem
subjunctive mood a verb phrase that expresses a condition which is doubtful or not factual.
symbolism attaching a deeper meaning, beyond the literal definition, to a person, object, or place
theme the central message or underlying idea of a work of literature; a message about a particular topic being communicated through the text
thesis a statement that directly expresses the author’s purpose in writing the paper
tone the speaker's attitude toward the audience or subject, as demonstrated through the author's choice of words, grammatical structure, and details
vernacular common or everyday language
word choice the way a writer chooses specific words to convey tone or meaningWrite a note in this area. It's really easy to share with others. Click here ...