Term review for the exam

English 2202

Literary terms

Alliteration: the repetition of the beginning sounds in groups of words, usually at the beginning of a word or stressed syllable.
Example- curious cats climbed


Antagonist: the major character /force in a narrative or drama that works against the hero or the protagonist.

Character sketch: a brief description of a character, using whatever evidence is available to you, in order to show that character’s attitudes, feeling, thoughts, and personality.

Foreshadowing: a technique for providing clues about events that may happen later in the story.

Metaphor: a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using the words like or as.
Example: you are a dog.

Personification: a literary device in which human qualities or actions are attributed to non human beings or objects.

Protagonist: the main character in the literary work.

Sarcasm: harsh or bitter verbal irony in what one is saying.

Simile: a comparison between two unlike things using like or as
Example: my love is like a red, red rose.

Stanza: a stanza in a poem is what a paragraph is to a piece of prose; they are separated by a space.

Summarize: to express in shorter, concise form.

Symbolism: something concrete, such as a person, object, image, word or event that represents something abstract, such as feelings, emotion, idea or concept.

Theme: the story’s main idea.

Tone: the author‘s attitude toward the subject that he/she is writing about such as anger, approval, pride or pain.

Atmosphere: the overall emotional impression we get from the words, images, and setting of a text and the pace set by the story’s plot.

Setting: the environment or surroundings in which the story takes place.
Terms to know for visuals

Focal Point: part of the visual that is the main interest.

Balance: the way shapes are arranged in a visual; when shapes are balanced they create a feeling of harmony or order. Unbalanced shapes create tension.

Caption: the word beneath a photograph that explains the subject and gives background information.

Message: the general idea the artist wishes to express.

Contrast: refers to the light and dark or other difference used to create strong feelings in a visual.

Composition: the arrangement of visual elements within a picture.
Unity: how the composition works to express an idea.

Commonly used words to express emotion:
Apathy: lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting

Indifference: lack of interest or concern.

Criticism: the act of passing severe judgment.

Sarcastic: a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark.

Enthusiasm: extreme devotion.

Enraged: to make extremely angry.

Serene: calm, peaceful, or tranquil; unruffled