LITERARY TERMS

The repetition of the same consonant sounds in a sequence of words, usually at the beginning of the wordsExamples: Descending dew dropsShe sells seashells by the seashoreThe big black bug bit a big blue bear and the big blue bear bled blood.

ALLITERATION

Create your own alliteration phrase using the following letters of the alphabet:

1. A2. D3. H4. M5. W

A brief, casual reference to a presumably familiar person, historical event, place, literary work, or object. Authors assume that the readers will recognize the original sources and relate their meaning to the new context, therefore they do not explicitly explain the reference and assume the reader will understand the comparison.In other words it is an indirect hint (reference) to something well-known (like a person, place, event, or work of art or literature).

ALLUSION

Students' ExamplesWhen ever a friend would say "your mom" I would laugh, because in 8th grade that was an inside joke between me and a friend because a friend said that he likes to butter his toast and then I said that his mom likes to butter my toast.

During election time my friends would all say vote for Pedro

Ok so last year in algebra 1 my teacher was explaining how you can't divide by zero no matter what. So after she got done explaining it I said Chuck Norris can divide by zero.

One day in gym we were playing dodge ball and I threw a ball at a kid, and hit him in the head and my friend said boom headshot.

When I was in 7th grade my friend had a crush on a girl at locker 284. Now every time someone tells me that they have a crush on someone I say locker 284.

Overused expressions that have lost their original strength and vitalityExamples: “as white as snow” “busy as bees” “scared to death”

CLICHÉ

Opposition between characters or forces in a work of drama or fiction, especially opposition that motivates or shapes the action of the plot.

CONFLICT

Associations and implications that go beyond the written word; the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its main, or primary meaning; connotation can be negative, positive or neutral Examples:“statesman” vs. “politician”

CONNOTATION

It is the dictionary definition of a word; direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression

DENOTATION

For each pair of words and a phrase, list the one that is positive in the “Positive Connotation” category, the one that is negative in the “Negative Connotation” category, and the phrase that is a more neutral definition for both words in the "Denotation" column.  Which is better? ...or… Is the glass half empty or half full?Your Choices:

Positive Connotation Denotation Negative Connotation1. look steadily2. a smell sensed by the olfactory nerve

3. Influence one way or another

4. not on time 5. somewhat interested

6. without haste7. ask of someone

8. a large group

StareGazeFragrance Odor

persuade brainwashdelayed tardycurious nosyleisurely lazily

request demandgathering mob

9. less than average build10. discuss with others

11. watch12. a young age

13. not having a care

14. not commonly found15. find16. fairly priced

17. having an opportunity to be alone

18. firmly confident

19. giving much

Cheap

SkinnyArgue

SpyImmature

IrresponsibleStrange

Snoop

IsolationPushy

Extravagance

PrivacyAssertive

Generosity

InexpensiveDetectUnique

CarefreeYouthful

ObserveDebateSlim

Use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in the story, often used to build suspense or tension in a story

FORESHADOWING

(1)One fine summer day, Grasshopper was hopping about in the field. As he chirped and danced, he spied Ant carrying a big kernel of corn to his nest. Grasshopper watched as Ant came back, lifted another kernel, then carried it to the nest as well. This happened repeatedly. Finally, Grasshopper asked, "Ant, why do you work so hard on such a lovely day?"

(2) "Soon it will be winter," replied Ant. "I'm gathering food for my family. I suggest you do the same!"

(3) "Why bother about winter?" asked Grasshopper. "There's plenty of food in the fields now!"

(4)Ant remembered last winter and how deep snow had covered everything. There had been no way to get out of his anthill, let alone try to find food! Now, an even worse winter was predicted. "You'll feel differently when the big snow comes!" said Ant, as he shook his head and walked away.

(5)When winter came, Grasshopper had no food. The fields were covered with deep snow. Grasshopper was very hungry and sad, knowing that Ant had food enough because he had worked hard to prepare in advance

An Aesop's Fable RetoldRead the selection, and then answer the questions that follow.

1. In this fable, the author uses flashback to havea. Grasshopper remember a song he used to sing.b. Ant remember where Grasshopper used to live.c. Ant remember how bad last winter was.d. Grasshopper remember where he hid seeds during the

summer.2. Which best foreshadowed what might happen in the

story?a. Grasshopper hopped about in the field.b. An even worse winter was predicted.c. Ant walked away.d. Grasshopper chirped.

3. Based on the story, which do you predict could NOT happen?a. Grasshopper begs Ant for just a small bit of food.b. Ant feels sorry for Grasshopper and gives him food.c. Grasshopper digs under the snow and finds lots of

food.d. Grasshopper gets weaker without any food.

A bold exaggerated statement that adds emphasis without intending to be literally true Example: “He ate everything in the house.”

HYPERBOLE

A common term for the "mental pictures" writers paint; imagery is made up of all the sensory perceptions referred to in a writing – including visual, auditory, tactile, thermal, olfactory, gustatory, and kinesthetic sensation (movement) ;Examples: “the iced branches shed ‘crystal shells’ ”

“the roar of trees, the crack of branches, beating on a box”

IMAGERY

Simply stated, is the opposite of what's expected...there are three main ways irony is used in literature: a discrepancy or difference between words and their meaning, between what we as readers expect to happen and what does happen, or between appearances and reality in a piece of writingExample:The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the

Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers. A minute later they were both eaten by a killer whale.

IRONY

Create your own irony using the following topics:

1. School uniforms2. Battle of the best friends3. Detention4. Homework5. Classroom attendance

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, without using the word like or as. Example: Macbeth saying that life is a “brief candle”, “He was a bear, tearing through his dinner without pause.”

METAPHOR

The formation or use of words such as buzz or murmur or crash that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to; words that sound like what they describe or name

ONOMATOPOEIA

A shortened form of paradox (see next term) in which two contradictory or opposite words are used together.Example: “sweet sorrow”, “original copy”, “thunderous silence”, “jumbo shrimp”

OXYMORON

On the lines below, write 3 of your own oxymoron, be creative! :)

1. ________________________________________________2. ________________________________________________3. ________________________________________________

A statement of opposites, contrary to common belief that seems contradictory, unbelievable or absurd, but upon closer inspection, may contain a truth.Example: “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink”, “I must be cruel only to be kind”

PARADOX

Writing that gives inanimate objects, animals, natural forces (like weather), or abstract ideas are given human qualities, characteristics, personalities or actions;Example: “On dark nights the houses had mean expressions on their faces”

“The angry wind yelled and scolded us with its vicious fingers”

PERSONIFICATION

Underline the example of personification. Below the sentence, write what is meant by that example ofpersonification.

1. The wind sang her mournful song through the falling leaves.

2. The microwave timer told me it was time to turn my TV dinner.

3. The video camera observed the whole scene.

4. The strawberries seemed to sing, "Eat me first!"

5. The rain kissed my cheeks as it fell.

6. The daffodils nodded their yellow heads at the walkers.

7. The water beckoned invitingly to the hot swimmers.

8. The snow whispered as it fell to the ground during the early morninghours.

9. The china danced on the shelves during the earthquake.

10. The car engine coughed and sputtered when it started during the blizzard.

The position or perspective from which the story is seen and told

POINT OF VIEW

Word play when two meanings appear in one word, or in two words of identical sound but different spelling, or in words of similar sound but different meaning.Example: “Fang, you very much,” said the vampire to his victim.

“I want some friends to hang around with,” said the little bat to his mother.

PUN

With the examples below, use the dictionary in your head to first figure outwhich word has two meanings and write it in the blank space provided. Next write the two meanings in the next two blank spaces. Finally, explain the joke in the final space.

Notice that for puns 1-2 the word in question sounds the same and is within the sentence1. What is black and white and red/read all over?• Word in mental dictionary _________________.• Meaning one_____________________• Meaning two_____________________• Explain the pun __________________________________________

2. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, 'I've lost my Electron.' The other says, 'Areyou sure?' The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.'• Word in mental dictionary_________________• Meaning one _____________• Meaning two _______________• Explain the pun _________________________________________________

For numbers 3-5, the word in question is not within the sentence itself, but the sound is the same.

3. What do Land-O-Lakes and an angry ram have in common?• Word in mental dictionary________________• Meaning one ____________________• Meaning two _____________________• Explain the pun _____________________

4. What’s the difference between a face and a wrestler?• Word in the mental dictionary__________________• Meaning one ______________________• Meaning two ______________________• Explain the pun _____________________

5. What do you call a groupie that can’t stop spinning?• Word in the mental dictionary____________________• Meaning one _________________________• Meaning two ________________________• Explain the pun _____________________________

Criticizing mankind or society or institutions with sarcasm, wit and humor for the purpose of showing their absurdity and need of improvement.Examples: “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central and the weekly mock newspaper The Onion

SATIRE

A very common figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that aren’t often associated by using the words “like”,“as”,“than”,“appears”, or “seems”Example: “Mrs. Smith’s coffee is like a punch in the stomach”

“He laughed like a hyena”

SIMILE

Any person, object or action that has additional meaning beyond itself to represent or stand for a more abstract emotion or ideaExample: an owl described as “the bird of night” (owl is a symbol of death), or rain accompanying a sorrowful scene in a movie to symbolize tears and sadness and loss

SYMBOL

The underlying meaning or truth about life or humanity as revealed in a story’s plot and characters, fundamental and universal idea, there can be more than one

THEME

The attitude of a writer toward a literary work’s subject and its audience as revealed by choice of words and detailsExample: “Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, healthy, free, the world before me.” – Walt Whitman

TONE

Define each of the following terms.

1. Tone:2. Symbol:3. Oxymoron:4. Connotation:5. Denotation:

LITERARY TERMS: TEST

Choose the best answer for the following questions:

6. A cliché can be defined as __________________.a) The formation or use of words such

as buzz or murmur or crash that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.

b) The attitude of a writer toward a literary work’s subject and its audience.

c) Overused expressions that have lost their original strength and vitality.

d) The position or perspective from which the story is seen or told.

7. The underlying meaning or truth about life or humanity as revealed in a story’s plot and characters is more simply known as _________________.a) Themeb) Symbolc) Onomatopoeia d) Point of View

8. The position or perspective from which the story is seen or told is ___________________.a) Themeb) Symbolc) Onomatopoeia d) Point of View

9. Alliteration is __________________.a) The repetition of the same consonant sounds in a sequence of

words, usually at the beginning of the words.b) The attitude of a writer toward a literary work’s subject and its

audience.c) Overused expressions that have lost their original strength and

vitality.d) Criticizing mankind or society or institutions with sarcasm, wit

and humor for the purpose of showing their absurdity and need of improvement.

10.A statement of opposites, contrary to common belief that seems contradictory, unbelievable or absurd, but upon closer inspection, may contain a truth is known as ___________________.a) Ironyb) Paradoxc) Hyperboled) Metaphor

11.A ___________________ is a bold exaggerated statement that adds emphasis without intending to be literally true.a) Ironyb) Paradoxc) Hyperboled) Metaphor

12.___________________ is the opposite of what's expected. There are three main ways it is used in literature: a discrepancy between words and their meaning, between what is expected and not, or between appearances and reality.a) Ironyb) Paradoxc) Symbold) Onomatopoeia

13.Criticizing mankind or society or institutions with sarcasm, wit and humor for the purpose of showing their absurdity and need of improvement is ______________.a) Punb) Oxymoronc) Satired) Irony

14.A shortened form of paradox in which two contradictory or opposite words are used together.a) Punb) Oxymoronc) Satired) Irony

15.A pun can be defined as __________________.a) A brief, casual reference to a presumably familiar person, place,

or object.b) Word play when two meanings appear in one word, or in two

words of identical sound but different spelling, or in words of similar sound but different meaning.

c) A bold exaggerated statement that adds emphasis but not literally true.

d) Use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in the story.Fill in the blank with the correct term.

16.The use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in the story, often used to build suspense or tension in a story is called __________________.

17.A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, without using the word like or as is a ___________________.

18. A ___________________ is the use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.

19.A very common figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that aren’t often associated by using the words “like”,“as”,“than”,“appears”, or “seems” is a ______________________.

20._____________________ is writing that gives inanimate objects, animals, natural forces, or abstract ideas are given human qualities, characteristics, personalities or actions.

21.The repetition of the same consonant sounds in a sequence of words, usually at the beginning of the words is an ____________________.

22.Opposition between characters or forces in a work of drama or fiction, especially opposition that motivates or shapes the action of the plot is more comonly known as ____________________.

23.A brief, casual reference to a presumably familiar person, historical event, place, literary work, or object is an ____________________.

24.____________________ is a common term for the "mental pictures" writers paint.

25. A ____________________ is an overused expressions that have lost their original strength and vitality.

Define each of the following terms.

1. Tone:

2. Symbol:

3. Oxymoron:

4. Connotation:

5. Denotation:

LITERARY TERMS: TEST

The attitude of a writer toward a literary work’s subject and its audience as revealed by choice of words and details.

Any person, object or action that has additional meaning beyond itself to represent or stand for a more abstract emotion or idea.A shortened form of paradox in which two

contradictory or opposite words are used together.Associations and implications that go beyond the written word; the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its main, or primary meaning; connotation can be negative, positive or neutral

It is the dictionary definition of a word; direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression.

Choose the best answer for the following questions:

6. A cliché can be defined as __________________.a) The formation or use of words such

as buzz or murmur or crash that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.

b) The attitude of a writer toward a literary work’s subject and its audience.

c) Overused expressions that have lost their original strength and vitality.

d) The position or perspective from which the story is seen or told.

7. The underlying meaning or truth about life or humanity as revealed in a story’s plot and characters is more simply known as _________________.a) Themeb) Symbolc) Onomatopoeia d) Point of View

8. The position or perspective from which the story is seen or told is ___________________.a) Themeb) Symbolc) Onomatopoeia d) Point of View

9. Alliteration is __________________.a) The repetition of the same consonant sounds in a sequence of

words, usually at the beginning of the words.b) The attitude of a writer toward a literary work’s subject and its

audience.c) Overused expressions that have lost their original strength and

vitality.d) Criticizing mankind or society or institutions with sarcasm, wit

and humor for the purpose of showing their absurdity and need of improvement.

10.A statement of opposites, contrary to common belief that seems contradictory, unbelievable or absurd, but upon closer inspection, may contain a truth is known as ___________________.a) Ironyb) Paradoxc) Hyperboled) Metaphor

11.A ___________________ is a bold exaggerated statement that adds emphasis without intending to be literally true.a) Ironyb) Paradoxc) Hyperboled) Metaphor

12.___________________ is the opposite of what's expected. There are three main ways it is used in literature: a discrepancy between words and their meaning, between what is expected and not, or between appearances and reality.a) Ironyb) Paradoxc) Symbold) Onomatopoeia

13.Criticizing mankind or society or institutions with sarcasm, wit and humor for the purpose of showing their absurdity and need of improvement is ______________.a) Punb) Oxymoronc) Satired) Irony

14.A shortened form of paradox in which two contradictory or opposite words are used together.a) Punb) Oxymoronc) Satired) Irony

15.A pun can be defined as __________________.a) A brief, casual reference to a presumably familiar person, place,

or object.b) Word play when two meanings appear in one word, or in two

words of identical sound but different spelling, or in words of similar sound but different meaning.

c) A bold exaggerated statement that adds emphasis but not literally true.

d) Use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in the story.Fill in the blank with the correct term.

16.The use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in the story, often used to build suspense or tension in a story is called __________________.

17.A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, without using the word like or as is a ___________________.

18. A ___________________ is the use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.

19.A very common figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that aren’t often associated by using the words “like”,“as”,“than”,“appears”, or “seems” is a ______________________.

Foreshadowing

Metaphor

Onomatopoeia

Simile

20._____________________ is writing that gives inanimate objects, animals, natural forces, or abstract ideas are given human qualities, characteristics, personalities or actions.

21.The repetition of the same consonant sounds in a sequence of words, usually at the beginning of the words is an ____________________.

22.Opposition between characters or forces in a work of drama or fiction, especially opposition that motivates or shapes the action of the plot is more commonly known as ____________________.

23.A brief, casual reference to a presumably familiar person, historical event, place, literary work, or object is an ____________________.

24.____________________ is a common term for the "mental pictures" writers paint.

25. A ____________________ is an overused expressions that have lost their original strength and vitality.

Personification

Alliteration

Conflict

Allusion

Imagery

Cliché