Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
PSSA Literary PSSA Literary TermsTerms
AlliterationAlliteration
Term:
The repetition of initial The repetition of initial consonant sounds in consonant sounds in neighboring words.neighboring words.
Example:Example:
CindyCindy’’s silly snake swam swiftly.s silly snake swam swiftly.
Definition
AllusionAllusion
Term
A reference in literature to a A reference in literature to a familiar person, place, or familiar person, place, or event.event.
Definition
Example:Example:
The boy with the The boy with the lightening bolt lightening bolt scar. (Harry scar. (Harry Potter)Potter)
Term
AnalysisAnalysis
Definition
The process or result of The process or result of identifying the parts of a identifying the parts of a whole and their relationship whole and their relationship to one another.to one another.
Example:Example:Whole
Parts ofParts of
Term
AnalyzeAnalyze
Definition
Break Break apart to apart to
understand.understand.
Term
AntonymAntonym
Definition
A word that is the opposite of A word that is the opposite of another word.another word.
Example:Example:
Fast - SlowUp - DownIn - Out
Term
AutobiographyAutobiography
Definition
The story of a personThe story of a person’’s life, s life, written by himself or herself.written by himself or herself.
Example:Example:
Term
CharacterizatioCharacterizationn
Definition
The method an author uses The method an author uses to reveal characters and their to reveal characters and their various personalities.various personalities.
Example:Example:
Reveal the characters
Term
CompareCompare
Definition
All the ways they All the ways they are alike.are alike.
Term
Context cluesContext clues
Definition
Information from the reading Information from the reading that identifies a word or that identifies a word or group of words. group of words.
Example:Example:The dough The dough doubleddoubled in size in size
when it finished rising making when it finished rising making it it twice as bigtwice as big as when I as when I started.started.
Term
ContrastContrast
Definition
All All the the
ways ways they they are are
differedifferentnt
Term
DescribeDescribe
Definition
Tell all about. Tell all about.
Term
DialectDialect
Definition
A variety of language used by A variety of language used by members of a group, often members of a group, often geographical in nature.geographical in nature.
Example: Example: ““YY ’’all come back now, ya all come back now, ya hear?hear?””
Term
EvaluateEvaluate
Definition
Judge Judge Example
Term
ExplainExplain
Definition
Tell how Tell how Example
Let me Let me explainexplain!!
Term
FactFact
Definition
Something one can prove or Something one can prove or disprove. disprove.
Example:Example:Barack Obama is the president Barack Obama is the president
of the United States.of the United States.
Term
FictionFiction
Definition
Any story that is the product Any story that is the product of imagination rather than a of imagination rather than a documentation of actual documentation of actual events from real life.events from real life.
Example:Example:
Term
Figurative Figurative languagelanguage
Definition
Language that cannot be Language that cannot be taken literally since it was taken literally since it was written to create a special written to create a special effect or feeling.effect or feeling.
Example:Example:
All the world's a stage.All the world's a stage.It is raining cats and dogs. It is raining cats and dogs.
Term
Formal languageFormal language
Definition
Serious language that follows Serious language that follows the rules of grammar.the rules of grammar.
Example:Example:
““Good afternoon, ladies Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.and gentlemen.””
Term
FormulateFormulate
Definition
CreateCreate
Example:Example:
Term
GenreGenre
Definition
A category used to classify A category used to classify literary works, usually by literary works, usually by form, technique, or content.form, technique, or content.
Example:Example:
Fantasy, Science fiction, Fantasy, Science fiction, BiographyBiography
Term
HomophoneHomophone
Definition
A word that is pronounced A word that is pronounced the same, but that has the same, but that has different meaning.different meaning.
Example:Example:
SeeSee -- SeaSeaMeatMeat -- MeetMeetRainRain -- ReinReinWhereWhere -- WearWear
Term
HyperboleHyperbole
Definition
Exaggeration.Exaggeration.
Example:Example:
Hunter drove Mrs. Krautzel off of a cliff Hunter drove Mrs. Krautzel off of a cliff with his terrible teasing. with his terrible teasing.
Term
InferInfer
Definition
Read between the Read between the lines.lines.
Example:Example:
____________________________________ReadRead
____________________________________
Term
Informal Informal languagelanguage
Definition
Relaxed use of language that Relaxed use of language that does not follow formal does not follow formal conventions.conventions.
Example:Example:
Hey, man, howHey, man, how’’s your day s your day goingoin’’??
Term
Informational Informational passagepassage
Definition
A nonfiction A nonfiction selectionselection
Example:Example:-a -a NewsweekNewsweek article article-nutrition label-nutrition label-Biography-Biography
Term
IronyIrony
Definition
The use of a word or phrase The use of a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of to mean the exact opposite of its usual meaning. its usual meaning.
Example:Example:An ambulance driver rushes to the An ambulance driver rushes to the
scene of an accident, only to run the scene of an accident, only to run the victim over, because the victim victim over, because the victim crawled into the middle of the street crawled into the middle of the street in the darkness of night.in the darkness of night.
Term
JargonJargon
Definition
Language specific to a Language specific to a profession or activity. profession or activity.
Example:Example:Set up the circuit as shown Set up the circuit as shown
below using fixed resistors 2 below using fixed resistors 2 and 3 in parallel.and 3 in parallel.
Term
Literary conflictLiterary conflict
Definition
The struggle that grows out of The struggle that grows out of the interplay of opposing the interplay of opposing forces.forces.
Example:Example:
Term
MetaphorMetaphor
Definition
The comparison of two unlike The comparison of two unlike things in which no words of things in which no words of comparison (like or as) are comparison (like or as) are used.used.
Example:Example:
The runner passed me quickly The runner passed me quickly the same way lightening the same way lightening would streak through the sky would streak through the sky during a storm.during a storm.
Term
NarrativeNarrative
Definition
A story, actual or A story, actual or fictionalfictional..
Term
NonfictionNonfiction
Definition
Prose writing that is not Prose writing that is not fictional.fictional.
Example:Example:
Books that are based on real Books that are based on real events that occurred.events that occurred.
History Books, BiographiesHistory Books, Biographies
Term
OpinionOpinion
Definition
Something one can neither Something one can neither prove nor disprove. prove nor disprove.
Example:Example:I think Mrs. Krautzel is a I think Mrs. Krautzel is a
wonderful teacher. wonderful teacher.
I believe I will not do well this I believe I will not do well this marking period.marking period.
Term
ParaphraseParaphrase
Definition
Restate text or passage in Restate text or passage in other words, often to other words, often to clarify meaning or show clarify meaning or show understanding.understanding.
Example:Example:SummarizeSummarize
Term
PersonificationPersonification
Definition
An object or abstract idea An object or abstract idea given human qualities or given human qualities or human form.human form.
Example:Example:Fear knocked on the door.Fear knocked on the door.
The wind yells while The wind yells while blowing.blowing.
Term
PoetryPoetry
Definition
A writing form with few rules.A writing form with few rules.
Example:Example:
When many miles apart we When many miles apart we areare
Remember I'm always there Remember I'm always there in your heartin your heart
Term
Point of viewPoint of view
Definition
The vantage point from The vantage point from which the story is told.which the story is told.
Example:Example:
Term
PredictPredict
Definition
What will happen What will happen next?next?
Example:Example:
Because…I think that…Because…I think that…
Term
SatireSatire
Definition
• a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which something about a person is focused on (a human vice) and made fun of and ridiculed
Example
• Saturday Night Live• The Daily Show with John Stewart• The Colbert Report• The Simpsons
Term
SimileSimile
Definition
A comparison of two unlike A comparison of two unlike things using "like" or "asthings using "like" or "as““..
Example:Example: She sang as beautifully as a She sang as beautifully as a
bird in spring. bird in spring.
She was so mad her head She was so mad her head almost exploded like an almost exploded like an overfilled balloon.overfilled balloon.
Term
SupportSupport
Definition
Back up with detail.Back up with detail.
Example:Example:
Term
SummarizeSummarize
Definition
Give me the short Give me the short version.version.
Whole Book
Summary
Give me this one.
Term
SynonymsSynonyms
Definition
Words that have highly Words that have highly similar meanings. similar meanings.
Example:Example:BigBig -- LargeLargeSmartSmart - - BrightBrightMeanMean - - NastyNasty
Term
ThemeTheme
Definition
A topic of discussion or A topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.scope of a literary work.
Example:Example:
The birthday has a farm animal theme.
Term
ThesisThesis
Definition
The argument advanced The argument advanced by a writer who then by a writer who then attempts to prove it.attempts to prove it.
Example:Example:Thesis statement
Composition
Written argument & proof
Term
ToneTone
Definition
The attitude of the The attitude of the author toward the author toward the audience and characters, audience and characters, such as serious or such as serious or humorous.humorous.
Example:Example:
Term
TraceTrace
Definition
List in steps. List in steps. 1.1. Take out all the ingredients.Take out all the ingredients.2.2. Mix all dry ingredients in a Mix all dry ingredients in a
bowl. bowl. 3.3. Add all the wet ingredients. Add all the wet ingredients. 4.4. Pour into cake pan.Pour into cake pan.5.5. Put in the oven. Put in the oven.
Term
VoiceVoice
Definition
An authorAn author’’s unique style. s unique style.
Example:Example:
