Student Glossary

Simile • A figure of speech in which a comparison is

made between two unlike things using the words LIKE or AS– Picturing something in your mind helps you to

understand it better, it shows us the qualities of an object or person by comparing it to something else.

She’s as sly as a fox.Samantha is as light on her feet as a ballet dancer.She was sobbing like a baby with an empty bottle.

It’s as cold as a meat locker in here.

Metaphor• A figure of speech in which an implied

comparison is made between two unlike things. This is similar to a “simile” but the words LIKE and AS are not used.

When I was grounded for a week, my room

was a prison of despair.

My room prison

My dad is a polar bear when it comes to

swimming in cold water.

Dad polar bear

Foreshadowing• The technique of giving clues to

coming events in a narrative.–Encourages reader to read on–Partially prepares reader for events

to follow

Examples?

Theme• A topic of discussion or writing; a

MAJOR idea broad enough to cover the whole literary work. –A theme can be STATED or IMPLIED

Examples?

Credibility• The quality or state of offering

reasonable grounds for being believed.– ask: is this source reliable?– Is this source believable?– Is this website “professional”?

Examples?

Open-ended Questions• A type of question intended to produce a free

response rather than a one or two word answer.– Requires reader to “think” before they answer– Requires reader to show support– This type of question should be used while

researching.

Examples?

Inference• Inference is using facts, observations, and logic or

reasoning to come to an assumption or conclusion. • It is not stating the obvious

– Example: (stating the obvious) that girl is wearing a fancy dress and carrying a bouquet of flowers. (inference) that girl is a flower girl in a wedding.

– It is not prediction, though the two are definitely related. • inference asks "What conclusions can you draw about what is

happening now?" • Prediction asks, "What will happen next?"

Connotation• the attitudes or feelings associated with

a word and not the word’s literal meaning.– Feelings may be positive, negative, or

neutral when associated with the word.

Inactive; to do nothing

Laid-back: to have a relaxed attitude

Lazy; does not want to work or do anything

Neutral

Positive Negative

Denotation• the literal meaning or “dictionary” definition

of a word.– D for denotation– D for dictionary definition

Examples:

• Thrifty; tending to save money– “My thrifty aunt made unique picture frames for

my graduation present.”• Finds ways to save money

• Cheap; contemptible because of lack of any fine, lofty, or redeeming qualities – “My cheap uncle bought me socks for graduation.”• Doesn’t spend money Connotation

Connotation

Detonation

Detonation

Examples:

• Young; being in the first or an early stage of life, growth, or development– “I was too young to join swim team this year.”• wasn’t old enough(age)

• Immature; lacking complete growth, differentiation, or development– “I was too immature to join swim team this year.”• I couldn’t behave myself (attitude)

Detonation

Detonation

Connotation

Connotation

Examples:

• Thin; not well fleshed(lean)– “Runway models use to be thin and lean, now

they are scrawny and gross.”• Skinny

• Scrawny; exceptionally thin and slight or meager in body or size – “My brother Matt is scrawny, he is a very picky

eater.”• Shrinking in size, very small

Detonation

Detonation

Connotation

Connotation

Plot Structure

complication

Exposition

Rising Action

Climax

Falling action

Resolution

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Exposition• This is the introduction of the story– Provides: • Background information needed to understand story• Characters such as protagonist & antagonist

– Who is your protagonist? Antagonist?• The setting of the story

– WHEN and WHERE does the story take place?

Exposition: Elli Friedman and her family live in Somorja. WWII era, Germany is invading surrounding countries. Elli is our main

character and protagonist, Germany is our antagonist.

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Complication• When does the first conflict/problem arise and

develop? What other problems start to arise and continue to develop?

• Ask yourself: what was it that put everything in motion?

Complication: Elli Friedman, her family, and other Jewish households are forced to move to Nagymagyar (The Jewish

Ghetto) and leave their homes, most of their possessions, and their old lifestyle behind.

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Rising Action• what occurs leading up to the climax.

• Ask yourself: what did the author do to set up the most exciting scene?

Rising Action: Elli, Mommy, and Bubi are on a train, there are rumors of allied forces and liberation. They have been on the

train for days.

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Climax• considered the high point – the most exciting

part – of the story. – This is where all the rising action and conflict

building up in the story finally reaches the peak.– It is usually the moment of greatest danger or

decision-making for the protagonist.

Climax: Elli, Mommy, and Bubi have all been liberated. They are in terrible condition and Elli appears to be 62 years old. They

have survived the Holocaust.

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Falling Action• The falling action deals with events which

occur right after the climax. These events are usually the after-effects of the climax.

Falling Action: The Friedman family returns to their hometown. Elli returns to school as does Bubi. Mommy makes a living by

sewing dresses. Daddy passed away two weeks before Liberation in Bergen-Belsen.

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Resolution• Here is the end of the falling action and the

conclusion to the story. • reveals the final outcome of the conflict– Keep in mind, that sometimes stories have endings

with a lot of unanswered questions. It is up to your discretion on whether you want to identify a resolution, or argue that a resolution in the story was never fully developed.

Resolution: Elli, Mommy, and Bubi travel to America to begin a new life. The memoir ends as soon as they arrive. It was not

fully developed.

Items in BOLD

optional

Alliteration• The repetition of a sound at the beginning of

two or more neighboring words

The fluffy feline furrowed her fuzzy brow.

Babbling brook

Student Glossary Quiz• Includes:

– Simile– Metaphor– Foreshadowing– Theme– Credibility– Open-ended questions– Inference– Connotation– Denotation– Exposition– Complication– Rising action– Climax– Falling action– Resolution– alliteration

• Students should be able to define all of the words, show their comprehension through example

• Quiz will consist of fill in the blank, true/false, and short answers for your examples.– 80 points– 2 points for correct definition– 3 points for providing correct example.

Quiz on 10/31/12

Symbol• An person, place, object, or event that has

meaning in itself and also stands for something larger than itself.– A symbol may have more than one meaning. In

fact, the most significant symbols do convey an indefinite range of meanings.

• What symbols do you see in your literature circle novels?

Hunger Games

• the tracker jacker is another mutant animal that the Capitol has engineered to keep the districts in check. They are a symbol of the Capitol's willingness to do anything – and everything – to maintain their power over ever living creature in Panem.

House of the Scorpion

• Scorpions….why?

Hunger Games

• Katniss's mockingjay pin, like the bird itself, symbolizes a creature with a spirit of its own. As hybrid creatures that have broken free of the control of the Capitol, they suggest the inability of the Capitol to enforce their power over all living creatures. These birds are signs of resistance and rebellion.

Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

• The Dirk• Round Robin

Life As We Knew It

• Symbols?– The Moon– Any others?