Literary Terms

Words to knowLiterary Terms

SUSPENSEThe uncertainty or anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next in a story.

CharacterizationThe process of revealing the personality of a character.Direct characterization: we are told directly what the character is like. Ex: Jason was a mean, greedy man.Indirect characterization: we use our own judgment to decide what a character is like, based on evidence. Ex: Ms. Martin gave each of the students fifty dollars.

foreshadowingThe use of clues to hint at events that will happen later in the text

IRONYContrast between expectations and reality between what appears to be true and what is really true. 3 TYPESSituational We expect one thing to happen, and the opposite actually occurs.Dramatic We know something a character in the story doesnt.Verbal We say one thing, but mean the opposite.

Ironic by Atlantis MorissetteAn old man turned ninety-eightHe won the lottery and died the next dayIt's a black fly in your ChardonnayIt's a death row pardon two minutes too lateAnd isn't it ironic... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding dayIt's a free ride when you've already paidIt's the good advice that you just didn't takeWho would've thought... it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to flyHe packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbyeHe waited his whole damn life to take that flightAnd as the plane crashed down he thought"Well isn't this nice..."And isn't it ironic... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding dayIt's a free ride when you've already paidIt's the good advice that you just didn't takeWho would've thought... it figures

Ironic by Atlantis MorissetteWell life has a funny way of sneaking up on youWhen you think everything's okay and everything's going rightAnd life has a funny way of helping you out whenYou think everything's gone wrong and everything blows upIn your face

A traffic jam when you're already lateA no-smoking sign on your cigarette breakIt's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knifeIt's meeting the man of my dreamsAnd then meeting his beautiful wifeAnd isn't it ironic...don't you thinkA little too ironic...and, yeah, I really do think...

It's like rain on your wedding dayIt's a free ride when you've already paidIt's the good advice that you just didn't takeWho would've thought... it figures

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on youLife has a funny, funny way of helping you outHelping you out

CONNOTATIONAll of the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests.Skinny vs. SlenderUnattractive vs. uglyCute vs. beautifulCar vs. jalopy

DENOTATIONThe dictionary meaning of the word.

SATIREAny kind of writing, speaking, or art that ridicules or mocks some weakness in individuals or society. The main weapon is laughter.

Did I Miss Anything?By Tom WaymanNothing. When we realized you werent herewe sat with our hands folded on our desksin silence, for the full two hoursEverything. I gave an exam worth40 percent of the grade for this termand assigned some reading due todayon which Im about to hand out a quizworth 50 percent

Nothing. None of the content of this coursehas value or meaningTake as many days off as you like:any activities we undertake as a classI assure you will not matter either to you or meand are without purpose

Did I Miss Anything?By Tom WaymanEverything. A few minutes after we began last timea shaft of light suddenly descended and an angelor other heavenly being appearedand revealed to us what each woman or man must doto attain divine wisdom in this life andthe hereafter

This is the last time the class will meetbefore we disperse to bring the good news to all peopleon earth.

Nothing. When you are not presenthow could something significant occur?Everything. Contained in this classroomis a microcosm of human experienceassembled for you to query and examine and ponderThis is not the only place such an opportunity has been gatheredbut it was one placeAnd you werent here

What does this mean?The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

SymbolObject, action, or person used to represent itself as well as something else

ParableA story that contains a moral

literalConforming to the exact or primary meaning of a word or words

figurativeWords or groups of words that exaggerate or alter the usual meaningEx: The ground is thirsty.Ex: My soul began to quiver.

motifIncidents, ideas, or images that occur again and again in a work

personificationGiving a nonhuman thing or quality human characteristics