Save
Busy. Please wait.
Log in with Clever
or

show password
Forgot Password?

Don't have an account?  Sign up 
Sign up using Clever
or

Username is available taken
show password


Make sure to remember your password. If you forget it there is no way for StudyStack to send you a reset link. You would need to create a new account.
Your email address is only used to allow you to reset your password. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.


Already a StudyStack user? Log In

Reset Password
Enter the associated with your account, and we'll email you a link to reset your password.
focusNode
Didn't know it?
click below
 
Knew it?
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.

  Normal Size     Small Size show me how

40 Literary Terms

TermDefinition
alliteration the practice of beginning several consecutive or neighboring words with the same sound
allusion a reference to a mythological, literary, or historical person, place, or thing
antagonist the character who stands directly opposed to the protagonist
atmosphere/mood predominant emotion in a literary work
characterization the act of creating and developing a character
climax the high point of interest or suspense
diction word choice intended to convey a certain effect
dynamic character a fictional character that undergoes an important change (within) in the course of the story
exposition writing or speech that explains a process or presents information
figures of speech metaphors, similes and personification: words or phrases that describe one thing in terms of something else and are not to be taken literally. They always involve some sort of imaginative comparison between seemingly unlike things.
flashback a scene that interrupts the action of a work to show a previous event
foreshadowing the use of hints or clues in a narrative to suggest future action
hyperbole a deliberate, extravagant, and often outrageous exaggeration
imagery consists of the words or phrases a writer uses to represent persons, objects, actions, feelings, and ideas descriptively by appealing to the senses
irony occurs when a situation turns out differently from what one would normally expect
metaphor a comparison of two unlike things NOT using like or as
myth a fictional tale that explains the actions of gods or the causes of natural phenomena
narration the telling of a story in writing or speaking
onomatopoeia the use of words that mimic the sounds they describe
oxymoron a form of paradox that combines a pair of opposite terms into a single unusual expression
parable a simple brief narrative that teaches a lesson by using characters and events to stand for abstract ideas
paradox occurs when the elements of a statement contradict each other Although the statement may appear illogical, impossible, or absurd, it turns out to have a coherent meaning that reveals a hidden truth.
parody a comical piece of writing that mocks the characteristics of a specific literary form
personification a kind of metaphor that gives a nonhuman subject human characteristics
plot the sequence of events or actions in a short story, novel, play, or narrative poem
point of view the perspective from which a narrative is told
protagonist the central character of a drama, novel, short story, or narrative poem
pun a play on words that are identical or similar in sound but have sharply diverse meanings
rhyme the repetition of sounds in two or more words or phrases that appear close to each other in a poem
sarcasm the use of verbal irony in which a person appears to be praising something, but is actually insulting it
setting the time, date, place, and atmosphere of a short story, novel, play, or narrative poem
shift refers to a change or movement in a piece resulting from an epiphany, realization, or insight gained by the speaker, a character, or the reader
simile a comparison of 2 different things or ideas using like or as
static character minor characters in a work of fiction who do not undergo substantial change or growth in the course of a story
suspense the quality of a literary work that makes the reader or audience uncertain or tense about the outcome of events
symbol any object, person, place, or action, that has both meaning in itself, and that stands for something larger than itself
syntax the arrangement of words and the order of grammatical elements in a sentence
theme the central message of a literary work that usually reveals something about life or human nature
tone the writer's or speaker's attitude toward a subject, character, or audience, and it is conveyed through the author's choice of words and detail
understatement the opposite of hyperbole it deliberately represents something as being much less than it really is
Created by: jilfaa
Popular English Vocabulary sets

 

 



Voices

Use these flashcards to help memorize information. Look at the large card and try to recall what is on the other side. Then click the card to flip it. If you knew the answer, click the green Know box. Otherwise, click the red Don't know box.

When you've placed seven or more cards in the Don't know box, click "retry" to try those cards again.

If you've accidentally put the card in the wrong box, just click on the card to take it out of the box.

You can also use your keyboard to move the cards as follows:

If you are logged in to your account, this website will remember which cards you know and don't know so that they are in the same box the next time you log in.

When you need a break, try one of the other activities listed below the flashcards like Matching, Snowman, or Hungry Bug. Although it may feel like you're playing a game, your brain is still making more connections with the information to help you out.

To see how well you know the information, try the Quiz or Test activity.

Pass complete!
"Know" box contains:
Time elapsed:
Retries:
restart all cards