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Allegory:
an extended metaphor - the whole poem or story is representative of another idea. Animal Farm is literally about an animal rebellion against their human oppressors on a farm. Allegorically, it is about the Russian Revolution and the rise of Communism in the USSR. An allegory is intended to teach a moral or lesson.
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Alliteration:
forming word patterns by repeating initial consonant sounds. It depends on sound, not spelling. Allusion: a brief reference to a person, event or thing religious or historical.
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Ambiguity:
This is the quality in a piece of writing that makes it possible to interpret it in more than one way. Analogy: where you explain a complex situation by relating it to a simpler idea.
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Antagonist:
a character, or characters, in a short story, novel, or play, that gives the Protagonist a challenge.
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Antithesis:
Exact opposite; contrast or polarity in meaning (too tall to be short; the hydrogen bomb is the antithesis to anti-war advocates)
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Apostrophe:
directly addressing a person or thing as if it/s/he were really there. (Romeo & Juliet, where Juliet speaks, “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?).
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Aside:
When a character speaks to the audience and the other characters on stage cannot hear the speech.
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Assonance:
the repetition of a stressed vowel sounds (ex: Three/beach; say/played; flame/pain).
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Ballad:
a narrative poem or song of popular origin, usually in short stanzas and often with a refrain (chorus).
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Blank verse:
iambic pentameter lines without rhyme. Rhyme is not necessary.
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Climax:
the high point of a story... when the Protagonist makes his/her decision or faces their challenge
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Concrete Poetry:
where the actual typeset layout of the poem suggest the topic of the poem. For example, a poems about trees, might be shaped like a tree on the page.
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Consonance:
the repetition of consonant sounds at the end of words. Ex. Thick stuck gunk, first and last.
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Fiction:
literature that is not factually true, but may be based on true events.
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Free Verse:
poetry with no structure, no rhyme scheme, and no pattern.
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Haiku:
popular Japanese form of poetry developed in 17th century. It usually had three lines, respectively with 5, 7, then 5 syllables. Haiku often contrasts two opposing images, and presents an implied comment of nature.
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Hyperbole:
exaggeration, either for comic or serious effect. Ex. I cried a river of tears.
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Iambic Pentameter:
the most common meter used in Shakespeare’s plays, and especially sonnets. Pentameter means five feet. Iambic has two syllables (see “foot”), for a total of 10 syllables.
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Imagery:
creating vivid mental pictures through using words that appeal to the senses and emotions. Metaphor: a comparison that doesn’t use comparison words such as like or as.
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Metaphor:
a comparison that doesn’t use comparison words such as like or as
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Mood:
the dominant feeling or atmosphere of a work. Dark, light, happy, sad, are simple moods.
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Motif:
A re-occuring symbol that develops a major theme of the narrative.
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Narrator:
the voice that is telling the story in a novel or short story. There are two popular forms of narration:
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First person narrator--
the story is told through the eyes of a character.
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Third person--
the story is told by a person outside of the story.
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Non-Fiction:
literature that is true or is based on factual events
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Ode:
a form of lyric poetry using elaborate vocabulary. It usually focuses on a single object or person.
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Onomatopoeia: .
words that sound like the sound they are describing. Ex. BANG, buzz, pop
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two opposite or conflicting words, side by side. Example:, Dark day, white night
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using comedy or satire when imitating a well-known, serious work. It is much like re-writing a story with foolish characters and actions similar to the original. Parodies often make fun of the original author’s style, or criticize the authors’ views.
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the main character of a short story, novel, or play, who is faced with a challenge or a decision to make.
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Ordinary language – written or spoken.
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Repetition:
the repeating of lines, words, or phrases for emphasis
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similar sounding words in the end or within a line.
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--last syllable only rhymes. Ex. crime/grime
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two syllables rhyme. Ex. resenting/consenting
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3 syllables rhyme. Ex. Pollution/solution
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makes fun of some part of human nature, customs, or attitudes in order to make a positive change.
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comparison using like or as. Ex. Her hair was like spun gold.
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When a character speaks to the audience and there are no other characters on stage.
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- 14 line poem. Two kinds:
· Petrarchan--abba abba rhyme scheme, + cdecde or cdedce or cdccdc. The first 8 lines are the octave, which show the theme or asks the question. The sestet responds to the octave. · English or Shakespearean--4 parts - 3 quatrains and final rhyming couplet. Rhyme scheme is usually abab cdcd efef gg. The 3 quatrains offer 3 examples of the theme, and the final couplet is the final statement, and is often an epigram.
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saying certain syllables or words in a line with more emphasis or volume.
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a group of lines of a poem arranged so that the rhyme or rhythm forms a pattern that is repeated throughout the poem.
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a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work.
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Written or spoken poetic language
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