Elements of Literature

personification  when something is given qualities it normally does not have
simile comparison using "like" or "as"
metaphor comparison NOT using "like" or "as"
symbol when something stands for something else
alliteration when two or more words are next to each other that begin with the same letter or sound
imagery when the author forms an image in your mind
idiom a phrase that cannot be taken literally, but its meaning is understood
hyperbole an exaggeration
irony when the opposite of what is expected happens
onomatopoeia when the sound of an action is spelled like it sounds
repetition when words are repeated in sequence
oxymoron when two words are next to each other that have opposite meanings, but they create a new meaning
flat character that usually only shows one side of his/her personality, and does not show growth or maturity in the story
round character that usually shows many sides of personality and shows growth or maturity in the story
major a main character, story would change if character were removed
minor a less important character and the story would not change or only change slightly if this character were removed
direct type of characterization when a description is given in the story is words
indirect type of characterization when a character is described through actions and dialogue
dialogue words spoken by characters
foreshadowing a hint in the story of something that will happen later in the story
setting the time and place of the story
conflict struggle in the story
external conflict KIND that is a struggle between two characters or things in the story and exists outside the character
internal conflict KIND that is a struggle within one character and the stuggle exists inside that character
man v man a struggle between two characters, external
man v himself a struggle with in one character, internal
man v nature a struggle between a character and a natural force, external
man v society a struggle between a character and a force of society, external
exposition background information is given to understand the story better, characters are introduced, setting is established
rising action events leading to the climax, conflict is present, suspense is present, longest portion of the story
falling action climax is explained, characters express how they feel about the climax
climax highest point of the story, purpose of reading the story, a discovery is made
resolution characters return to as normal a life as possible
theme the "message" of the story
indirect theme when only after reading the entire story is it possible to figure out the theme
direct theme when the theme is stated directly in the story, an actual sentence or portion of the story is the theme
point of view the angle from which the story is told
omniscient when the narrator knows what is happening to every character, all-knowing
1st person when the narrator is telling the story from his/her point of view, the word "I" is present outside of quotes
3rd person when the narrator is telling the story about one character that is not him/herself and is aware of other characters' actions and possibly their thoughts
flashback when a portion of the story goes back in time
plot the development of the story line from start to finish

http://quizlet.com