2. conflicts
- is a struggle between two people or things in a literary
work.
- It can be internal or external.
- A conflict that takes place between a character and
some outside force (another character, society or
nature) is external.
- A struggle that takes place within a character (ex.
Choosing to do the right thing) is internal.

3. description
 A type of writing that portrays a character, object, or
scene.
 Description makes use of sensory details – words and
phrases that describe how things look, sound, smell,
taste, or feel.
 Appeals to the senses.

4. irony
•Is the difference between
appearance and reality.

5. theme
Is the central idea of a
literary work.

6. Literary work
Any type of written work.
For example, short story,
poem, play, novel, biography,
song lyrics etc.

7. Point of view
 The vantage point from which a story is told.
 First-person – the narrator uses the pronouns I and
we and is a part of or a witness to the action
 Third-person – the narrator is outside the action and
uses words such as he, she, it and they
 Second-person – narrator is telling the story to
another character and uses the word you, story is
being told through the person being addressed point
of view – not used very often

8. Plot
 A series of events related to a central conflict or
struggle
 Exposition (introduction) – set the tone or mood,
introduces characters and the setting, provides
background information
 Rising action – events that lead to an important and
dramatic point in the plot
 Climax – the point of greatest interest and emotional
involvement in the plot

9.  Falling action – the events that develop from the
climax
 Resolution (denouement) – the final outcome which
ties up any loose ends left in the story

10. Simile
The comparison of two unlike
things using like or as.
Examples:
 She’s as fierce as a tiger.
 She is like a rose.
My skateboard is like a rocket.

11. Metaphor
A comparison of two unlike things.
Examples:
My skateboard is a rocket.
 She’s a tiger when she’s angry.
He was drowning in paperwork.

12. suspense
A feeling of expectation,
anxiety or curiosity
created by questions
raised in the mind of the
reader.

13. characterization
Is the act of creating or
describing a character. This
includes a physical
description as well as
thoughts and feelings of the
character.

14. Personal Essay
Is a short nonfiction
work on a single topic
related to the life of the
writer.

15. denotation
The dictionary
definition of a word.

16. connotation
The emotional association (positive or
negative) attached to a word.
 Ex. – unique and strange both mean
highly unusual
 unique – positive connotation
 strange – negative connotation

17. Foreshadowing
Is the act of hinting at
events that will happen
later in a poem, story, or
play.

18. Irony of Situation
is an event that contradicts
the expectations of the
characters or the audience

19. Setting
The setting of a literary
work is the time and place
in which the story
happens

20. Memoir
is a nonfiction narration that tells a
story
A memoir can be autobiographical
or biographical.
They are based on a person’s
experiences and reactions to
historical events.

21. Anecdote
An anecdote is a brief
story, usually told to
make a point.

22. Dialect
A version of a language,
spoken by people of a
particular place, time or
group. Writers use dialect to
give their works a realistic
sound and feel.

23. Hyperbole
is an exaggeration
made for effect.