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Allegory: The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.
The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.
Allusion: An implied reference in a work of literature to a well-known character, place, or situation from another work of literature, music, or art, or from history. For example, the poet alludes to biblical ravens that were compassionate and compares the bird to lordly people. Its landing on the bust of the goddess of wisdom suggests that it will bring the narrator some wisdom, perhaps from beyond the grave. In “Flowers for Algernon” Charlie alludes to feeling naked – “everyone was looking at me and laughing and I felt naked.” This is an allusion to Adam and Eve from the Bible.
Author’s Purpose: The intention of the writer – for example, to explain, to tell a story, to persuade, to amuse, or to inform. In “Flowers …” we see the agony Charlie suffers as he loses what he once knew. This shows the author’s purpose and his belief that Charlie would have been much better off without interference.
Characterization: The way a writer develops the personality of a character. It may be stated clearly by the writer, it may be revealed through the character’s words and actions, or it may be revealed by what others think and say about the character. In “from All Things…” the author described the bird seller as a proud and very knowledgeable man.
Conflict: The central struggle between opposing forces in a story or play. An external conflict is the struggle of a character against an outside force, such as another person, nature, society, or fate. In Yoshiko Uchida’s tale “The Wise Old Woman,” a man and his mother struggle against the ruler’s demands. An internal conflict exists within the mind of a character. The man in Uchida’s story is torn between loyalty to the ruler and love for his mother.– See pages 247, 358, and 832.
Climax: The point of greatest interest or suspense in a narrative. Usually the climax comes at the turning point in a story or drama. In “Raymond’s Run,” by Toni Cade Bambara, the climax occurs as Squeaky races against Gretchen and notices Raymond running on the other side of the fence.– See page 264, 404,and 832.
Falling Action: In a play or story, the action that follows the climax.– See page 404.
Flashback: An interruption in a chronological narrative. A flashback presents readers with scenes from events that occurred earlier than those in the story. Stephen King uses a flashback in the final scene of Sorry, Right Number. In “Flowers…” the author introduces memories of Charlie’s parents when Charlie is losing his intelligence.
Foreshadowing: The use of clues by the author to prepare readers for events that will happen in a narrative, as in “The Summer of Vietnam” by Barbara Renaud González. “Vietnam,” he says. The worst answer. The only answer that can make me cry. Instead, at night I remember.– See page 141. In Flowers for Algernon, Algernon’s ability to remain smart foreshadows that Charlie may be able to remain smart. In other words, what happens to Algernon will happen to Charlie.
Irony: A contrast between what is and what ought to be. Situational irony exists when the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what someone has come to expect– for example, the ending of Sorry, Right Number by Stephen King. Verbal irony exists when a person says one thing and means another– for example, saying “Nice guy!” about someone you dislike.– See pages 124 and 626. In “Flowers for Algernon” Charlie says “They’re going to use me!” not understanding that they are taking advantage of him. Also, if Charlie’s IQ triples he won’t get his wish of being “like other people” because most people do not have an IQ over 200.
Metaphor: A figure of speech in which seemingly unlike things are compared. In contrast to a simile, in a metaphor the comparison is implied instead of stated directly, so there is no use of connecting words such as like or as. There are many metaphors in the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King: “Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice; now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”– See pages 295, 393, and 602.
Mood: The emotional quality or atmosphere of the story. In “If I Forget Thee Oh Earth . . . ,” Arthur C. Clarke establishes a nostalgic mood that extends throughout the story.– See pages 183, 692–693, and 842.
Plot: The sequence of events in a story, novel, or play. The plot begins with exposition, which introduces the story’s characters, setting, and situation. The rising action adds complications to the story’s conflicts, or problems, leading to the climax, or point of greatest interest or suspense. The falling action is the logical result of the climax, and the resolution presents the final outcome.– See pages 46–47, 375, and 508.
Point of View: The relationship of the narrator to the story. A story using first-person point of view is told by one of the characters, as in “The Raven,” by Edgar Allan Poe. The reader sees everything through that character’s eyes. In a story with a limited third-person point of view, the narrator is outside the story and reveals the thoughts of only one character but refers to that character as he or she. In “Stop the Sun,” Gary Paulsen uses this point of view. In a story with an omniscient point of view, the narrator is also outside the story but can reveal any or all events, thoughts, and actions of the characters, as well as background information important to the story. – See pages 196, 221 and 489.
Protagonist: The central character in a story, drama, or dramatic poem. Usually the action revolves around the protagonist, who is involved in the main conflict. For example, Grady is the protagonist of Patricia C. McKissack’s “The Woman in the Snow.”
Repetition: The recurrence of sounds, words, phrases, lines, or stanzas in a speech or piece of writing. When a line or stanza is repeated in a poem it is called a refrain. Example: Martin Luther King’s speech is famous for his powerful repetition of two phrases: “I have a dream that…” “I have a dream today!”
Resolution: The part of a plot that comes after the falling action. The resolution reveals or suggests the outcome of the conflict.– See page 872.
Rising Action: The part of a plot that adds complications to the problems in the story and increases reader interest. In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” by Edgar Allen Poe, the suspense increases as the narrator’s plans are related.– See page 277.
Sensory Language: Language the writer uses to help the reader see, hear, smell, touch, and/or taste what is happening in the story. In “from All Things…” the author chooses words that help the reader feel what it’s like to be crushed by a bull. “Pop-eyed, groaning, scarcely able to breathe, I struggled with everything I had, but I couldn’t move an inch.”
Setting:
The time and place in which the events of a
short story, novel, or drama occur. The setting often helps create an
atmosphere, or mood.– See pages 46–47, 56, 165, 586, 692–693, and 832.
Simile: A figure of speech in which a phrase introduced by like or as is used to compare seemingly unlike things. This example of a simile comes from N. Scott Momaday’s “New World”: Shadows / withdraw / and lie / away / like smoke.– See pages 295 and 393.
Style: The author’s choice and arrangement of words and sentences in a literary work. Style can reveal an author’s purpose in writing and attitude toward his or her subject and audience. In “The Dinner Party,” the author uses an unexciting, matter-of-fact style to support the calm attitude of the story’s hero.– See pages 73, 358, and 639.
Suspense: A feeling of curiosity, uncertainty, or even dread about what is going to happen next. Writers increase the level of suspense in a story by giving readers clues to what may happen. In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Edgar Allan Poe builds suspense by gradually revealing the narrator’s insanity. - See pages 347 and 832. In “from All Things…” the author heightens the suspense in the final scene by showing the bird acting differently from the original.
Symbol: Any object, person, place, or experience that stands for something else because of a resemblance or association. In “The Black Walnut Tree,” by Mary Oliver, the tree is a symbol of a family’s success in overcoming hard times. – See pages 87 and 300.
Theme: The main idea of a story, poem, novel, or play. Some works have a stated theme. More frequently, works have a theme that is not stated but is revealed gradually through other elements, such as plot, character, setting, point of view, symbol, and irony.– See pages 14, and 358.
Tone: The attitude of the narrator toward a subject. The tone may be eerie, threatening, serious, or light, for example. In “Mother and Daughter,” by Gary Soto, the tone is humorous.– See page 68.
Voice: An author’s distinctive style, or the particular speech patterns of a character in a story. The voice of the narrator in On the Road with Charles Kuralt is the voice of a person who observes and enjoys words and places.