ECA/Literature Review: Important Terms

These words are essential for you to understand for the ECA in 10th grade. We will be using and practicing them for the rest of the year.

Figurative Language- words that affect a meaning other than the usual or literal meaning of the words; words that are not meant to be taken literally

Setting- the location and time period in which the plot takes place (when and where)

Foreshadowing- an occurrence, feeling, or object that forewarns of an event and which is only fully understood in hindsight (clues about what is going to happen)

Cliche- an expression that has been used so often that its meaning and impact are no longer effective (an overused phrase)

Genre- a term that describes the various classifications of literary works (for example: comedy, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, short story, tragedy, etc.) (the type of story that it is)

Conflict- the struggle between two or more forces- internal and external- that drive the plot (in other words, the problem)

Imagery- the use of figurative language to paint a sensory picture for the reader (language that appeals to the senses)

Point of View- the position or positions from which a literary work is told to the reader (first, second, or third person)

Idiom- an expression understood by those familiar with the language of its origin, and cannot be understood based on its literal meaning

Plot- the order in which the author has chosen to convey the events of a literary work (the order of events in a story)

Personification- to attribute human characteristics to inanimate objects, natural forces, animals, or ideas

Climax- the place in a literary work that is the most significant to the main character and/or the plot

Dialogue- the representation of conversation within a literary work (talking- noted with quotation marks)

Simile- to compare different things or ideas by using the words LIKE or AS

Assonance- the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds found within or at the end of words or phrases

Euphemism- a polite word or phrase used in place of an offensive or crude word or phrase (a polite way of saying something bad)

Allusion- a direct or indirect reference to a significant person, event, time, or work of literature (a reference to something else)

Consonance- the repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words in a phrase or sentence

Onomatopoeia- a word or words that sound like the action or thing they describe or represent

Theme- an abstract idea (such as ambition, duty, fear, freedom, jealousy, love, or truth) that dominates a literary work

Analogy- to compare similar concepts, characters, or works of literature so the reader better understands a difficult idea

Symbol- a thing, person, or place that is presented as a representation of a larger meaning

Oxymoron- to combine two words with contrasting meanings to convey a single idea or thought

Pun- the use of similar or identical-sounding words to create an alternate meaning to the sentence in which they are used  

Characterization- the use of direct and indirect methods to describe qualities and features of a person within a literary work (anything that's describing a character)

Protagonist- the principal or main character around which a literary work usually revolves

Antagonist- the character who opposes the central character, causing conflict (the "bad guy" or villian)

Hyperbole- using exaggeration to provoke strong emotion, to create humor, or to make a point (EXAGGERATION!)

Alliteration-  repetition of beginning consonant sounds in a group of words

Style- how the author writes in a distinctive way; how the writing is unique

Metaphor- to compare similar things or ideas WITHOUT using the words LIKE or AS

Connotation- the emotional, cultural, or suggested meaning thought of when hearing a word or phrase

Paradox-  a statement that contradicts itself

Irony- what results when the actual outcome differs from what is expected