Personification

Personification A type of metaphor in which a nonhuman thing or quality is talked about as if it were human.

Malapropism The incorrect use of a word by substituting a similar sounding word with different meaning, usually with comic effect.

Irony A contrast or discrepancy between expectation and reality; (Verbal – writer or speaker says one thing and means another; Situational – A contrast between what seems appropriate and what actually happens; Dramatic – when the audience/reader knows more than the character).

Theme A central idea of a work of literature; a universal truth revealed; is not stated directly.

Alliteration Repetition of the same or very similar consonant sounds that are close together.

Dialect “How ya’ll doin? Whatcha got goin’ here?”

Pun A play on multiple meanings of a word or on two words that sound alike but have different meanings.

Soliloquy An unusually long speech in which a character who is on stage alone expresses his or her thoughts aloud.

Exposition The opening or beginning of a story that introduces the reader to the setting, characters, key background information, and mood.

Point of View Vantage point from which a writer tells a story.

Personification “The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night…”

Theme Love is blind, Love changes everything

3rd person point of view He likes to go to the store. She would rather stay home and play Nintendo.

Allusion “She’ll not be hit with Cupid’s arrow. She hath Dian’s wit...”

Dialect Way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region or a particular group of people.

Conflict A struggle or clash between opposing characters or forces; may be internal or external.

Pun Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar.

Foreshadowing The use of clues to hint at the events that will occur later in the plot.

Allusion Reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from literature, history, religion, mythology, etc. within a piece of literature.

Malapropism “I desire some confidence with you.”

Soliloquy “I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, That almost freezes up the heat of life: I'll call them back again to comfort me: Nurse! What should she do here? My dismal scene I needs must act alone. Come, vial. What if this mixture do not work at all?”

Alliteration Sally sold sea shells by the sea shore

Soliloquy “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name”

Characterization Restless eyes, short, defined features, thinks about the future, possibly leaving his partner, others question him, talks with a southern twang and is rather abusive

Theme All people have dreams, but almost no one ever achieves them

Characterization How an author creates his or her character via physical appearance, speech, thoughts/feelings, actions, and others’ reactions to the character.

1st person point of view I love ice cream on a hot, sunny day.

Verbal Irony A killer tells his best friend he can’t wait to celebrate years of friendship even though he plans to kill is best friend that night.

2nd person point of view You like to paint? Surely you must remember the time when you were five…

External Conflict (Man Vs Man) George and Curley fight

Exposition Under the sea, in the 1800s, Ariel, King Triton, Ursula the Sea Witch, happy tone, Ariel wants to be a human

Dramatic Irony Juliet thinks she is alone on the balcony, but we know Romeo is hiding in the bushes listening to her speech.

Situational Irony Rain on your wedding day, a free ride when you’ve already paid!

Foreshadowing “O God, I have an ill-divining soul! / Methinks I see thee, now art so low, / As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. / Either my eyesight fails or thou lookest pale.”

Foil Pair/Character Reversal A character who is a contrast to another character; may also occur in an individual character where the character reacts/behaves differently than normal.

Alliteration Rubber baby buggy bumpers

Personification “Arise fair sun and kill the envious moon…”

Foreshadowing "Did you hear me? She said she'd go out with me! Can you believe that?" I blinked, suddenly aware of what my friend was telling me. In the distance, thunder rolled and lightening crashed. Soon it would be raining. This would not be good.

Malapropism "...she's as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of Nile."

Simile Figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things, using a word such as like, as, resembles, or than.

External Conflict (Man Vs Man) Capulets Vs. Montagues

External Conflict (Man Vs Society) Romeo is banished from Verona

Internal Conflict (Man Vs Self) Juliet’s decision to drink the vial

Pun “My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back thee”

Monologue An extended, uninterrupted speech by one person only.

Tone Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, subject, or a character.

Imagery Language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch).

Symbol Person, place, thing, or event that stands for itself and something beyond itself as well.

Setting On farm in Wisconsin during the 1980s

Apostrophe A figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent person, object, or idea. This technique adds emotional intensity.

Personification