LITERARY & ESSAY TERMS Literary Selections

Biography: the story of someone’s life. Autobiography: the story of someone’s life written by themselves.

Short Story: a narrative essay that includes plot and character development. Fable: a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a

moral. Essay: a short piece of literature meant to inform/persuade/educate/etc. the

reader on a topic. Descriptive: descriptive writing depends on careful word choice to create

images of people, places, and objects. Some characteristics ofDescriptive Writing are:

multitude of details appealing to the five senses (sight, smell,sound, touch, taste) through the use of imagery

creates a strong overall image appeals to the intended audience has a purpose provides details organized in a systematic fashion for subjective description, be selective and responsive when

describing your thoughts and feelings for objective description, stick to exact detail and specific facts Dominant Impression

Personal Narrative: a short story Answers the questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Organized through chronological order Opening should engage the reader (ex: an interesting fact,

anecdote etc. to create suspense, establish a dialogue, and createforeshadowing)

Must have a thesis statement! Relate to a single event! Strong word choice/ good diction Establish the main conflict May include dialogue to create mood, irony, or character Written from a single point of view (Usually Third or First person)

Expository: an essay that explains a reasoning towards a topic. Thereare two types:

Argumentative: argues one side, is logical, factual, is notemotional and has no call to action.

Persuasive: tries to convince the reader of something and has acall to action. They usually involve emotional references.

Methods of Development: the methods in which the write an essay. Example & Illustration

The most common (means give examples and explain). This is what youwill most likely use, however it is a good idea to incorporate one other

method at some point of the essay. Gives a specific example that relates to the topic, and then explains it. Keywords: “For example...” ; “To illustrate...” Purpose: to clarify, explain, argue, persuade, compare/contrast

Comparison & Contrast Second most common (you may be able to use this in a personalnarrative).

Compare: to talk about how you topic is similar and different to somethingthe audience can relate to.

Contrast: to talk about how your topic is different (NOT similar) tosomething the audience can relate to.

Keywords: Similar, difference, same, alike Purpose: to simplify, help the audience understand Two organizational methods:

Block Method: when separate paragraphs are separate topicswhich are later compared in another paragraph.

Side­by­Side Method: when aspects to what is being comparedis within the same paragraph, being separated into paragraphs bysimilarities and differences.

Cause & Effect Third most common Author explains multiple causes to a certain result, OR explains multipleresults from a certain cause.

Example: Getting a good grade on a math test (1 cause) could putyou in a good mood, make your friends congratulate you, and geta reward from your parents (multiple results).

Example: A good sleep, smart studying, and the promise of areward if you do well (multiple causes) could lead to you getting agreat mark on your math test (1 result).

Keywords: “If blank happens then blank happens.” ; Causes, results,effects, affected.

Process & Analysis Step­by­step process of how to do something, that covers basic steps. Keywords: first, second, third, after, before, next Purpose: to explain how to do something

Classification & Division When an essay is divided into certain topics (you may be able to use thisin a personal narrative).

Example: Essay about types of music. Paragraph 1: Introduction. States that we will talk about classical,

rock and country style music. Paragraph 2: Classical Music Paragraph 3: Rock Music Paragraph 4: Country Music Paragraph 5: Conclusion. Sum up what you already said.

Introductory Technique: ways to begin writing that catch the attention of the readers. Anecdote (Narrative): beginning with a one paragraph story. Question: beginning with a thought provoking question.

Quotation: beginning with a direct quotation. Shocking statement: beginning with a shocking statement Fact: beginning with an indisputable fact (this fact may be shocking) Thesis Statement: beginning with a clear statement of the overall topic for the

entire essay. Dramatic Scene: similar to an anecdote, beginning with a story that is very

eventful and dramatic Descriptive Scene: beginning by describing something in detail Dialogue: beginning with characters speaking.

Important Roles Within Literature: Author: a writer a work of literature. Antagonist: The character that directly opposes the protagonist. Protagonist: The main character. Not always the “good guy” or hero.

Analogy: a story used to explain a similar story.

Antithesis: A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.

Apostrophe: a passage in which a writer addresses directly a dead or absent person, oran abstract or inanimate object. (O Candle, how you remind me of home)

Creating Emotion: pieces of writing can create many different emotions in differentways. The three main ways that emotions are portrayed in writing are:

Atmosphere: the overall feeling of a piece of writing. Mood: the feeling a piece of writing creates within a reader. Tone: the apparent feeling of an author to his/her topic.

(Target) Audience: consumer group most likely to buy a specific product and identifiedby region, age, demographics, or economic status.

Bias: is a mental learning or inclination; partiality; prejudice; bent.

Literal (Concrete): when something is exactly as it is said or described. Denotation: the literal definition of a word (ex. Baby is an infant human). Concrete Imagery: when something is described exactly as it is (ex. The sky is

blue). Concrete Language: when what is said is exactly what is meant (ex. I’m going

upstairs).

Figurative: when something has a(n) deeper/other meaning than what is said ordescribed.

Connotation: an additional meaning to the definition of the word (ex. Baby can a

girlfriend/boyfriend). Figurative Imagery: when something is described with added meaning (ex. My

heart is blue on this day). Figurative Language: when there is a(n) deeper/other meaning to what is said

(ex. Her dress glistened, like snow on a fresh fallen day). Figures of Speech: a figurative language statement. There are MANY:

Metaphor: when two unrelated items are compared or one isused to represent a trait of another in a statement.

Extended Metaphor: when a metaphor is explained over 2 ormore sentences.

Simile: when two unlike things are compared using the words ‘like’or ‘as.’

Personification: when a statement gives human characteristicsto nonhuman things.

Hyperbole: an extreme exaggeration Alliteration: repetition of the same letter or sound at the beginning

of nearby or closely connected words. Assonance: the effect created when two syllables in words close

together, especially in poetry, have the same vowel sound butdifferent consonants. (face, mailed)

Consonance: the repetition of the same or similar consonants inneighbouring words (coming home)

Oxymoron: a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appearin conjunction (he was falsely true)

Imagery: the use of figurative language which appeals to the fivesenses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell)

Pun: a play on words, often comical. Metonymy: a figure of speech in which one word of phrase is

substituted with another in which with it is closely associated with. Paradox: a seemingly absurd or self­contradictory statement,

which, when investigated or explained, may prove to bewell­founded or true.

Onomatopoeia: a device in which the sound of a word reflects it’smeaning (sizzle, moo, boom)

Allusion: a reference in a work to a person, place, or event(usually from history, mythology, or another work of literature) thatis meant to extend the reader’s understanding or call something tomind.

Pathetic Fallacy: the attribution of human feelings and responsesto animals or inanimate objects.

Context: the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and interms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.

Cliché: an overused expression or idea (don’t judge a book by it’s cover)

Character: a person playing a role in a story (does not have to be human).

Character Trait: a personality trait of a character (ex. stubborn). Characterization/Character Development: the process of creating a character

that is lifelike (in the sense of having a full personality) Character Sketch: an outline on the development of a character, usually

in the form of an essay. Types of Characters: there are many types of characters. The most common

types of characters are: Dynamic: a character that changes over the course of a literary work. Flat/Static: a character that has absolutely no changes over the course of

a literary work. Round: a characters that displays multiple conflicting personality traits. Stereotypical: a character that is displays stereotypical traits (ex. a

genius level person being socially awkward, or a dumb blonde).

Conflict: a struggle taking place within a literary work. Internal: a struggle within oneself. Interpersonal: a struggle between two opposing sides (a person vs. another

person, a person vs. society, or a society vs. another society) External: a struggle between society/person and the exterior environment (ex.

Severe weather).

Coherence: an essay that is coherent is easy to read and easy to follow because ofgood organizational techniques. The elements of coherence are:

Transitional Usage: using transitions between sentences and paragraphs to linkideas.

BAD Transitions: In conclusion, Moreover, Firstly/Secondly/Thirdly, Next,But, And, Like, Then, To

GOOD Transitions: Overall, However, Following, Finally, In addition, Forexample, As a matter of fact, Coupled With, Not to mention, Again, On theother hand, Unlike, In reality, On the contrary, While, Certainly (Click Hereto see more good examples of transitional words!)

Synonym Usage: rather than repeating the same identical word over and over,repeat synonyms or paraphrases of it.

Parallel Structure: make sure all verbs in the same statement and the sameidea are in the same tense!

Pronoun Antecedent Reference: use proper pronouns to refer back tocharacters you previously talked about in the last 3­4 sentences. If you are talkingabout two people of the same gender, be VERY careful about using “he/she”references without stating which character you’re discussing at the time.

Unity: a feeling of connectedness across an entire piece of writing, linking the entireessay from beginning to end. This is DIFFERENT from coherence in that it spreads overthe entire essay, while coherence is about linking ideas and paragraphs.

Thesis Restatement: restates paraphrases of your thesis in EVERY paragraphin some way.

Repetition of Key Words: repeat a few key words (or their synonyms)throughout the essay (ex. if it’s an essay about dogs, you can also say puppy orpooch in other parts of the essay to create unity).

Closing by Return: always conclude your essay in a similar way to how youintroduced it. Relate back to your introductory technique without repeating exactphrases or words.

Dialogue: spoken words in a piece of writing, represented by italics or quotation marks.

Emotional Appeal: when a piece of writing uses words or phrases that appeal to youremotions (ex. the word baby may appeal to happiness for someone who loves children,or may appeal to dread for someone who thinks about a baby crying).

Emphasis: when extra attention is put upon a phrase or idea. This is usually found inimportant points and thematic topics, and should be used to point out the most importantpart of an essay.

Emphatic Devices: devices used to create emphasis. Unusual Punctuation: punctuation that is not common in regular writing

(ex. double exclamation marks!!). Sentence Structure: different sentences can make ideas stand out:

Brevity: very short sentences. Broken: sentences that are only partial ideas.

Parallel Structure: using the same pattern of words to show that two ormore words or ideas are of equal importance and to help the readercomprehend what is being written. (ex: I came, I saw, I conquered)

Repetition/Lists: the act of repeating something Rhetorical Questions: a statement that is formulated as a question but

that is not supposed to be answered.

Literary Organization Title: the name of a work. Epilogue: A section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a

comment, to conclusion what has happened. Prologue: A separate introductory section of a literary work. White Space: the space in a book between the text, and the book crease. Headline: A heading at the top of an article or page in a newspaper or magazine. Introduction: the first paragraph in an essay; it is a good idea to reference the

title and author of the work. Also, introductory paragraphs must include a topicsentence, and must state what the body paragraphs intend to address.

Body Paragraphs; the body essay support the points of which you introduced inthe introduction; you need examples to explain the significance of your supports(ex. how it contributes to theme, conflict, character, etc.)

Conclusion: the final paragraph in an essay, usually ties everything together andreflects on all supports throughout

Flashback: a sudden vivid memory of a past event.

Suspense: a state or feeling of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen. Foreshadowing: a warning or indication of a future event.

Genre: A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized bysimilarities in form, style, or subject matter.

Gothic Novel: a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror andromance (adventure).

Tragedy: A play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, esp.one concerning the downfall of the main character.

Grecian: a tragedy written by a Greek writer that has a Greek tragic hero(ex. The Theban Plays).

Shakespearean: a tragedy written by Shakespeare (ex. Macbeth). Comedy: a piece of writing written for the sole purpose of comedic relief.

Hero: in modern times, a hero is someone who is brave and is admired for noblequalities. In literature, however, that is not always the case. Below is two examples ofheros found in literature:

Tragic Hero: a character with a tragic flaw (bad character trait) that leads tohis/her downfall.

Grecian Tragic Hero (Aristotle): a tragic hero that realizes theirmistakes, changes their tragic flaw, and lives on to suffer for the rest oftheir days.

Shakespearean Tragic Hero: a tragic hero that realizes their mistakesbut dies as a result of them soon after a realization.

Folk Hero: an ordinary person who takes on an incredible task against someform of negativity. This person succeeds in the task and usually survives.

Imagery: the usage of words and phrases to appeal to the five senses.

Irony: expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies theopposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

Verbal: spoken irony, when someone says the opposite of what they mean. Dramatic: when the audience or reader knows more than the characters. Situational: when the opposite happens of what you thought was going to

happen.

Juxtaposition: the placement of two elements side by side to highlight a contrast orother effect through their association

Symbol/Symbolism: a thing that represents or stands for something else (ex. a materialobject that represents something abstract)

Motif: a recurring subject, theme, idea etc. in a work

Narrator: the speaker in a story. It may be a main character or an outside person.

Purpose: the reason why an author writes an essay. The purpose of an essay may be toPersuade, Entertain, Advertise, Argue, Inform, or Explain.

Plot: the chronological events that take place in a story. Exposition: the beginning that sets up the basis for the story. Rising Action: conflicts and events that take place throughout the story that build

suspense. Climax: the highest action/suspense point of the story. Falling Action: the lowering of suspense and tying of loose ends in the story. Resolution/Dénouement: the final result of everything in the story, and whether

or not the conflict resolves.

Point of View: the view from which an author is telling a story. First Person: from the perspective of the writer. (Keywords: I, me, we, us) Second Person: from someone directly to someone else (ex. a letter).

(Keywords: You, your, you’re) Third Person: from the perspective of an outsider (you’re watching others in the

story). (Keywords: He, she, they) Omniscient: when the reader can read about the thoughts and feelings of

multiple characters. Limited: when the reader can only read about the thoughts and feelings of

one character.

Setting: the time, place and circumstances of a story. Time: When Place: Where Circumstances: Why are they there at that place/time?

Thesis (Statement): a statement that gives a brief explanation of the topic of an essay.

Writing Style: the use of diction and sentence structure by a particular writer; all writershave a unique writing style (Click Here to learn more about writing essays properly. Whilethis use of writing essays is not unique to your writing style, it is concise and fact basedwhich is a writing style English teachers are looking for).

Theme: the message of a piece of writing that the author wishes to convey to the reader. Thematic Statement: a statement of the message the author wishes to convey.

This statement is written multiple times throughout an essay in different words(ex. The goodness within people will always win over the evil deep down).

Thematic Topic: the general topic of a theme (ex. Good vs. evil).

Significance and Effectiveness: if asked to explain the significance or effectiveness ofan essay, you need to explain which of the following it supports:

Theme Conflict Character Atmosphere/Mood/Tone Irony Coherence/Unity Emphasis.

EXAMPLE PERSONAL RESPONSE QUESTION

So how do we take all of this with, say, a visual thrown into the mix, andanswer a question relating to our own lives? Below is a sample questionand visual that we can be asked about in our personal response section.First, I’ve listed steps to make the jots notes, and then I answered the

question. NEVER LEAVE YOUR PLANNING SPACE EMPTY!________________________________________________________

Pets are good companions. By referring to the visual provided,your own personal experiences, and/or any knowledge you haveon the subject, explain and give three examples of times when a pethelped their owner.

*NOTE: Everything highlighted in yellow is the type of information you should write inplanning space or on a scrap sheet of paper before writing the essay!!! The unhighlightedwords are just explanation.

1. First, let’s consider the visual. Write down a sentence or two that youfeel explains the situation depicted. How is this dog being a goodcompanion to the man in the hospital bed?

The man is ill, b/c (short for ‘because;’ shorthand is helpfulwhen you’re low on time) he’s in hospital bed. Sickness =stressed.

Man seems happy. Dog’s paw is touching his arm. Dog seemshappy too.

Dog seems to have relieved stress the man may have beenfeeling due to being sick.

2. Now, let’s consider personal connections. Have you had a positiveexperience with an animal as a companion? Has one of your friends? Ifyou haven’t, can you think of something a dog or cat lover may describeabout loving their animal?

Home alone a lot. Having dog to keep me company. Feelssafe. I’m never lonely.

Calms me down when upset. Improved health. Walk more often, lower blood pressure.

Mom’s cholesterol is now perfect from walking dog every day.

3. Finally, consider any other information you know (don’t worry if you can’tthink of anything here, it’s more of a backup if you don’t have any personalconnections and can’t make up any).

Dogs and cats save owners fr: fires, earthquakes, tsunamis,etc.

Scientifically proven, lower heart rate.

4. Now, you have all the jot notes you need! When you start writing, picturethese three sets of notes as three body paragraphs, with an Intro in frontand a Conclusion after.________________________________________________________

Below is how I’d answer the question (keep in mind, I’m a studentand I never had a teacher go over this). I wrote it as an expositoryessay using Example & Illustration as my method of development.

It took me 30 minutes to write.________________________________________________________

We’ve all heard of those amazing animal stories; dogs and catswaking up their owners just in time to save them from fires, floods, andearthquakes! Well, not all of our precious pooches and kitties have hadopportunities to show us how much they would do for us, but they definitelyhelp us owners every single day in their own little ways. They give uscompanionship, are always there for us in hard times, and give us dailyencouragement to live healthier lives. I love my dog Sophie, aone­and­a­half­year­old black Labrador Retriever, for all of these aspectsthat she brings into my life.

Companionship is something many species can’t live without. It’s inour DNA to want to be with others and our minds respond with loneliness ifthat need isn’t fulfilled. This drives us to find a companion somewhere outthat the great big world. Pets offer us that companionship, accompanyingus at home, on long drives and on walks alone. I know I always appreciatehaving my dog with me when I’m home alone – she’s like a member of thefamily, giving me someone to sit with, play with, or cuddle with. They don’task questions, are happy to be treated with care, want to play with you, andare just happy to please only you. What better companion could you askfor?

Besides companionship, pets almost always help their owners whoare going through hard times just by being there with them. I know that ifI’ve had a bad day at school, I will always come home to a big, wiggly,black ball of fur happily greeting me at my door. Even in a more seriousincidence, animals can provide real comfort. As shown in the visualprovided, therapy dogs are often used in hospitals to improve the qualityof life of the patients. The man depicted in the photograph is clearly ill,although his face doesn’t show it; it’s as if the dog has made him forget allof his problems that he is currently facing. In fact, Sophie is also a therapydog and I always hear so many stories of how she makes patients’ days atthe hospitals in the city. These animals are providing a true service topeople, their owners and the greater community alike!

Finally, I firmly believe that having animals in your life will improveyour physical health. Pets want to run around and play with you, and willconstantly bother you until you finally give in. Not only does theirencouragement for play improve an owners exercise habits, but it has alsobeen scientifically proven that being in the presence of an animal lowersthe blood pressures of most people. Talk about drug­free therapy!Actually, my mother walks Sophie every day, and her once dangerouslyhigh cholesterol is now down to perfectly normal levels without anymedication! The power behind animals really is incredible.

Overall, humans are clearly helped in many ways every single day bypets. The save us from loneliness, lift our spirits, and help us achievehealthier lifestyles. Could we really live without pets? I don’t think so; Iknow I could never live without a wiggly ball of fur greeting me at the door.