Definitions of Some Commonly used Terms in Intermediate English

Language Arts

Genre
Short story

Novel
Fiction
Nonfiction
Narrative
Expository
Descriptive
Persuasive
Biography
Autobiography
Essay
Thesis
Objective
Subjective
Formal
Informal
Paragraph
Topic Sentence
Unity
Coherence
Setting
Point of view
Narrator
First Person
Point of

A type of text or literary form

Prose fiction that usually revolves around a single incident in a
characters life. Short stories usually have one turning point or
climax. The essential elements of a short story include setting,
character, plot and theme.
A story published as a separate book. The main difference
between a short story and a novel is that a novel revolves around
many incidents in the main characters life.
Prose in which the characters and events are imaginary.
Any piece of prose writing that is not based on the imaginary.
A piece of writing that tells a story.
A piece of writing that explains how and why something happens.
A piece of writing that gives the reader a clear picture of a place,
person, event or thing.
A piece of writing in which the author attempts to convince the
reader to see a particular point of view.
An account of the life of an individual other than the writer.
A narrative about or from the person writing it.
A short piece of prose usually expressing the point of view of the
author. An essay has three main parts: an introduction paragraph,
main body and a concluding paragraph.
The position/opinion the writer is trying to defend.
Writing that presents factual information and a variety of
viewpoints.
Writing that a particular viewpoint with support selected to
support just that viewpoint.
Usually objective writing that deals with more serious ideas and
topics.
Writing with the quality of everyday conversation and that shows a
great deal of the authors personality.
A group of sentences relating to a single idea or topic. Made up of
three parts: topic sentence, supporting sentences and a
concluding sentence.
A sentence which expresses the main idea of a paragraph.
A quality of writing in which all sentences and paragraphs support
one main idea.
A clear, logical flow in writing with smooth transitions between
sentences and between paragraphs.
Time, place and circumstances the story or event takes place.
The perspective from which events are seen, a story is told or an
argument is made.
The person who tells the story.
The narrator is :I:, one of the characters in the story.

View/Narrative
Third Person
Limited Point of
View/Narrative
Omniscient
Point of
View/Narrative
Lead character
protagonist
Antagonist
Minor/backgrou
nd characters
Character trait
Dynamic
character
Static
character
Stereotype
Characterizatio
n
Character
sketch
Conflict

Plot
Prologue
Exposition
Rising Acting
Suspense
Complication
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
Epilogue

The narrator tells the story as he, she or they.

The narrator is all knowing and describes the thoughts and

feelings of all the characters but is not a character in the story.
The character around whom the action revolves. This characters
appearance, background, feelings and thoughts are all described
in detail.
The character who struggles or fights against the protagonist.
These characters are more a part of setting and atmosphere.
A personality quality, how a character behaves.
A character that changes as a result of events in the story.
A character remains the same throughout the course of a story.
A fixed idea where all members of a group are made out to be the
same without room for individual differences.
The way an author creates characters.
A brief description of a character, using support and evidence to
show that characters attitudes, feelings, thoughts and personality.
The struggle between opposing forces.
1. Internal conflict a character struggling with a decision or
won feelings (man Vs himself)
2. Interpersonal conflict a character struggling with another
person (man vs man)
3. External conflict a character struggling against the outside
world (man vs nature)
The plan, skeleton, framework, sequence of events or storyline.
The components of a plot are Exposition, Rising Acting, Climax,
Falling Action and Resolution.
An introduction to a piece of literature that sets the scene for what
is to follow.
The introduction of information necessary for the readers
understanding of the situation at the beginning of a story.
Grabs the readers attention and creates suspense as the main
characters problem begins to unfold.
A feeling of excitement and curiosity created by writing.
The twists and turns of the plot from the beginning to the climax.
The turning point of the plot.
Takes the reader through more ups and downs as the problem is
attached.
The part of the story after the climax, which pulls together the
loose threads of the story.
A short section after the end of a piece of literature that explains,

Foreshadowing
Flashback
Surprise
Ending
Theme/messag
e
Literal
meaning/
language
Summary
Poetry
Free verse
Blank Verse
Couplet
Lyric poems
Ballad
Sonnet
Haiku
Stanza
Refrain
Figurative
Meaning/langu
age
Hyperbole
Oxymoron
Imagery
Metaphor
Extended
metaphor
Personification
Simile
Alliteration
Assonance
Onomatopoeia
Allusion
Repetition
Rhyme

comments on the content or extends the storyline.

Hints about what is to come in a story.
An episode in a story, which goes back to an earlier time.
An ending where an event is both the climax and the resolution.
The main idea, moral or message of a text, also known as the
central insight.
What is happening in the writing.
Rewrite the main points in your own words.
A concentrated form of language written in verse with vivid
imagery, figurative language, rhythm and sometimes rhyme.
A form of poetry that does not follow a set rhythm.
Is any verse comprised of unrhymed lines all in the same meter,
usually iambic pentameter.
A pair of rhyming lines.
Express intense emotional thoughts and moods.
A narrative poem with a song-like form usually based on a folk
legend, love story or legend.
A fourteen line poem which follows a set rhyme scheme and
rhythm.
A seventeen syllable poem. (5,7,5)
Division of a poem.
A recurring passage or phrase in a poem.
When writing is meant to be understood at a deeper level. Figures
of speech such as simile, metaphor, personification and other
techniques are used to create more vivid interesting images.
An over exaggeration.
A figure of speech that uses two normally contradictory terns, ex.
jumbo shrimp
Language that appeals to the senses of sight, touch, hearing and
smell.
A direct comparison, ex. The wind is a dancer.
Then the comparison is carried throughout a text.
When humans qualities are given to animals or objects.
A comparison using like or as, ex. He is light as a feather.
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, ex,
big black bear.
The repetition of vowels sounds in two or more words close
together in a piece of poetry.
The sound of a word resembles its meaning (snap, pop, buzz)
A hidden or indirect reference to events, people and places in
history and other literary works.
The constant statement of an idea.
Matching word sounds often used in poetry. When the matching
words occur at the end of the lines of poetry it is called End
Rhyme

Mood
Atmosphere
Tone
Diction
Dialect
Purpose
Noun
Proper noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Irony

Audience
Symbol
Critical Reading
Comparison
Contrast
Shape
Line
Color
Texture
Focal Point
Editorial
Cartoon
Caricatures
Caption
Headline
Layout

The feeling and emotions of the author as they come through in

the writing and the feelings that the writing produces in the
reader.
The overall feeling that surrounds a text like a blanket. It is very
important in descriptive writing.
The way a writers choice of words reveals his or her attitude
towards the subject, character and reader.
Choice or selection of words.
The local form of the language.
The reason for the creation of a text.
A part of speech that is the name of a person, place, thing or idea.
A part of speech that names a particular person, place or thing.
Always starts with a capital letter.
A part of speech which tells what nouns can do, be and feel. Action
words.
A part of speech that describes a noun.
A part of speech which describes or modifies verbs, adjectives and
other adverbs.
When you expect one thing to happen and another does.
Verbal Irony - A contrast between what is said and meant.
Situational Irony what the reader expects to happen and
what actually happens.
Dramatic Irony is a situation in which the audience knows
something that the character on stage odes not.
The intended reader/viewer of a text.
An object which stands for a quality or idea beyond its literal
meaning.
When you use your knowledge and skill to judge the truth and
value of a text.
Showing only the similarities and differences between two things
that have something in common.
Showing only the difference between two things that have
something in common.
A space enclosed by a line. Shape can be used symbolically i.e. a
heat shape for love.
Has length and direction. Lines can suggest movement, order,
tension, division and emotion.
The effect of color and shading is emotional. Color can be used
symbolically i.e. green for jealousy.
The quality or feel of an objects surface.
The main area of interest.
A single frame political/current issues cartoon on the editorial
page.
The exaggerated portrayal of characters in an editorial cartoon.
Words beneath a photograph that explain the subject.
Words at the top of an article that indicate the topic (much like a
title).
How images are arranged in a visual.

Form
Collage
Thumbnail
Sketch
Emphasis
Drama
Stage
directions
Dialogue
Tragedy
Comedy
Soliloquy
Aside
Monologue
One Act Play
Scene
Scene
Act
Set

Height, width and depth of a structure which can create

perspective.
An artistic composition made of various materials mounted on a
surface.
A rough draft of a visual.
Drawing attention to something by use of color, size or placement.
A piece of literature intended to be performed on stage, screen or
radio.
Instructions for the actors on stage.
Conversation between two or more people.
A serious play which leads to death of the main character(s).
A humorous play which usually ends happily for the main
character(s).
A monologue that is supposed to reflect a characters thoughts
and feelings.
A short comment made by a character that other characters do
not hear.
A lengthy uninterrupted speech by one character to another
character.
A play with only one act.
An episode within a play.
An episode within a play.
A part or division of a play (like a character in a book).
The scenery and props of a play.