Honors 10 English Lit Terms - Lane

• What is the definition of active voice?


  Current, happening now.
• Give an example of active voice.

  Nike’s slogan “Just do it.”
• What is the definition of passive voice?

  It happened in the past.
• How is tone defined in literature?

  The speaker’s attitude expressed in how something sounds or comes across.
• Name some commonly used tones in literature.

  Happy, sad, sarcastic, mad, scary.
• How does mood develop from tone?

  The reader or listener develops a feeling from the speaker's tone.
• What is the relationship between mood and genre in literature?

  • Mood determines if a piece is a comedy, tragedy, romance, or drama.
  • Mood is influenced by the tone used in the text.
• What are shifts in a story?

  Changes in mood or tone as the story progresses.
• Why are shifts important in a story?

  They make the story exciting and take the reader through a wide range of emotions.
• What does the setting of a story establish?

  Where and when the story takes place.
• What additional elements can the setting provide?

  Atmosphere, historical context, background information, foreshadowing, character development, and initial tone/mood.
• What is foreshadowing?

  Clues in the text about incidents that will occur later in the plot.
• What effect does foreshadowing create in a novel?

  It creates anticipation.
• What is denotation?

  The definition of a word (dictionary version).
• What is connotation?

  An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing.
• How is inference defined?

  Observation and background to reach a logical conclusion.
• Give an example of making an inference.


  If someone slams a door, you can infer that she is upset about something.
• What is a premise in literature?

  The overall idea, concept, or foundation of the text.
• What is the plot of a story?

  Major events that push a story to the end, usually based on conflict.
• What does exposition introduce in a story?

  Background information, like the setting and characters.
• What is conflict in literature?


  The problem that is addressed in the story.
• What is rising action?

  A series of related incidents that build towards the point of greatest interest.
• What is the climax of a story?

  The turning point in the plot, the moment of most tension.
• What happens during falling action?

  The conflict between characters unravels, often resulting in a winner and a loser.
• What is denouement?

  The final suspense in a story.
• What is resolution or conclusion in literature?

  The final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot.
• What is characterization?

  The art of creating a character's personality for a story.
• What is direct characterization?

  How the author or characters describe the character.
• What is indirect characterization?

  What can be inferred about the character through dialogue, actions, and interactions with other characters.
• Who is the antagonist in a story?

  The protagonist's adversary.
• Who is the protagonist?

  The main character in a drama or literary work.
• What is a foil character?

  A character that, by contrast, underscores or enhances the distinctive characteristics of another.
• What are flat characters?

  A literary character whose personality can be defined by one or two traits only.
• What are round characters?

  A character who has a complex personality.
• What are dynamic characters?

  A character who grows, develops, and changes over the course of the book.
• What are static characters?

  A character who does not change noticeably during the course of a story.
• What is style in writing?

  • Not what is said but how it is said.
  • Analyzing the author's style involves examining the unique way of communicating ideas.
• What are key aspects in styles of writing?

  • Sentence length, structure, variation, and position.
  • Use of sensory details, figurative language, and other literary devices.
  • Use of sound devices: alliteration, onomatopoeia, rhythm, repetition.
  • Use of dialogue and word choice.
  • Tone and use of irony.
• What is a flashback in literature?


  When a character remembers a past event that is relevant to the current action of the story.
• What does diction refer to in literature?


  How the author uses words in literature.