Unit 5: Parts 1 & 2 Literary Terms

The 1960s were turbulent years in America. Conduct an interview with someone who lived through that decade.

The theme is the central idea or insight in a work of literature.

An author's perspective is the point of view from which he or she writes.

An editorial is a persuasive essay that appears in a news publication and expresses the opinions of the publication's editor or editorial board.

In literature, the grotesque character is one who has become bizarre or twisted, usually through some kind of obsession.

O'Connor creates grotesques in this story through characterization—the revelation of personality.

A story follows a sequence of events called a plot, which is organized into distinct phases: exposition, inciting incident, development, climax, resolution.

• The exposition introduces the setting, characters, and situation.

• During the development, the conflict increases.

• The plot reaches a high point of interest or suspense at the climax.

• A resolution explains the end of the central conflict.

Note that many modern stories, such as this one, have no resolution. Instead, a character may experience an epiphany, or moment of insight, that affects the conflict but does not resolve it.

The events that lead up to the climax make up the rising action.

The events that lead up to the climax make up the rising action. Those that follow make up the falling action.

Along the way, writers may also use foreshadowing, or clues, to hint at what will happen next.

Ferlinghetti builds this poem as a single extended metaphor, or sustained comparison.

To mimic the acrobat's agility, Ferlinghetti studs the poem with puns—words or phrases with double meanings:
• The acrobat/poet performs "above the heads" of his audience.

Figurative language is language that is used imaginatively rather than literally.

A simile is a comparison that uses a connecting word such as like or as: "love as simple as shaving soap."

Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginnings of words: "What saint strained so much, / Rose on such lopped limbs to a new life?"

Assonance is the repetition of a vowel sound in stressed syllables with dissimilar consonant sounds: "I quail, lean to beginnings, sheath-wet."

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in stressed syllables in the middle or at the end of words: "The small cells bulge."

Repetition is the repeating of key words or concepts: "Wee griefs, / Grand griefs. And choices. / He feared most of all the choices...."

Parallelism is the presentation of similar ideas using the same grammatical structures: "When it is finally ours.... / when it belongs at last to all, / when it is truly instinct...."

Bishop also draws readers in through her use of rhetorical devices—word patterns that create emphasis and stir emotion...

Bishop also draws readers in through her use of rhetorical devices—word patterns that create emphasis and stir emotion...

Several literary elements produce this double effect. The first is Bishop's diction, or word choice.

Imperatives: Mild commands invite readers to do or feel certain things. Example: "Lose something every day."

Exclamations: Statements ending in an exclamation point inject an emotional intensity. Example: "Oh, but it is dirty!"

Explain the context clues that help you decide.

Synonyms are words that share the same or similar meanings.

Then, write an explanation of your choices.