Allusion
A reference to another work
Example: When Anne Bradstreet refers to
the Bible, it is an allusion.
Analogy
A comparison between two
unlike things
Example: They fight like cats and dogs.
Appeals to emotion
Persuasive arguments that rely on
emotional responses
Example: I was ripped away from my crying
sister.
Appeals to reason
Persuasive arguments that rely on
intellect and reason
Example: There is no way to avoid this
war.
Bandwagon approach
Persuasive technique that indicates
most or all agree
Example: Everyone joins the Rowdie Crowd.
Bias
Persuasive technique that uses
people’s pre-conceived notions.
Example: Showing a picture of a football
player to sell a weightlifting machine
because everyone thinks football players
are strong.
Citing Authority
Persuasive technique that
references expert testimony.
Example: “Nine out of ten dentists
recommend chewing Trident.”
Flashback
Interruption of the current action
to tell what happened earlier.
Example: Forrest Gump thinking and
talking about his life growing up.
Foreshadowing
Clues about what will happen.
Example: Mufasa tells Simba that he will
one day be king.
Glittering Generalities
Persuasive technique that uses
a general circumstance to
encompass all possibilities.
Example: “Graduating from high school
is a million dollar decision.”
Hyperbole
Extreme exaggeration.
Example: When kids say they will “NEVER”
speak to each other EVER again.
Idiom
When words do not mean what
they literally say.
Example: Eating a “hot dog” does not
mean consuming a canine that is
overheated.
Imagery
Use of sensory words to appeal to
the senses.
Example: The flowers emanated the colors
of the rainbow and the scent of heaven.
Fact
Something that can be proven to
be true or false.
Example: It is 75 degrees Fahrenheit
outside.
Opinion
Something that cannot be proven
and relies on impression.
Example: Summer gets too hot.
Propaganda
Systematic promotion of ideas
or doctrine.
Example: When it is time to vote, people
send out propaganda to support their
issue or candidate.
Irony
When something happens or is said
that is opposite of what is expected
or meant.
Example: Dying by choking on a “Lifesaver.”
Metaphor
A comparison not using “like” or
“as.”
Example: “Your eyes are shooting stars.”
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Mood
The emotional atmosphere of a
literary work.
Example: If a story has lightning flash and a
storm rage outside, a gloomy or ominous
mood is created.
Onomatopoeia
Words that sound like the verb they name.
Example: BUZZ!!!
Overstatement
An exaggeration for effect.
Example: I have told you a million times!
Paradox
A statement that seems selfcontradictory but is still true.
Example: To live is to die.
Personification
Giving non-human objects human
characteristics.
Example: The dog’s eyes danced with
excitement.
Point-of-view
Narrator’s involvement in the story.
Example: The Lion King is told primarily
from the point of view of Simba.
Satire
Writing that ridicules a person or
institution to bring about change.
Example: Romeo and Juliet satirizes young
love and parents’ attempts to stop it.
Simile
A comparison using “like” or “as.”
Example: “You are as pretty as a picture.”
Statistics
Persuasive technique that uses
data to support the argument.
Example: Score have risen 20% over the
last year.
Symbolism
Use of a concrete object to
represent an abstract idea.
Example: The elephant skull in The Lion
King is a symbol of danger and death.
Testimonials
Persuasive technique that uses
recommendation from people who
have experience with the issue.
Example: “Proactive worked for me!”
Tone
Author’s attitude towards the
subject.
Example: The tone of Finding Nem0
suggests that we should not find
“disabilities” “disabling.”
Round Character
A multi-faceted character with
many traits who seems “real.”
Example: In Finding Nemo, Marlin seems
like a real father.
Flat Character
A character with only one or two
traits who represents stereotype
Example: In Finding Nemo, Darla is a fishkiller.
Static Character
A character who does not change
despite the action in the plot
Example: In Finding Nemo, Bruce the shark
does not change.
Dynamic Character
A character who undergoes change
as a result of the plot
Example: Marlin learns that just because
Nemo has a little fin, doesn’t mean he can’t
be like all the other fish.
Protagonist
The main character in the story
Example: All of the action revolves around
Simba in The Lion King.
Conflict
The problem between the
protagonist and the antagonist
Example: Since Scar wants to kill Simba,
there is a conflict between them.
Climax
The emotional highpoint (tensest
moment) in the story
Example: When we don’t know if Nemo has
died in the net with the salmon, it is the
climax.
Rising Action
The worsening of the conflict to the
climax
Example: When Scar meets with the hyena
to create a conspiracy to kill Simba and take
over Pride Rock, it is rising action.
Falling action
Events that occur to bring the
climax to a resolution
Example: When Nemo is found alive at the
bottom of the net, but we don’t know how
Marlin will react it is falling action.
Subplots
Miniature plots within the main
action
Example: Simba and Nala’s romance is a
subplot in The Lion King.
Parallel Episodes
Events that happen simultaneously
in the plot
Example: While Marlin is looking for Nemo,
Nemo is trying to escape from the aquarium.
Antagonist
The character or force working
against the protagonist
Example: Scar, the antagonist, is trying to
create a conspiracy against Simba, the
protagonist.
Resolution
The outcome of the conflict
Example: Nemo is safe, and Marlin allows
him to be a normal little fish, despite his little
fin.