“The Most Dangerous Game” Literary Terms

mood the feeling or atmosphere that an author creates in a literary work can suggest a specific emotion (excited, fearful) can suggest the quality of a setting (somber, calm)

imagery the “word pictures” that writers use to help evoke an emotional response in readers typically displayed through the use of sensory details or descriptions that appeal to one of the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell

simile a comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as”

foreshadowing an author’s use of clues that hint at events that will occur later in the plot often helps to build suspense as well as to prepare readers for what is to come

suspense the growing interest and excitement readers experience while awaiting a climax or resolution in a work of literature

hyperbole a figure of speech in which great exaggeration is used for emphasis or humorous effect

metaphor a comparison of two unlike things by saying one thing is another (without using “like” or “as”)

irony a contrast between appearance and reality situational irony: when the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected verbal irony: when a person says one thing but means another

direct characterization the direct statements the author or narrator makes about a character’s traits

indirect characterization the revealing of a character’s personality through the character’s own words, thoughts, and actions and through the words, thoughts, and actions of other characters

infer to conclude by reasoning, to guess based on clues given

Plot the literary element that describes the structure of a story shows the arrangement of events and actions within a story

Common Plot Structures Chronological Flashback In Medias Res (in the middle of things)

Plot Components Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment—either mentally or in action Rising Action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax Falling Action: all of the action which follows the climax Exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts Resolution: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Conflict the dramatic struggle between two forces in a story (Without conflict, there is no plot.)

Simile A comparison between two unlike things using like or as

Metaphor A comparison between two unlike things by saying one thing is another

Examples Simile Metaphor Love is like Shakespeare; it goes on forever and doesn’t make any sense. Love is Shakespeare; it goes on forever and doesn’t make any sense.

The methods an author uses to reveal a character’s personality Characterization The methods an author uses to reveal a character’s personality Direct Characterization – author directly states the character’s traits Indirect Characterization – author implies traits through the character’s thoughts, actions, and words and through the thoughts, actions, and words of other characters

Characterization Static characters – remain the same throughout the story Dynamic characters – change as a result of the action in the story

Symbol an object, a person, a place, or an experience that represents something else, usually something abstract Ex: a fancy evening dress may be a symbol of class and distinction

Theme Turn the theme for “Meadow Mouse” into me before the end of the period. ASSIGNMENT: Write a 5-8 sentence summary of “The Necklace” for homework – due tomorrow at start of class.

Situational Irony When the actual outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected

CTC Assignment Write a CTC paragraph telling what destiny the princess chose for the young man. Did she send him to the door of the lady or that of the tiger? Consider the personality traits of the princess and the evidence provided throughout the text. Follow the same format as you used for the MDG CTC. Claim (topic sentence) Textual evidence Commentary Concluding Statement

Italics vs. Quotation Marks Books and movies are italicized. Short stories, poems, and songs are placed in quotes.