LITERARY TERMS GRAB BAG Reach into our bag of writing skills and see if you’ve got the right words for the job when it comes to writing a book report or paper that sings. As students progress in English and language arts, teachers expect them to respond to literature using a certain vocabulary—call it the tools of the trade. Students fare best when they wield these tools to go beyond simple description of the plot to evaluate a work or comment on the author’s use of language. For each definition below, choose the matching literary term. A character whose function in the story is to somehow bring to light an aspect or personality trait of a more important character. protagonist antagonist foil flat vs. round An ongoing uninterrupted monologue meant to realistically reflect the thought processes of the brain. narrator omniscience stream of consciousness point of view An implied or indirect reference in art or literature to another source, usually one that is widely known and highly regarded. allusion illusion citation works cited A tale in which each element or aspect may be read on both a literal and symbolic level. theme symbol connotation allegory The resolution of the action of a story; occurs after the turning point. exposition rising action climax denouement Description that evokes to one of the senses. simile metaphor imagery setting A steady rhythm for verse. meter internal rhyme soliloquy enjambment An author’s attitude toward his or her subject. diction mood style tone The repetition of initial consonant sounds in a string of words or phrase. assonance lyric onomatopoeia alliteration A group of lines in a poem; the equivalent of a paragraph in prose. couplet quatrain stanza free verse KEY 1. c 2. c 3. a 4. d 5. d 6. c 7. a 8. d 9. d 10. c Scoring: 8-10 5-7 3-5 1-2 Literary luminary Wordsmith Sharpen your tools Literary alert!