1. simile - comparing 2 things using like or as
ex. Jeff is as sly as a fox.
2. metaphor - comparing 2 things not using like or as
ex. Sue is a rock.
3. onomatopoeia - sound words
ex. pop, buzz, bang, zoom, sizzle
4. hyphenated word - two words connected with a dash
ex. red-hot, blue-green
5. interjection- words that show strong feelings
ex. Oh my!, Wow!, Yes!
6. colon: used when a series or list of items is to follow
ex. Things for lunch: pears, pickles, peaches, and bananas
7. setting - the times and places where a story happens
ex. I arrived at Vance Middle School at 7:00.
8. list or series - several items in a row separated by a comma
ex. I ate eggs, bacon, cereal, and juice for breakfast.
9. semi-colon - (;) used to join two simple sentences
ex. Lola ran to the track; she then returned home.
10. infinitive - to with a verb following
ex. to play, to shop, to run
11. infinitive phrase - to with a verb and the other words around it
ex. to play volleyball
12. foreign words or phrases - words or phrases in another language
ex. hasta la vista - See you later. (Spanish)
ex. a la mode - with ice cream (French)
ex. carpe diem - seize the day (Latin)
ex. c'est la vie - such is life ( French)
ex. e pluribus unum - of many, more than one (Latin)
ex. creme de la creme - best of the best (French)
ex. bon appetit - eat well, good appetite (French_
13. personification - human characteristics are given to an object
ex. The sun smiled warmly on my face.
14. alliteration - repeating initial consonant letters or groups of letters/
sounds
ex. Shelly sells seashells by the seashore.
15. theme- main idea/point the author wants to make
ex. In Nothing But the Truth, one of the themes is honest communication
and how important it is.
16. plot - sequence of events; how the story unfolds
ex. beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, ending
17. motif - something that is repeating or reoccuring and has hidden meaning
ex. castle in Beauty and the Beast
18. appositive - now next to another noun to identify it or add more
information
ex. Bubby, the gold fish, swims in a fish bowl.
Commas are used to set off an appositive if it is just extra information.
No commas if the information is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
19. transitions - helps the flow of the paper and connects ideas
ex. however, therefore, first, next, lastly, finally, since, as a result
of, additionally, certainly, similarly, specifically, on the other
hand, never the less, in conclusion, on the contrary
20. protagonist - the main character in a story; can be human or animal
21. antagonist - the person or force who is against the protagonist
22. pronoun antecedent - the noun or nouns the pronoun refers to; comes
before the pronoun.
23. hyperbole - extreme exaggeration; I am so hungry I could eat a bear!
24. alllusion - refers back to a work of art, a piece of literature, etc.
ex: He had the Midas touch. She looked like the Mona Lisa.
25. assonance - repitition of vowel sounds
ex: the silken sa uncertain rustling of the purple curtain
26. flashback - interrupting a narrative to give previous information
27. irony - saving one thing, but something else happening
ex: We don't have many candidates (We actually have a lot!)
28. smybolism - an object that represents an idea
ex: bald eagle, Statue of Liberty, flag for freedom
