English 9
Mrs. Heitman
Midterm Exam Review Packet 2014
Name
Literary Elements
Plot / A sequence of events in a literary workSetting / Where/when and the time a story takes place
Narrator / The person or character telling the story.
Third person Omniscient narration/First person
Character(ization) / The act of creating or developing a character
Protagonist / The main character or hero in a literary work.
Antagonist / The character or force that opposes the protagonist. -Villain
Conflict
Internal / A character is dealing with his/her own feelings. Struggle that takes place in the character’s mind.
Conflict:
External / A struggle between a character and an outside force.
Ex: man vs. man
Man vs. environment
Foreshadowing / Hints or clues used to suggest what is to come in a literary work. Quotes/events
Can be quotes/events.
Climax / The highest point or the turning point of the story.
Theme / Main idea or central message in a literary work.
Ex. Loss of innocence is inevitable.
Lack of communication leads to tragedy.
Irony / When the opposite of what is expected happens.
Metaphor / Comparison between 2 things not using the words like or as
Ex. The cup of hot tea was the best medicine for my cold.
Simile / Comparison between 2 things using the words like or as
Ex. The ice was as smooth as glass before the skaters entered the rink.
Alliteration / Repetition of beginning consonant sounds.
Ex: Big blue waves bounced against the bow of the boat
Imagery / Writing with heavy description that appeals to the
senses. The reader can almost see, smell, hear, touch or feel what is being written about.
hyperbole / Extreme exaggeration. Ex. “My shoes are killing me.”
Personification / Giving human qualities to inanimate objects. Ex. The trees danced in the wind.
Symbolism / A concrete item is used to represent an abstract idea.
Point of view / Perspective from which a literary work is told.
Round character / A character with many traits.
Flat character / A character with very few traits.
Static character / A character that stays the same (displays no change) from beginning to end of a story.
Stock character / A stereotypical flat character. Ex. Rick Sanford (From ANGUS) is a typical, jock, football player.
Dynamic character / A character that undergoes a serious change/revelation from beginning to end of a literary work
Vocabulary (that will be in your test!!)
Study the following words:
Futile: adj. useless; hopeless; incapable of producing any useful result; pointless Ex. a futile attempt to keep fans from mounting the stage.
Scruples: noun- misgivings about something one feels as wrong
Ex. She has scruples about stealing, because she has had sentimental things stolen from her.
Avarice:noun- greed for riches or wealth; (avaricious-adj.- greedy) Ex. The doctor in The Pearlhas avarice and it makes him cold-hearted.
Coagulate: verb-(of a fluid, esp. blood) change to a solid or semisolid state: blood had coagulated around the edges of the wound.
• [ trans. ] cause (a fluid) to change to a solid or semisolid state : epinephrine coagulates the blood.
Perplexed: verb- (often be perplexed)
(of something complicated or unaccountable) cause (someone) to feel completely baffled: Ex. she was perplexed by her husband's moodiness
lethargic: adj. abnormally drowsy; affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic : Ex. I felt tired and a little lethargic.
Indolently: adv. lazily or idly; wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy Ex. He was lying indolently in the hammock.
Poultice:noun – a soft, moist mass of material, typically of plant material or flour, applied to the body to relieve soreness and inflammation and kept in place with a clothEx. Juana places a poultice on Coyotito’s wound on his shoulder.
Profound: adj.1 (of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense; deepvery severe; deep-seated
Ex. profound social changes | profound feelings of disquiet.
Ceaseless: adj. continual, non-stoppingEx: the ceaseless barking of dogs
Zealous: adj.having or showinggreat energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective Ex. the council was extremely zealous in the application of the regulations.
Naïve: adj. (of a person or action) showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment : Ex. the rather naive young man had been totally misled.
Comparable: adj. (similar; of a person or thing) able to be likened to another; Ex. The two televisions were comparable in quality and price
Loathsome:adj.causing hatred or disgust; repulsive: Ex. this loathsome little swine.
meticulous:adjective -showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise
Ex. He had always been so meticulous about his appearance.
morose:adjective- sullen (gloomy) and ill-tempered.
derogatory:adj. showing a critical or disrespectful attitude
insulting, disparaging or detracting
Ex.:she tells me I'm fat and is always making derogatory remarks.
ominous:adj. giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening
Ex. there were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead.
furtive:adj. attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive: they spent a furtive day together | he stole a furtive glance at her.
accost:verb approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively :Ex. reporters accosted him in the street.
• approach (someone) with hostility or harmful intent :Ex. he was accosted by a thief, demanding his money or his life.
• approach and address (someone) with sexual intent : Ex. a man tried to accost the girl on her way to school.
afflict:verb (of a problem or illness) cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble :Ex. serious ills afflict the industry | his younger child was afflicted with a skin disease
reluctant: adj. -unwilling and hesitant; disinclined : Ex. she seemed reluctant to discuss the matter.
Placid: adj. • (esp. of a place or stretch of water) calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity: Ex. the placid waters of a small lake.
(of a person or animal) not easily upset or excited : Ex. this horse has a placid nature.
contemplate:verb-• think about: Ex. the results of a trade war are too horrifying to contemplate. look thoughtfully for a long time at: Ex. he sat on the carpet contemplating his image in the mirrors.
sullen:adj.-bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy: Ex. a sullen pout | figurative a sullen sunless sky
embrace:verb-hold (someone) closely in one's arms, esp. as a sign of affection: Aunt Sophie embraced her warmly | [ intrans. ] the two embraced, holding each other tightly.
• accept or support (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and enthusiastically : much of the population quickly embraced the GO GREEN initiative.
abrupt:adj. 1 sudden and unexpected: I was surprised by the abrupt change of subject | our round of golf came to an abrupt end on the 13th hole.
2 brief to the point of rudeness; curt
dejectedadj. sad and depressed; dispirited: Ex. he stood in the street looking dejected
recount:verb-tell someone about something; give an account of an event or experience : Ex. I recounted the tale to Steve | [with clause ] he recounts how they often talked of politics.
diverge:verb-1 (of a road, route, or line) separate from another route, esp. a main one, and go in a different direction.
• develop in a different direction: Ex. howler and spider monkeys diverged from a common ancestor.
subside:verb-1 become less intense, violent, or severe:Ex. I'll wait a few minutes until the storm subsides.
• lapse into silence or inactivity: Ex. Fred opened his mouth to protest again, then subsided.
amicable:adj.(of relations between people) having a spirit of friendliness; without serious disagreement or rancor: Ex. there will be an amicable settlement of the dispute.
retribution:noun- reward for a good deed orpunishment that is considered to be morally right and fully deserved: settlers drove the Navajo out of Arizona in retribution for their raids.
imperative:adj. 1 of vital importance; crucial : Ex. immediate action was imperative | [with clause ] it is imperative that standards be maintained.
2 giving an authoritative command; peremptory: Ex. the bell pealed again, a final imperative call.
The Pearl
by John Steinbeck
Genre / Novella, fictionSetting / Gulf of Mexico, Town of La Paz
Plot (3-5 Sentences) / Kino and Juana live a simple, yet content life. A scorpion stings their son, Coyotito. They are rejected by the doctor when they seek medical attention. They hope to find a pearl, so that the doctor can treat their son. Kino finds the pearl of the world and assumes that all of his hopes and dreams will come true. Instead, greed takes over and they lose all that is important to them.
Conflicts
Internal
And External / Man vs. Nature- Coyotito vs. the scorpion
Man vs. Man-Kino vs. the doctor
Kino vs. greed
Protagonist and Description of Protagonist / Kino-poor, yet has everything he “needs.” Once he finds the pearl- he is changed. He assumes the pearl will change his life for the better, but it destroys his life.
Antagonist / The doctor, greed, the trackers.
Secondary Characters and Descriptions / Juana- strong, brave, simple, faithful. She is the first to see the pearl as evil.
Climax / Kino attacks the trackers and while killing them, one fires his rifle and shoots Coyotito.
Resolution / Kino and Juana walk back to their town with their dead son and throw the pearl back into the sea together.
Themes / Greed has utter/dire consequences.
Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck
Genre / Fiction, novellaSetting / A ranch in Salinas, California
Plot (3-5 Sentences) / George and Lennie are migrant workers and they start working at a ranch after they are run out of town (from a different job.) Lennie has a fetish for touching soft things. Lennie is a huge man unaware of his own strength. George historically protects Lennie by running away from the trouble he causes. Lennie kills mice, a puppy, and later Curley’s wife. George learns that he can no longer run from Lennie’s problems, and he knows that he cannot allow him to suffer at the hands of Curley’s revenge. George must shoot Lennie in order to protect him.
Conflicts
Internal
And External / Man vs. himself
Lennie vs. his lack of understanding of his own strength.
Man vs. Man- Candy vs. Carlson-- (dog shooting/suffering)
Man vs. Man – Lennie vs. Curley
Man vs. himself- George struggles with the reality that he must kill Lennie in order to protect him.
Protagonist and Description of Protagonist / George- takes care of Lennie (his master). George has been successful at running away from Lennie’s problems. He loves having his companionship, and fear loneliness.
Antagonist / Lennie’s lack of understanding of the magnitude of his own strength. Curley- picks fights with big guys.
Secondary Characters and Descriptions / Candy- old swamper, wants to join George and Lennie on their future land.
Carlson- wants Candy’s dog dead because he is old, suffering and STINKS.
Curley- pugnacious, scrappy, has “Little-Man Syndrome.”
Slim-the jerkline skinner, the voice of authority on the ranch. The ONLY one who understands George and Lennie.
Climax / Lennie kills Curley’s wife and goes to seek refuge in the brush. Curley and the guys hunt him.
Resolution / George kills Lennie and he is now lonely, yet “free.”
Themes / The effects of loneliness vs. the benefits of companionship.