Vocabulary Midterm Exam (2025)

MIDTERM EXAM | STUDY GUIDE DIRECTIONS: Complete the following study guide to prepare for your midterm exam. You may use any old assignments, the internet, etc. You will not be able to use this on the test. ​ PART I | VOCABULARY DEFINITIONS LITERARY DEVICES TERMS DEFINITIONS Foreshadowing a literary device where hints or clues suggest future events in a story Suspense the feeling of excitement or tension about what will happen next in a story Plot sequence of events that make up a story Imagery descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating vivid mental pictures Mood the emotional atmosphere a text creates for the reader Tone the author’s attitude toward the subject or audience Theme the central message or underlying idea in a story Diction the choice of words an author uses to convey meaning and style Symbol an object, character, or event that represents a deeper meaning beyond its literal sense. Direct Characterization when the author explicitly describes a character's traits Indirect Characterization when the author shows a character's traits through actions, dialogue, or other characters' reaction Verbal irony when a speaker says one thing but means the opposite. POINT OF VIEW POINT OF VIEW PRONOUNS USED DEFINITION 1st Person "I," "me," "my," "we," and "our." Used to indicate the narrator or person talking about themselves 2nd Person “you” It is used to address the reader or listener directly 3rd Person, omniscient "he," "she," "they," "them," and "it." Third-person omniscient is a narrative point of view where the narrator knows all the thoughts, feelings, and actions of every character 3rd Person, limited "he," "she," "they," and "them." Third-person limited is a narrative point of view where the narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character 3rd Person, objective "he," "she," "they," and "them." Third-person objective is a narrative point of view where the narrator only describes actions and speech, without access to any character's thoughts or feelings PLOT DIAGRAM (FREYTAG’S PYRAMID) PLOT EVENT DEFINITION 1. Exposition Introduction to characters, setting, and conflict. 2. Rising Action Series of events that build tension and lead to the climax. 3. Climax The turning point or most intense moment in the story. 4. Falling action Events that happen after the climax, leading towards resolution. 5. Resolution The conclusion, where conflicts are resolved. CONFLICT TYPES OF CONFLICT Person vs. Person DEFINITIONS EXAMPLE(S) FROM THE NOVELS A struggle between two characters. Lord of the Flies: Ralph and Jack clash over leadership deciding which to prioritize recuse or hunting Men of mice: Curley picks a fight with Lenny due to his large size to try to assert dominance Person vs. Self Internal struggle within a character. Lord of the Flies: Ralph struggles with his sense of responsibility fearing that he will lose his morality due to the boys' savagery Men of Mice: When George decides whether to kill Lenny Person vs. Nature A character’s struggle against natural forces Lord of the Flies: The boys struggle with the challenge of surviving on the island Men of mice: The drought of the great depression in which the men of mice time frame occurs. Person vs. Society A character's conflict with societal norms or laws. Lord of the flies: Ralph trying to maintain order among the boys Of mice and men: crooks struggling with the racism Person vs. Technology A struggle between a character and technological forces none FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE TERM DEFINITION Metaphor a figure of speech that compares two things directly, without using "like" or "as." Simile a figure of speech that compares two things using "like" or "as." Personification giving human qualities to non-human things. Hyperbole an exaggerated statement used for emphasis or effect PART II | THEME(S) Of Mice and Men ●​ The American dream is unachievable ●​ Loneliness is a constant struggle ●​ Friendship provides comfort Lord of the Flies ●​ Humans are naturally evil PART III | OF MICE AND MEN Central Conflict ●​ George and Lennie struggle to achieve their dream of owning a farm, faced with hardships and Lennie's uncontrollable actions Major Characters ●​ George Milton, Lennie Small, Candy, Curley, Curley’s Wife, Slim, Crooks, Carlson, The Boss, Aunt Clara. Important Events ●​ George and Lennie arrive at the ranch and meet the other workers. ●​ Lennie accidentally kills a mouse while petting it. ●​ Candy joins George and Lennie's plan to buy a farm. ●​ Lennie crushes Curley's hand during a fight. ●​ Lennie accidentally kills his puppy. ●​ Lennie unintentionally kills Curley’s wife in the barn. ●​ George makes the difficult decision to kill Lennie to save him from a worse fate. Author ●​ John Steinbeck Setting ●​ California during the Great Depression, on a ranch near Soledad. The bunkhouse, the barn, and the Salinas Riverbank. PART IV | LORD OF THE FLIES Central Conflict ●​ The struggle between civilization and savagery Major Characters ●​ Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Simon, Roger, Sam, Eric. Important Events ●​ A group of boys crash-lands on a deserted island. ●​ Ralph is elected leader, and the conch shell symbolizes order. ●​ Jack forms a hunting group and starts to challenge Ralph's authority. ●​ Simon discovers the "beast" is a dead parachutist. ●​ Simon is killed by the boys during a frenzied ritual. ●​ Piggy is killed, and the conch is destroyed, symbolizing the collapse of order. ●​ The boys set the island on fire while hunting Ralph. ●​ A naval officer arrives and rescues the boys, ending their descent into savagery. Author ●​ William Golding Setting ●​ deserted tropical island post world war II