Vocabulary

• Alliteration--A phrase with sequential syllables having the same sound. For example, "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

• Allusion--A passing or casual reference. In many theater scripts there are allusions to occurrences in other shows or plays.

• Colloquialism--A speech pattern from common, informal talk. "You done good." is a colloquialism used in some parts of the United States.

• Dissident--A person who disagrees, particularly in opinions or attitudes. The dissident argued with his friend on even the smallest matters.

• Irony--As a figure of speech, a statement in which the ordinary meaning of the words is the opposite of the truth. For example, a tall man might be called "shorty" by his friends.

• Metaphor--A statement in which one thing is compared to another to suggest they are similar. For example, "He's a wolf in sheep's clothing."

• Onomatopoeia--The use of words that imitate sounds. Onomatopoeia is different from alliteration in that the sounds for onomatopoeia create an image of the meaning of the words, as with hiss, murmur, clash or crunch.

• Personification--Representing an animal, a thing or an idea as a person. For example, "Justice hung her tired head."

• Plagiarism--Copying another person's work without their permission. The boy copied his friend's term paper and was guilty of plagiarism.

• Satire--Caustic wit used to attack or expose human folly. His sarcastic description of the king was a satire on the man's false pride.

• Setting--In drama, the place and/or time of a play or story. The setting of the play was in Missouri in the 1800s.

• Simile--A figure of speech in which dissimilar things are compared using the words "like" or "as." For example, "The gravestone was like a sentinel, indistinct in the dark night."

• Symbolism--Using objects, ideas or actions to represent something else in a meaningful way. The key to the locked door was a symbol of Angie's freedom.

• Tone--The general color, quality or atmosphere of a piece of literature. The graveyard scene had a frightening tone.