Major Literary Terms for the CSET Multiple Subjects Exam

May
31

Filed Under CSET Multiple Subject |

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Below is a list of the major literary terms you need to know for the CSET Multiple Subjects exam. If you are unable to purchase ACE the CSET, then you need to print the list below write the word in caps on the front of a card, then write the definition on the back. Making the literary terms list below into flash cards is an excellent way to memorize all this information.

ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTION - A construction that consists of a noun and a modifier and modifies the rest of the sentence, rather than a single element of the sentence.

ALLEGORY - Story in which people, things, and events have another meaning. Ex. Orwell’s Animal Farm.

ALLUSION - A reference in a work of literature to something outside the work, especially to a well known historical or literary event, person, or work.

AMBIGUITY - Multiple meanings a literary work may communicate, especially two meanings that are incompatible

APHORISM - A brief statement which expresses an observation on life, usually intended as a wise observation.

APOSTROPHE - Direct address, usually to someone or something that is not present. Keats “Bright star! Would I were steadfast” is an apostrophe to a star

ATTITUDE - A speaker’s, author’s, or character’s disposition toward or opinion of a subject.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY - An author’s account of his or her own life

BIOGRAPHY - an accurate history of a single person

CLIMAX - Point of highest interest in a novel, short story or play. Place where the action reaches a turning, where the rising action, the complication of the plot, ends and the next action, the resolution of the plot, begins.

COMPOUND SENTENCE - a compound sentence is composed of at least two independent clauses, but no dependent clauses. The clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction (with or without a comma), a correlative conjunction (with or without a comma), or a semicolon with no conjunction.

COMPLEX SENTENCE - a sentence with an independent clause and at least one dependent clause (subordinating clause) is referred to as a complex sentence. The dependent clause is introduced by either a subordinate conjunction such as although, while or because or a relative pronoun such as who or which.

CONNOTATION - the implications of a word or phrase, as opposed to its exact meaning (denotation)

CONSONANCE - the repetition of consonant sounds with differing vowel sounds in words near

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