Lit Terms

Protagonist - The leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text

Example: Beowulf

Rhythm - The measured flow of words and phrases in verse or prose as determined by the relation of long and short or stressed and unstressed syllables

Example: iambic pentameter (5 pairs of unstressed/stressed syllables)

5 do's to Persuasive essays

1) (self expert) Why you have a right to discuss the topic...(ethos)

*2) Expert testimony (use a quote from an expert in the area you're talking about, how believable you can be, can be made up)...(logos)

*3) Statistics, Facts, Logic (research)...(logos)

4) Audience Self-interest (make the audience interested in it)...(pathos)

5) New Topic of Twist on Old (make it new and interesting)...(logos, ethos)


you need some pathos if you want anyone to follow
you need a lot of logos for it to make sense
you need a little ethos, but they won't follow you just because you're nice


1) hook
2) thesis statement
3) order of development
4) body
5) conclusion

Lit Elements

Comedy - A play characterized by its humorous or satirical tone and its depiction of amusing people or incidents, in which the characters ultimately triumph over adversity
Example: The Comedy of Errors - William Shakespeare (way too long to put all of it on here, but here's a website... http://www.readbookonline.net/title/327/)

Metaphor - a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable
Example: "the sun is Juliet", "he had trays for hands and motors for feet"

Lit Elements

Antagonist - The person or force opposing the protagonist
Example: Cet in "The Death of Conchobhar" when he slings the brainball and hits Conchobhar in the head.

Sarcasm - The use of irony to mock or convey contempt
Example: Jonathan Swift's proposed solution to Ireland's poverty.
Protagonist - The leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text