Idiom A phrase or expression that means something different from the word or words’ dictionary meanings. Idioms cannot be translated word for word into another language because an idiom’s meaning is not the same as that of the individual words that make it up. Example: “Mind your p’s and q’s” in English means to be careful, thoughtful, and behave properly.
Imagery Figurative language that communicates sensory experience. Imagery can help the reader imagine how people, places, and things look, sound, taste, smell, and feel. It can also make the reader think about emotions and ideas that commonly go with certain sensations. Because imagery appeals to the senses, it is sometimes called sensory language.
See also Descriptive language; Figurative language; Symbol
Interview A discussion between two or more people in which questions are asked and answered so that the interviewer can get information. The record of such a discussion is also called an interview.
Jargon Specialized language used by people to describe things that are specific to their group or subject. Example: Mouse in a computer class means “part of a computer system,” not “a rodent.”
Journal A personal record, similar to a diary. It may include accounts of actual events, stories, poems, sketches, thoughts, essays, a collection of interesting information, or just about anything the writer wishes to include.
See also Diary
Legend A very old story, usually written about a hero or heroine or to explain something in nature. Legends are mostly fiction, but some details may be true.
See also Folk tale; Hero or Heroine; Myth
Literature Works written as prose or poetry.
See also Poetry; Prose
Metaphor A type of figurative language that compares two unlike things by saying that one thing is the other thing. Example: Dhara says her grandfather can be a real mule when he doesn’t get enough sleep.
See also Figurative language; Simile; Symbol
Meter The patterning of language into regularly repeating units of rhythm. Language patterned in this way is called verse. By varying the rhythm within a meter, the writer can heighten the reader’s attention to what is going on in the verse and reinforce meaning.
See also Poetry; Rhythm
Mood The overall feeling or atmosphere a writer creates in a piece of writing.
See also Tone
Motive The reason a character has for his or her thoughts, feelings, actions, or words. Example: Maria’s motive for bringing cookies to her new neighbors was to learn what they were like.
See also Characterization
Myth A fictional narrative, often a folk tale, that tells of supernatural events as a way of explaining natural events and their relation to human life. Myths commonly involve gods, goddesses, monsters, and superhuman heroes or heroines.
See also Folk tale; Hero or Heroine; Legend
Narrative writing Writing that gives an account of a set of real or imaginary events (the story), which the writer selects and arranges in a particular order (the plot). Narrative writing includes nonfiction works such as news articles, autobiographies, and journals, as well as fictional works such as short stories, novels, and plays.
See also Autobiography; Fiction; Journal; Narrator; Nonfiction; Plot; Story
Narrator Someone who gives an account of events. In fiction, the narrator is the teller of a story (as opposed to the real author, who invented the narrator as well as the story). Narrators differ in how much they participate in a story’s events. In a first-person narrative, the narrator is the “I” telling the story. In a third-person narrative, the narrator is not directly involved in the events and refers to characters by name or as he, she, it, or they. Narrators also differ in how much they know and how much they can be trusted by the reader.
See also Character; Point of view
News feature A nonfiction article that gives facts about real people and events.
See also Article; Expository nonfiction; Nonfiction
Nonfiction Written works about events or things that are not imaginary; writing other than fiction.
See also Autobiography; Biography; Diary; Essay; Fiction; Journal; Personal narrative; Photo-essay; Report; Textbook
Novel A long, fictional narrative, usually in prose. Its length enables it to have more characters, a more complicated plot, and a more fully developed setting than shorter works of fiction.
See also Character; Fiction; Plot; Prose; Setting; Short story
Onomatopoeia The use of words that imitate the sounds they refer to. Examples: buzz, slam, hiss