RHYME-repetition of sounds that are almost the same.

RHYME SCHEME-the pattern of end rhyme in a poem - when the words at the ends of two or more lines rhyme.

RHYTHM- arranging the stress in a line of poetry so that they happen at more or less equal intervals of time.

RISING ACTION- the part of the plot in which the tension of the story build, complications increase the conflict, and the action moves toward the climax.

SARCASM- crudely mocking or contemptous language; heavy verbal irony

SATIRE-the kind of gentle or harsh writing in which certain ideas, customs, or human weaknesses are ridiculed, often to make or prevent change. Diminution may be used to reduce the size of something to make it appear ridiculous or to examine it more closely, ie. treat politicians as squabbling little children; Inflation maye be used to exaggerate it to show the faults,ie. two children fighting can be made to look like an intergalactic war; juxtaposition maybe used by placing things of unequal importance side by side to bring both to the lowest level of importance,ie a student says his most important subjects are math and sleeping.

SCANSION- the division of poetic lines into metrical feet by marking the strong and soft accented syllables. These are counted to determine the number of feet per line: iambic foot(-/), anapestic foot(--/),dactylic foot(/--).

SCENE-a unit of a play,or a setting.

SCIENCE FICTION-- a special kind of fantasy writing in which technology, machines, robots, computers, or other scientific inventions play a major role in taking the reader to extraordinary worlds. In science fiction characters can move through time and space in ways that real people cannot. See fantasy.

SCREENPLAY- the script prepared for a movie production, usually including technical directions.

SESTET- a poem or stanza of six lines.

SETTING-the time and the place of the action of a story. It may also suggest the mood of the novel, give clues to character, help delineate theme, ,provide dramatic effect. Consider the general setting of broad historical periods and places, and immediate setting that locates the story in a particular time and place. Consider also the geographic features of the place, the customs, occupations and daily lives of the characters, the religious, moral, social and emotional context and the history of the place in real time.

SHORT STORY- a work of fiction that can usually be read at one sitting.

SIMILE-a direct comparison between unlike things using the word like, as, or resembles to connect them. Like other figures of speech, a simile is used to offer vivid new ways of looking at things. See figurative language ie. A dainty butterfly is like topaz glinting among the leaves; life is like a game of cards.

SITUATIONAL IRONY- a type of irony in which what happens is different from what the reader expects or what the characters expect. See irony.

SKIT-a comic sketch, often part of a larger performance.

SLAPSTICK- a kind of humor that depends on fast, foolish action to make people laugh.

SOCIAL CRITICISM-writing to criticize to gain improvement. Does not use humour.

SOLILOQUY- a discourse or talk by a person who is alone, or which is not addressed to any one even when others are present.

SONNET- the most intricate of regular stanza forms. It has fourteen lines almost always in iambic pentameters in English poetry. PETRARCEAN SONNET is divided into two parts octave (first 8 lines) and the sestet (last 6 lines). Usually there is a sharp break between the octave and the sestet. SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET still falls very frequently into octave and sestet, but the division is less marked since the rhyme scheme does not underline it. Instead we find three quatrains rounded off by a final independent couplet abab,cdcd,efef,gg, or abba,cddc,effe,gg. The SPENCERIAN SONNET links quatrain with quatrain and octave with sestet, abab,bcbc,cdcd,ee.

SOUND EFFECTS-the sounds called for in a script.

SPEAKER-- the voice/persona that talks in a poem.

STAGE DIRECTIONS-any information that is intended for the director, actors etc.

STANZA- a stanza is a division in the formal pattern of a poem. Usually, the stanzas of a given poem have a uniform number of lines,length of lines and pattern of rhymes.

STEREOTYPE-a character who matches a fixed idea held by a number of people. A stereotype conforms to a certain pattern and lacks individuality ie. People who wear glasses are intelligent.

STOCK CHARACTER OR SITUATION-a frequently recurring person, pattern or incident in drama or fiction, ie. when you see a nurse you know the story has a medical component;when you see lots of trees, you know the story has moved to the forest.

STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS-used to chronicle the thoughs and feelings of the main character in a story as the character passes through a series of experiences. The character's mind becomes the stage, looking at trivial thoughts and mental reactions. Details, moods,and analyses of the character, while jerky, are focused on.

STRESS-saying some syllables with greater emphasis than others.

STRUCTURE-refers to the totality of the author’s technique in giving the novel meaning and unity. The most obvious aspect of structure is the plot alone, but it also includes organization within episodes in the novel. Structure includes the author’s use of less dramatic incidents to provide a rhythm between easing tension and mounting tension.

STYLE-the way in which a piece of literature is written. How an author writes and uses language,- the choice of words, his or her way of arranging them to produce rhythm to convey a meaning or emotion-- are part of his or her style. Description, narration, dialogue, diction, and tone are all elements that go into a writer’s style.

SUBPLOT-a subordinate or minor complication running through a piece of fiction.

SURPRISE ENDING- an unexpected twist that concludes a story.

SUSPENSE- the interest, uncertainly, or excitement that a reader feels while waiting for a conflict to be resolved. See foreshadowing.