English Cheat Sheet

Key Definitions

• Literature: Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit. ✅

• Theme: Central idea or message in a literary work. ✅

• Characterization: The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. ✅

• Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses. ✅

Important Concepts

Literary Devices

• Metaphor: A figure of speech comparing two unlike things directly. ✅

• Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as". ✅

• Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely placed words. ✅

Poetry

• Stanza: A grouped set of lines in a poem, often set apart by a space. ✅

• Rhyme Scheme: The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line. ✅

Key Formulas

• Author's Message: What the author intends to convey. ⚠️

• Character Actions: How characters influence the plot. ⚠️

• Plot Development: The sequence of events in the story. ⚠️

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Common Mistake: Confusing theme with subject; theme is the underlying message, while subject is the topic.

Memory Tricks

Tip: "TAC" — Theme, Action, Context — Remember to analyze these in every text.

Key Diagrams

Stanza Structure:
| Line 1 |
| Line 2 |
| Line 3 |
| Line 4 |