Connotation has an enormous influence on how we regard words and symbols – but what is a positive connotation? We’re going to break down what it means for words and symbols to have a positive connotation by looking at examples in literature and film – but first, let’s define positive connotation.Continue reading What is a… Continue reading What is a Positive Connotation — Definition and Examples
Syntax EssentialsOpen menu What is Syntax What is Passive Voice What is Active Voice Active vs. Passive Voice Sentence StructureOpen menu What is Text Structure What is Sentence Structure Simple Sentence Structure Compound Sentence Structure Compound-Complex Sentence Structure Complex Sentence Structure Syntax is something we use everyday, whether we are writers or not. In everyday… Continue reading What is Syntax — Definition, Examples & Why It Matters
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Backstory Catharsis Conflict Dialogue Mood Motif Plot Point of View Protagonist Setting Subplot Subtext Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Flashback Foreshadowing Exposition Hamartia Iambic Pentameter Irony Juxtaposition Peripeteia Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Satire Symbolism Figures of SpeechOpen menu Allegory Allusion Alliteration Anaphora Assonance Consonance Connotation Euphemism Imagery Hyperbole… Continue reading What is an Antagonist in a Story — Definition & Examples
What is an anecdote? In simplest terms, an anecdote is a short story that illuminates a nuanced facet of a greater subject matter. We’re going to break down anecdotes by looking at their definition — and anecdote examples in film and literature. By the end, you’ll know how to recognize and implement anecdotes in your… Continue reading What is an Anecdote — Definition, Examples, and Functions
What’s the internal temperature of a Tauntaun? Lukewarm. A pun is so much more than your average joke. It demonstrates an ability to expertly maneuver your way around language for humorous or rhetorical effect. Whether you want to add a dad joke or a hidden Easter egg to your script, you should learn the answer… Continue reading What is a Pun — Definition, Examples, and Tips on Writing Them
Have you ever heard an expression but had no idea what it meant? If you have, it’s probably because it was an idiom. Writers are always looking for the most natural way to write dialogue and literary devices like the idiom are just one technique available. But what is an idiom? We’re going to answer… Continue reading What is an Idiom — Definition, Examples & Tips on Writing Them
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Backstory Catharsis Conflict Dialogue Mood Motif Plot Point of View Protagonist Setting Subplot Subtext Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Flashback Foreshadowing Exposition Hamartia Iambic Pentameter Irony Juxtaposition Peripeteia Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Satire Symbolism Figures of SpeechOpen menu Allegory Allusion Alliteration Anaphora Assonance Consonance Connotation Euphemism Imagery Hyperbole… Continue reading What is Theme in Literature and Film? Definition and Examples
Syntax EssentialsOpen menu What is Syntax What is Passive Voice What is Active Voice Active vs. Passive Voice Sentence StructureOpen menu What is Text Structure What is Sentence Structure Simple Sentence Structure Compound Sentence Structure Compound-Complex Sentence Structure Complex Sentence Structure More often than not, most instructors will tell you that active voice is the… Continue reading What is Passive Voice in Writing — Definition, Examples & Tips
Syntax EssentialsOpen menu What is Syntax What is Passive Voice What is Active Voice Active vs. Passive Voice Sentence StructureOpen menu What is Text Structure What is Sentence Structure Simple Sentence Structure Compound Sentence Structure Compound-Complex Sentence Structure Complex Sentence Structure Though there is a strategy and time for passive voice, active voice is a… Continue reading What is Active Voice in Writing — Definition, Examples & Tips
What is a palindrome? Actually, there are a few different types and we will dig into all of them. In this post, we’ll define palindrome, cover the rules that govern the different styles, and take a look at examples of each type. We will even take a look at a few examples of palindromes in… Continue reading What is a Palindrome — Definition, Examples & How They Work
Basic CharactersOpen menu Types of Characters in a Story Protagonist Deuteragonist Antagonist Hero Anti Hero Tragic Hero Tritagonist Superhero Anti-Villain Villain Foil Character Character TropesOpen menu Common Character Types Character Archetypes Types of Villains Femme Fatale Mad Scientist Mary Sue Damsel in Distress CharacterizationOpen menu What is Characterization Characterization Examples in Movies Characterization of Anton… Continue reading What is a Protagonist — Definition & Examples for Screenwriters
All writers aim to engage their audience. And to engage their audience, their writing must be effective. So what are the tricks of the trade to effective writing? There are various elements to great writing, but two fundamental elements are clear communication of ideas and conciseness. One of the best tools a writer has to… Continue reading What is an Analogy — Definition, Examples in Literature & Film
What is something each and every story ever told has in common? If you guessed “a setting,” you’d be correct! When your narrative involves characters and motivation, a setting is almost always a given. Sometimes a setting is massive and expansive, while other times it’s small and intimate. So what is a setting, what does… Continue reading Setting Examples — How to Use Time and Place in Film & Lit.
When looking at some of cinema and literature’s most iconic characters, it’s easy to find ones that are non-human. Animals, androids, and other non-human characters, however, have somehow won our hearts over in countless tales. This is largely due to the fact that these non-human characters are given human traits, otherwise known as anthropomorphism. What is… Continue reading What is Anthropomorphism — Definition, Examples & Uses
Great writers find ways to do away with superfluous language. Their prose is both precise and efficient in conveying meaning in a concise, yet vivid way. A great literary tool to achieve this is the epithet. While you may not yet be familiar with the epithet definition, you have probably heard or used one (or… Continue reading What is an Epithet — Definition, Types, and Examples for Writers
Poetry BasicsOpen menu What is a Poem What is a Stanza in a Poem What is Dissonance What is a Sonnet What is a Haiku What is Prose What is an Ode What is Repetition in Poetry What is a Stanza in a Poem How to Write a Poem Types of PoemsOpen menu Types of… Continue reading What is Prose — Definition and Examples in Literature
You might not know what a colloquialism is, but I can guarantee you have used one at one point. Colloquialisms have a place in both everyday language and writing in literature and film. What is colloquialism used for? In this article, we’ll explore the colloquialism definition and look at why and how it is used… Continue reading What is Colloquialism — Definition and Examples for Writers
What is Point of View First Person Point of View Second Person Point of View Third Person Point of ViewOpen menu Third Person Point of View Third Person Omniscient Point of View Third Person Limited Point of View What is third person omniscient point of view? Third person omniscient point of view is the perfect… Continue reading What is Third Person Omniscient Point of View — Writer’s Guide
EssentialsOpen menu What is a Scene What is The Three Act Structure What is Story Structure What is a Story Beat What Is a Plot Plot vs Story What is a Non-Linear Plot What is a Plot Device What is Freytag’s Pyramid Screenplay StructureOpen menu Screenplay Structure Examples What is a Story Mountain Joseph Campbell’s… Continue reading What is Denouement — Definition and Examples of Denouement in Movies
Narrative ElementsOpen menu Antagonist Backstory Catharsis Conflict Dialogue Mood Motif Plot Point of View Protagonist Setting Subplot Subtext Theme Narrative DevicesOpen menu Deus ex Machina Flashback Foreshadowing Exposition Hamartia Iambic Pentameter Irony Juxtaposition Peripeteia Personification Plot Twist Red Herring Satire Symbolism Figures of SpeechOpen menu Allegory Allusion Alliteration Anaphora Assonance Consonance Connotation Euphemism Imagery Hyperbole… Continue reading What is Consonance — Definition, Examples and Effects
