ad hominem argument allegory alliteration allusion

Transcription

1 Term absolute abstract ad hominem argument adage allegory alliteration allusion ambiguity anachorism anachronism analogue analogy analysis anaphora anastrophe anecdote annotation antagonist antithesis aphorism apostrophe Defintion a word free from limitations or qualifications summary of any piece of written work argument attacking an individual rather than his or her position proverb or wise saying literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions consonants, esp. at the beginning of words or stressed syllables, that are repeated reference to another work of literature or art or to a person or event used in critical evaluation - 7 types action, scene, or character placed where it does not belong anachorism used to prevent something from being dated; something used out of time word or thing parallel or similar to another comparison of two different things that are similar in some way examination of a work or literature - close study of the various elements, meanings, relationships rhetorical device involving the repetition of words in succession inversion of word order for effect brief narrative focusing on a specific event textual comment in a book the character that opposes the hero or protagonist contrasting ideas, heightened by the use of opposite/different meanings; the two opposing ideas are balanced a short statement of truth, sometimes witty figure of speech in which one directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or an abstraction

2 archetype assonance asyndeton bathos cacophony cadence chiasmus circumlocution cliché climax close reading colloquialism colloquy conceit conflict connotation consonance contrast convention detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth; has universal appeal and evokes a response repeated vowel sounds, usually close together contruction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions insincere or over sentimental quality of writing/speech intended to evoke pity use of harsh sounds to achieve an effect rhythm of language - rising and falling of stressed and unstressed syllables reversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases/clauses roundabout speech or writing; use of many words when a few would suffice over- used expression the point of highest interest in a literary work "detailed, balanced, and rigorous critical examination of a text to discover its meanings" informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing dialogue or discussion elaborate, extended metaphor, simile, or hyberbole (literary device) tension in a situation between characters, opposition of characters, or the problem of the plot suggestion or implication evoked by a word or phrase - a feeling about a word close repetition of consonants before and after different vowels juxtaposition of opposite ideas, images, or both to clarify a scene or theme in literature, a device, principle, procedure, or form which is generally accepted in meaning; agreement between writer and reader as to its meaning and use

3 criticism critique dead metaphor deductive reasoning denotation denouement dialect diction didactic discourse dissertation dissonance drama dramatic irony dystopia/utopia elegy ellipsis empathy epic epigram comparison, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of literature detailed review and assessment of a literary work metaphor that is used so often it has lost its strength (cliché) reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case literal meaning of a word event(s) following the major climax of a plot; an unraveling variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation the word choices made by a writer having the primary purpose of teaching or instructing learned discussion on a philospohical, political, literary, or religious topic (synonyms: treatise, dissertation) substantial learned work arrangement of cacophonous sounds any work meant to be performed by actors when the audience knows something the characters do not (generally in a stage performance) utopia - place where all is well dystopia - place where nothing is well or is a perverse utopia formal poem presenting a meditation on death or another solemn theme omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context identifying with an animate or inanimate object - feeling what someone or something else feels long marrative poem written in an elevated style presenting the adventures of characters of high position and episodes important to the history of a race or nation brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying

4 epigraph saying or statement in the title page of a work, or used as a heading for a chapter or section epiphany moment of sudden insight or understanding epithet term used to point out a characteristic of a person (nick- name in a way) eponymous a hero, heroine, or protagonist giving his or her name to the title of a work eulogy formal speech praising a person who has dies euphemism mild espression substituted for a harsh or course one euphony pleasing sounds, usually achieved through long vowels exemplum short narrative used to illustrate a moral fable brief story that leads to a moral fantasy story that concerns an unreal world or contains unreal characters farce work characterized by exaggerative, absurd, and improbable characters, situations, and actions figurative language language using figures of speech, not literal language flat character character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop foreshadowing presenting material in such a way that the reader is prepared for what is to come late frame device story within a story genre major category or type of literature hagiography writing/study of the lives of the saints hubris excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy hyberbole exaggeration for emphasis ibidem "the same place" used to show that a reference or quote comes from the same place previously noted idiom expression that cannot be understood literally imagery "making of likeness" language to represent objects, actions, etc. - sensory or extra sensory experience implication suggestion an author or speaker makes without stating it directly

5 inductive reasoning deriving general principles from particular facts inference irony juxtaposition lament legend libretto limited narrator linguistics literature litotes magnum opus malapropism manifesto maxim metaphor metonymy mimesis mood motif myth conclusion drawn from evidence the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning, or incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs placing two elements side by side to compare or contrast expression of deep regret or sorrow narrative handed down from the past, often contains historical and supernatural elements "little book" - text of an opera or operetta narrator who presents the story as it is seen/understood by a single character - restricts info to what thay character would experience scientific study of language term that denotes works belongning to the major genres: epic, novel, lyric, drama, short story, poem, etc. understatement for emphasis; opposite of hyperbole "great work" mistake substitue of one word for another that sounds similar public declaration of principles, usually political or philosophical, but can be religious or literary in nature concise statement often offering advice; adage comparison without like or as; something described in terms of another name or attribute for something is substituted for the actual thing imitation or representation emotional atmosphere of a work standard theme, element, or dramatic situation that recurs in various works traditional story presenting supernature characters and episodes that help explain natural events

6 non sequitur novel novella omniscient narrator oxymoron oxymoron paean palaeography palimpsest parable paradigm paradox paraphrase parody pastoral pathetic fallacy pathos pedantic periphrasis personificiation "it does not follow" - an inference that does not follow logically from the premises extended written work - length varies greatly, but 60,000/70,000 to 200,000 words is a general rule short novel a narrator that knows, sees, and tells all combining incongruous/contradictory words/meanings for effect expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined song or hymn of joy or praise study and art of deciphering manuscripts, inscriptions, and writings a surface which has been written on, scrubbed "clean" of the ink and written on again simple story that relates a moral or religious lesson pattern, exemplar, model - literary device that points to a resemblance self- contradictory statement which reveals a truth restatement of a text in different form or words, often for the purpose of clarity humorous imitation of a serious work poetry concerned with shepherds (but often idealized and not contingent upon the actual every- day lives of shepherds) human feelings ascribed to the inanimate (like personificiation) "suffering"; quality which invokes sorrow or pity characterized by an excessive display of learning or scholarship roundabout speech or writing; like circumlocution attribution of human qualities to an inanimate object

7 philippic plagiarism plot poem point of view polysyndeton prose protagonist pun recto repartee resolution rhetoric rhetorical question romantic Romanticism round character sarcasm satire scene semantics semiotics sesquipedalian a strong verbal denunciation (term comes from the orations of Demosthenes against Philip of Macedonia in the 4th century) using someone else's words but passing them off as your own action of a narrative or drama composition of verse the vantage point from which a story is told the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions that is necessary direct language, written or spoken, in ordinary usage principal character; hero play on words right- hand page in a book clever comeback the falling action of a narrative (denouement) art of presenting ideas in a clear, effective, and persuasive manner a question asked for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer term describing a character or literary work that reflects the characteristics of Romanticism literary movement which began in the late 18th century - it stresses emotion, imagination, and individualism a character who demonstrates some complexity and who develops or changes in the course of a work harsh, cutting language or tone intended to ridicule the use of humor to emphasize human weaknesses or imperfections in social institutions a real or fictional episode; a division of an act in a play branch of linguistics that deals with the meanings of words (and changes in meanings) the science of signs (looking at language as a means of communication and the signals therein) polysyllabic words or verses

8 setting short story sic simile similitude solecism standard English stream of consciousness structure style surrealism syllepsis syllogism symbol synaesthesia syncopation synecdoche syntax tautology time, place, and environment in which action takes place difficult to classify; not a novel or novella; 1,600-20,000 words is a general rule "thus" comparison using like or as synonym for allegory or parable; can be used to mean a simile nonstandard grammatical usage; a violation of grammatical rules spoken and written English that is generally accepted to be correct in grammar, syntax, and spelling literary technique which depicts the multitudinous thoughts and feelings passing through the mind arrangement or framkework of a sentence, paragraph, or entire work choices a writer makes; the combination of distinctive features of a literary work artistic movement emphasizing the imagination and characterized by incongruous juxtaposition and lack of conscious control construction in which one word is used in two different senses (throwing a ball and throwing a fit) three- part deductive argument in which a conclusion is based on a major and minor premise object, animate or inanimate, which represents or stands for something else - it has a real existence mixing of sensations - appealing to more than one sense; describing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a sweet sound") metrical patterns that goes against the natural stress of speech where the part stands for the whole word order needless repetition which adds no meaning or understanding ("widow woman" or "free gift")

9 ten- year test theme thesis tone topic tragedy trite trivium/ quadrivium trope turning point understatement usage verisimilitude vernacular verso vignette villain Weltschmerz willing suspension of disbelief wit Zeitgeist a check for novels to denote them as being still regarded, 10 years after publication, as having literary merit and thought worthy in literary circles central idea of a work the primary position taken by a writer or speaker reflection of the writer's attitude, manner, mood, or moral outlook subject treated in a paragraph or work drama in which a person of high position and/or power falls to misfortunes and disasters overused and hackneyed the 7 Liberal Arts - Middle Ages trivium: grammar, logic, rhetoric quadrivium: arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music any rhetorical or figurative device point in a work in which a very significant change occurs deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; deliberate under- emphasis the customary way language or its elements are used likeness to the truth, appearance of being true (even if unbelievable) everyday speech or a particular country or region left- hand page in a book ornamental design on a blank page; can also be a short sketch or composition wicked character in a story weariness of life and melancholy pessimism (from German "world pain") agreement between the author and reader (or viewer) that the reader/viewer will accept what happens in the work (even if it seems implausible or unrealistic) sense or the 5 senses, can also mean intelligence, wisdom, or even genius trend, fashion, or taste of a particular period (German "spirit of the time")