51-60 Flashcards
Irony
is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that may end up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between the appearance and the reality.
“Go ask his name: if he be married. My grave is like to be my wedding bed.”
Parenthesis
is a stylistic device that comes from a Greek word, meaning to place or alongside. Parenthesis is a qualifying or explanatory sentence, clause or word that writers insert into a paragraph or passage. However, if they leave it out, even then grammatically it does not affect the text that is correct without it. Writers mark them off by round and square brackets or by commas, dashes, little lines and brackets. As far as its purpose is concerned, this verbal unit provides extra information, interrupts syntactic flow of words, and allows the readers to pay attention on explanation. However, the overuse of parenthesis may make sentences look ambiguous and poorly structured.
Sardonic
grimly mocking, sarcastic, satirical, mocking in a humorous manner. This is one of those “TONE” words that describe writing that fits the meaning.
Satire
is a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule. It intends to improve humanity by criticizing its follies and foibles. A writer in a satire uses fictional characters, which stand for real people, to expose and condemn their corruption. One current example at this writing was something spoken by Steven Colbert the other night on his show:
“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it.”
Polemical
relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech. “a polemical essay” could be any of the following (synonyms) critical, hostile, bitter, polemic, virulent, vitriolic, venomous, caustic, trenchant, cutting, acerbic, sardoni c, sarcastic, scathing, sharp, incisive, devastating
Ambiguity
Ambiguity or fallacy of ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning. Skilled writers use ambiguity with purpose and intent. HOWEVER…most students who are just learning about language use it without thought and it detracts from their writing. Here is a good example of purposeful use to “tag” a teenager speaking…what is ambiguous in this sentence? Examples follow…
“I ran all the way to the main gate, and then I waited a second till I got my breath. I have no wind, if you want to know the truth. I’m quite a heavy smoker, for one thing—that is, I used to be. They made me cut it out. Another thing, I grew six and a half inches last year. That’s also how I practically got T.B. and came out here for all these g- -dam checkups and stuff. I’m pretty healthy though.” [Character-Holden Caufield, Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger]
Archetype
An archetype, also known as universal symbol, may be a character, a theme, a symbol or even a setting. Many literary critics are of the opinion that archetypes, which have a common and recurring representation in a particular human culture or entire human race, shape the structure and function of a literary work.
Function of Archetype
The use of ache-typical characters and situations gives a literary work a universal acceptance, as readers identify the characters and situations in their social and cultural context.
Tragic Flaw
a literary device that can be defined as a trait in a character leading to his downfall and the character is often the hero of the literary piece.
“To be, or not to be-that is the question:…”
assertion
When someone makes a statement investing in his strong belief in it, as if it is true though it ma not be, he is making an assertion.
