AO2 terms for Unseen Flashcards
Allegory?
Story, poem or picture can be interpreted to reveal hidden meaning (moral or political).
Amplification?
Enlarging upon or adding detail
Anadiplosis?
Last word of sentence repeated as 1st word of following sentence.
Anaphora?
using word to refer to word earlier to avoid repetition (e.g. I like it and so do they)
Anastrophe?
Inversion of usual word order (excited the children were when …)
Anthropomorphism?
Attribution of human characteristics/ behaviour to a god, animal or object. (clock in beauty + beast)
Aphorism?
Concise statement of scientific principle (the child is father to the man)
Aposiopesis?
Suddenly breaking off in speech.
Archetype?
Typical example of certain person or thing.
Asyndeton?
Omission of and but etc from sentence (I came, I saw)
Authorial Intrusion?
Writer steps away from text and speaks to reader.
Bildungsroman?
Novel dealing with formative years or spiritual education.
Cacophony?
Harsh discordant mixture of sounds.
Catachresis?
Use of word in incorrect way (the chair’s arm)
Connotation?
Idea or feeling suggested in word- gives a feeling.
Denotation?
Literal or primary meaning of a word.
Deus Ex Machina?
Unexpected power / event saving seemingly hopeless situation.
Diction?
Choice of words or phrases.
Epistrophe?
Repetition of word at end of successive sentences (government of the people, by the people)
Epizeuxis?
repetition of word or phrase in same sentence for emphasis.
Euphemism?
Mild or indirect word or expression substituted for something too harsh.
Flashback?
Scene set in time earlier than main story.
Foil?
Character who contrasts with another character- highlight particular qualities of other character.
Folklore?
Traditional beliefs / customs and stories of community.
Foregrounding?
Make something most prominent or important feature.
Foreshadowing?
Warning or indication of future event.
Hubris?
Excessive pride of self-confidence.
Hyperbaton?
Inversion of normal word order- especially for emphasis e.g. this I must see
Hyperbole?
Exaggerated sentences not meant to be taken literally.
Imagery?
Visually descriptive or figurative language.
In media res?
Starts in middle of action.
Irony?
Expression of one’s meaning by using language normally meaning the opposite- humorous or emphatic effect.
Juxtaposition?
two things near each other with contrasting effect.
Litotes?
Ironic understatement- affirmative expressed by negative (e.g. I shan’t be sorry for I shall be glad)
Metaphor?
Word or phrase applied to object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Metonymy?
Substitution of name of an attribute for the of the thing meant (suit for business executive)
Mood?
Absolutely dreadful right now!
Motif?
Repeated theme
Oxymoron?
Figure of speech- contradicting terms appear in conjunction.
Paradox?
Seemingly absurd/ contradicting statement- when investigated is true.
Pathetic Fallacy?
Attribution of human feelings + responses to things in nature which aren’t human.
Personification?
Attribution of human characteristics to something non-human.
Polysyndeton?
Words from the same root repeated (who shall watch the watchmen?)
Portmanteau?
Word blending the sounds and combining the meaning of others (brunch, motel etc.)
Satire?
Humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose stupidity.
Stream of consciousness?
Character’s thoughts and feelings depicted in continuous flow uninterrupted.
Suspense?
Arousing excited expectation or uncertainty about what may happen.
Symbol?
Mark or character used as conventional representation of object.
Synecdoche?
Part is made to represent the whole (England lost by 6)
Synesthesia?
Stimulation of one sensory pathway triggers another simultaneously.
Theme?
Subject of the passage.
Tone?
General character of a piece of writing.
Verisimilitude?
Appearance of being real or true.
