AP Deck 7 Flashcards
FOIL
In literature, a foil is a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the
qualities of another character with the objective to highlight the traits of the other
character. The term foil, though generally being applied for a contrasting character, may
also be used for any comparison that is drawn to portray a difference between two things.
INTERTEXTUALITY
Intertextuality is a sophisticated literary device used in writing. In fact, it
is a textual reference within some text that reflects the text used as a reference. Instead
of employing referential phrases from different literary works, intertextuality draws upon
the concept, rhetoric or ideology from other texts to be merged in the new text. It may
be the retelling of an old story, or you may rewrite the popular stories in
modern context for instance, James Joyce retells The Odyssey in his very famous
novel Ulysses. Treasure Island and Lord of the Flies.
LITOTES
Litotes, derived from a Greek word meaning “simple”, is a figure of speech which
employs an understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, positive
statement is expressed by negating its opposite expressions. “Not too bad” in place of
“Pretty good” would be an example.
UTOPIA:
The literary term utopia denotes an illusionary place that projects the notion of a
perfect society to the reader. Here, the “perfect society” refers to ideal conditions
achieved within the material world as opposed to the expected idealism of afterlife in
Christianity or other religions. Further, the citizens presiding in such utopias are bearers
of a perfect moral code, or at the least, every violator of the moral code is harshly
punished. A utopian society is one where all social evils have been cured.
SONNET
The word sonnet is derived from the Italian word “sonetto”. It means a small or
little song or lyric. In poetry, a sonnet has 14 fourteen lines and is written in
iambic pentameter. Each line has 10 syllables. It has a specific rhyme scheme and a
“volta” or a specific turn.
ROUND CHARACTER
A round character in a novel, play or story is a complex personality. Like
real people, he/she has depth in his feelings and passions. For instance, in the movie
“Shrek,” the main character says “‘Ogres are like onions” which means that what appears
to them is not the only truth they see; rather, there is something more inside them.
Similarly, a round character has many layers like onions. Writers define a round character
fully, both physically and mentally. It is the character with whom the audience can
sympathize, associate or relate to, as he seems a character they might have seen in their
real lives
VERNACULAR
Vernacular is a literary genre that uses daily used language in writing and speaking. It is different from written works, as they normally follow the formal variety of language. The word “vernacular” refers to writing or speaking of the public. We find the origin of vernacular literature during middle ages in different countries of Europe.
. VERNACULAR vs DIALECT:
Vernacular is the use of ordinary, everyday and plain language in speaking or writing, such as corn is a common name of a plant, and its scientific name is Maize or Zea mays, whereas dialect is related to a particular region, geographical area, a particular social class, or an occupational group. Also, it uses a distinguished pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar, such as people in Shanghai has different pronunciation or dialect than in Yunnan.
UNDERSTATEMENT
An understatement is a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is. An understatement has something of an ironic effect. Here are some examples.
“Deserts are sometimes hot, dry and sandy” while describing deserts of the world. “He is not too thin” while describing an obese person. “It rained a bit more than usual” while describing an area being flooded after heavy rainfall. “It was O.K.” is an understatement if someone who got the highest score in a test said this when asked about his result. “It is a bit cold today,” when the temperature is 5 degrees below freezing.
EULOGY
Known as homily, the term eulogy originates from a Greek word eulogia, which means to praise somebody or something. A eulogy is a literary device that is a laudatory expression in a speech, or a written tribute to a person deceased recently. We can say, it is a commendation or high praise intended to give honor, generally, to a dead family member, or a loved one, or it is a tribute given to a dead person at his/her funeral. Eulogies are also paid as tributes to living persons; for instance, one can dedicate it to his retired colleagues, bosses or employees for winning respectable position and noble deeds. Hence, in general, it is a gesture of honoring somebody.
DIALECT
The language used by the people of a specific area, class, district or any other group of people. The term dialect involves the spelling, sounds, grammar and pronunciation used by a particular group of people and it distinguishes them from other people around them.
HUBRIS
Hubris is extreme pride and arrogance shown by a character that ultimately brings about his downfall. In literature, portrayal of hubristic characters serves to achieve a moralistic end. Such characters are eventually punished thus giving a moral lesson to the audience and the readers so that they are motivated to improve their characters by removing the flaws that can cause a tragedy in their lives. Witnessing a tragic hero suffering due to his hubristic actions, the audience or the readers may fear that the same fate may befall them if they indulge in similar kinds of actions.
