CHA - Literary Terms 3 Flashcards
Define CONSONANCE
Repetition of sounds in quick succession produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase, often found at the end of the word.
Define DENOTATION
The use of the dictionary definition or literal meaning of a word.
Define DEUS EX MACHINA
The incidence where an implausible concept or character is brought into the story in order to make the conflict in the story resolve, bringing about a pleasing solution
Define DICTION
The distinct tone or tenor of an author’s writings: mood, attitude, dialect and style of writing.
Define DOPPELGANGER
Derived from German language: ‘double walker’. A character in the story that is actually a counterfeit or a copy of a genuine character.
Define EKPHRASTIC
A form of writing, mostly poetry, wherein the author describes another work of art, usually visual. Used to convey the deeper symbolism of the corporeal art form by means of a separate medium.
Define EPILOGUE
An inherent part of any story or poem and are essential to the structure of any written form. An important literary tool that acts as the afterword once the last chapter is over. The purpose is to add insight to some interesting developments that happen once the major plot is over.
Define EPITHET
A descriptive device used to add to a person or place’s regular name and attribute some special quality to the same. Can enhance the persona of real and fictitious places, objects, persons and divinities.
Define EUPHAMISM
Using a comparatively milder or less abrasive form of a negative description instead of its original, unsympathetic form. To substitute unpleasant and severe words with more genteel ones in order to mask the harshness.
Define EUPHONY
Use of phrases and words that are noted for possessing an extensive degree of notable loveliness or melody in the sound they create. Predominant in literary prose and poetry, where poetic devices such as alliterations, rhymes and assonance are used to create pleasant sounds.
Define FAULTY PARALLELISM
‘Parallelism’ - the practice placing together similarly structure related phrases, words or clauses and involves placing sentence items in a parallel grammatical format wherein nouns are listed together. Failure is where one fails to follow this parallel structure.
Define FLASHBACK
Where the author depicts an occurrence of specific events to the reader, which have taken place before the present time the narration is following, or events that have happened before the events that are currently unfolding in the story.
