English 30-1 Flashcards
Abstract
Abstract terms and concepts name things that are not knowable through the senses; examples are love, justice, guilt, and honour (Opposite of concrete)
Allegory
A story or visual image with a second distinct meaning partially hidden. It involves a continuous parallel between two or more levels of meaning so that its persons and events correspond to their equivalents in a system of ideas or chain of events external to the story.
Allusion
Indirect or passing reference to some person, place, or event; or to a piece of literature or art. The nature of the reference is not explained because the writer relies on the reader’s familiarity with it.
Alliteration
Repetition of initial consonant sounds
Analogy
A comparison that is made to explain something that is unfamiliar by presenting an example that is similar or parallel to it in some significant way
Anecdote
A brief story of an interesting incident
Antecedent Action
Action that takes place before the story opens
Antithesis
A contrast or opposition of ideas; the second part of a statement that contrasts opposite ideas
Apathy
Lack of interest
Apostrophe
A speech addressed to a dead or absent person or to an inanimate object
Archaic
Belonging to an earlier time; words or expressions that have passed out of use are said to be archaic
Aside
Comment made by an actor and supposedly not heard by other actors
Assonance
Repetition of similar or identical vowel sounds
Ballad
A narrative poem that tells a story, often in a straightforward and dramatic manner, and often about such universals as love, honour, and courage. Ballads were once songs. Literary ballads often have the strong rhythm and plain rhyme schemes of songs. Songs are still written in ballad form, some old ballads are still sung, and some literary ballads have been set to music
Blank verse
Poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameters
Caricature
A distorted representation to produce a comic or ridiculous effect
Chronological
In order of time
Cliché
An overused expression; one that has become stale through overuse
Colloquial
Informal, suitable for everyday speech but not for formal writing
Concrete
A concrete thing exists in a solid, physical; and is knowable through the senses; trees, copper, and kangaroos are all examples of concrete things (Opposite of abstract)
Connotation
Implied or additional meaning that a word or phrase imparts. Such meaning is often subjective. (Opposite of denotation)
Deduction
A conclusion reached by logic or reasoning, or by examining all the available information
Denotation
The explicit or direct meaning of a word or expression, aside from the impressions it creates. These are the meanings listed in dictionaries. (Opposite of connotation)
Discrepancy
Distinct difference between two things that should not be different, or that should correspond
Dissonance
Harsh sound or discordance; in poetry, a harsh jarring combination of sounds
Epic
A long poem that is often about a heroic character. The style is elevated and the poetry often represents religious or cultural ideals
Epilogue
A final address to the audience, often delivered by a character in a drama
Fantasy
A literary genre; generally contains events, characters, or settings that would not be possible in real life
Foreshadowing
A storytelling technique; something early in the story hints at later events
Free verse
Is usually written in variable rhythmic cadences; it may be rhymed or unrhymed, but the rhymes are likely to be irregular and may not occur at the end of lines.
Hyperbole
A figure of speech that uses exaggeration for effect
Imagery
Language that evokes sensory impressions
Imitative Harmony
Words that seem to imitate the sounds to which they refer; (buzz, whisper) Also called onomatopoeia
Interior monologue
Conversation-like thoughts of a character
Irony
The difference-in actions or words-between reality and appearance. Authors use irony for both serious and humorous effects. Irony can also be a technique of indicating through character or plot development, the writer’s own attitude toward some element of the story
Jargon
Special vocabulary of a particular group or activity; sometimes used to refer to confusing or unintelligible language
Justification
The giving of reasons or support; for example, giving an argument or reason that shows an action or belief is reasonable or true
Juxtaposition
Also known as contrast
The deliberate contrast of characters, settings, or situations for effect; the effect may be a demonstration of character or heightening of mood
Lyric
A poem that expresses the private emotions or thoughts of the writer; sonnets, odes, and elegies are examples of lyrics
Metamorphosis
An alteration in appearance or character
Metaphor
Comparison without using the words like or as
You say it as if that’s just how it is, when it is only for effect: not literal
Metrical poetry
Is written in regular, repeating rhythms and may be rhymed or unrhymed; when rhymes are used, they are generally regular, like the rhythm, and are often found at the end of the line.
Monologue
A literary form; an oral or written composition in which only one person speaks
Mood
In a story, the atmosphere; when a writer orders the setting, action, and characters of a story so as to suggest a dominant emotion or patterns of emotions, this emotional pattern is the mood of the story. Also a person’s state of mind or complex of emotions at any given time.
Motif
A recurring theme, situation, incident, idea, image, or character type that is found in literature
Ode
A poem expressing lofty emotion; odes often celebrate an event or are addressed to nature or to some admired person, place, or things
Onomatopoeia
Words that seem to imitate the sounds to which they refer (whack, slap, plop)
Oxymoron
A combination of two usually contradictory terms in a compressed paradox; for example, “the living dead.” An oxymoron is like a metaphor in that it expresses in words some truth that cannot by understood literally; “truthful lies” is an oxymoron that describes metaphors
