Exam 2: Literary Terms Flashcards
From the Greek word for “inscription”; a short poem (or saying) that is clear, catchy, and often satirical - often containing a witty ending and meant to be remembered. Usually features short lines with bouncy rhythms, parallel phrases (anaphora, etc.), and paradoxical wit.
epigram
specific words or phrases chosen to evoke an emotional response (usually to influence) the reader or listener by appealing to the emotions
emotive language
from Greek para, “past, contrary to,” and doxa, “opinion”’ a statement that is self-contradictory on the surface, yet seems to evoke a truth nonetheless
paradox
has an interlocking rhyme scheme of ABAB BCBC CDCD EE
Spenserian sonnet
refers to a common them in classical and Renaissance literature that suggests readers should make the most out of life and enjoy it before it is over
carpe diem tradition in literature
a sustained, formal poem that mourns the loss of someone or something; a lament or sadly meditative poem on a solemn theme
elegy
Repetition of the same word or words in the middle of successive sentences or clauses. An example from 2 Corinthians 4:8: We are troubled on every side, but not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.
mesodiplosis
Can be understood as the physical structure of the poem: the length of the lines, their rhythms, their system of rhymes, and repetition. In this sense, it is normally reserved for the type of poem where these features have been shaped into a pattern, especially a familiar pattern. Another sens of the term is to refer to these familiar patterns - these can be simple and open-ended forms, such as blank verse, or they can be a complex system of rhymes, rhythms, and repeated lines within a fixed number of lines, such as a sonnet or a villanelle.
poetic form
a direct comparison that extends over several lines or stanzas in a poem, or over many sentences in a paragrpah(s)
extended metaphor/conceit
The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
Shakespearean sonnet
a long narrative poem in elevated or dignified language that tells the story of a hero and reflects the values of a culture
epic poetry
A poem about city, often with a gritty or satirical view of its life. Swift’s “A Description of morning” is an excellent example.
ironic pastoral
the absence of a syllable in the last metrical foot in a line of verse
catalexis
a reference to any person, place, or thing (literary, historical, or actual)
allusion
a short text honoring a deceased person; an inscription on a gravestone or plaque
epitaph
In poetry, the continuation of a sentence without pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza. Milton uses this technique frequently in Paradise Lost.
enjambment
the tone that prevails in a piece of literature
mood
a word or phrase that signifies an object or event which in turn signifies something, or has a range of reference, beyond itself
symbol / symbolism
a major shift or change in structure, tone, or subject in a poem or novel
shift
two lines of rhymed verse in iambic pentameter, commonly used in epic and narrative poetry
heroic couplets
verse in which the typography or lines are arranged in an unusual configuration, usually to convey or exted the emotional content of the words
pattern poetry
an expression that, in addition to an obvious meaning, carries a second, subtle meaning (often at variance with the ostensible meaning)
adianoeta
a particular kind of foot that has a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable; an example from Edgar Allan Poe’s “the Raven”: Ónce up | ón a | mídnight | dreár y, | whíle I | póndered, | weák and | weár y
trochee
two metrical feet per line
dimeter
a form of extended metaphor in which objects and persons in a narrative, either in prose or verse, are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative
allegory
a stanza or poem containing eight lines
octave
the repetition of a word or group of words at the end of two or more phrases, clauses, lines, or sentences
epistrophe
an allegorical character used in morality plays who represents an ordinary individual
everyman character
For example, all of Shakespeare’s plays begin in the middle of action that has already begun before the opening of the first act.
in medias res
A lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular person or subject, usually praising it, often in elevated style or manner, and often with uniform, metrical feet. The tone is typically lofty and noble, and the themes are usually inspirational and deal wiht messages of art, beauty, and eternity. They can be humorous and satirical, but are almost always contemplative, provoking the reader to explore deeper thems of human relations, experience, and emotion
ode
two rhymed lines that contain an independent and complete thought or statement; usually a pause lightly at the end of the first line; the second is more heavily end-stopped, or “closed”
closed couplet
the collection of images in a poem or other literary work
imagery
