Final Exam- Terminology Flashcards
allegory
a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms
alliteration
the commencement of two or more stressed syllables of a word group either with the same consonant sound or sound group
allusion
a passing or casual reference
antagonist
a person who is opposed to or struggles against; opponent
assonance
resemblance of sounds
chorus
a group of persons singing in unison
cliche
a stereotyped expression
climax
the highest or most intense point in the development or resolution of something
conceit
an excessively favorable opinion of one’s own ability
denouement
the final resolution of a plot
didactic
intended for instruction
direct characterization
the process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed by the use of descriptive adjectives or phrases
dramatic irony
irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play
dynamic character
a literary or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change
enjambment
the running on of the though from one line, couplet, or stanza to the next with a syntactical break
epiphany
a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something
explication
an explanation; interpretation
exposition
a large-scale public exhibition or show; writing or speech primarily intended to convey information or to explain
extended metaphor
a metaphor introduce and then further developed throughout or part of a literary work
figurative language
language that contains or uses figures of speech–metaphors
flat character
are described in detail or little is known about them
foil
a character who contrasts and parallels the main character in a play or story
free verse
verse that does not follow a fixed metrical pattern
genre
a class or category of artistic endeavor having a particular form, content, technique, or the like
half rhyme
also called a imperfect or slant rhyme; it is a rhyme in which the stressed syllables of ending consonants match, however, the proceeding vowel sounds do not match
hubris
excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance
hyperbole
obvious and intention exaggeration
image/imagery
the formation of mental images, figures, or likenesses of things or of such images collectively
indirect characterization
the process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character’s speech, actions, appearance, etc.
implied/indirect metaphor
make a comparison without mentioning both elements
irony
the use of words to convey meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
metaphor
a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance
meter
the pattern of rhythm of stressed and unstressed syllbales in poetry
onomatopoeia
the formation of a word, by which the imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.
paradox
a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expressed a possible truth
persona
the mask or facade presented to satisfy the demands of the situation or the environment and not representing the inner personality of the individual
personification
the attribution of human nature or character to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract notions, especially as a rhetoric figure
plot
the story line
points of view (3)
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prose
the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure
protagonist
the leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work
pun
the humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meanings or applications
rhyme
a word agreeing with another in terminal sound
rhythm
movement or procedure with uniform or patterned recurrence
rising action
a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the climax (point of greatest interest)
round characer
a character in fiction whose personality, background, motives and other features are full detailed by the author
sarcasm
harsh or bitter derision or irony
setting
the surroundings or environment of a literary work
simile
a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared
socratic irony
pretended ignorance in discussion (pretending to be STUPID)
speaker
a person who speaks (specifically in a literary work)
stanza
an arrangement of a certain number of lines, usually four or more, sometimes having a fixed length, meter, or rhyme scheme, forming a division of a poem
static character
a character who undergoes little or no inner change; a character who does not grow or develop
stress
importance attached to a thing
subject
that which forms a basic matter of thought
symbol
something used for or regarded as representing something else
theme
a subject of discourse, discussion, meditation, or composition; a unifying or dominant idea
thesis
a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections
tone
any sound considered with reference to its quality, pitch, strength, sources
tragic flaw
the character defect that causes the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy
verbal irony
irony in which a person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literary meaning
verisimilitude
the appearance or semblance of truth
vignette
a decorative design or small illustration used on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter
