Gatsby -Literary terms and concepts Flashcards
age of reason
term used to describe a phase in western philosophy and cultural life in which reason was advocated as the primary source and basis of authority
alliteration
repetiton of initial letter or sound in adjacent words to create an atmospheric or onomatopoeic effect
allusion
passing reference to another literary work, without naming it
Ambiguity
Capacity of words to have simultaneous meanings In the context as a device for enriching Meaning
Ambivalence
The coexistence in one persons mind of two opposing attitudes or feelings in a single contexts
Antithesis
A contrast or opposition of ideas usually achieved by the balancing of connected clauses with parallel grammatical constructions
Aphorism
Opinion face like a self evident truth e.g. there is no confusion like to confusion of a simple mind
aposiopesis
Incomplete utterance caused by emotion or confusion e.g. it’s the funniest thing old sport he said hilariously I can’t when I try to
arthurian legend
A reference to the web video and manses concerning gallant knight in shining armour
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds in words in close proximity e.g. touch of a cluster
Athene
In Greek mythology the shrewd companion of heroes and the goddess of heroic endeavour
Caricature
Saturated and ridiculous portrayal of person built around a pacific physical personality trait e.g. wall shines nose and accent
Characterisation
Means by which fictional characters are personified and made distinctive
Cliche
Predictable and overused expression or situation
Climax
Moment of intensity to which a series of events has been leading
Colloquial
Informal language of conversational speech
Connotations
Associations of votes by a word e.g. palaces suggest luxury
Contextuality
Historical social and cultural background of a text
Criticism
Evaluation of literary texts or other artistic work
Dialect
Verity of the language used in a particular area distinguish by features of grammar and or vocabulary
Dialogue
Direct speech of characters engaged in a conversation
diction
Choice of words vocabulary from particular semantic field
Dramatic irony
When the audience know something that the characters speaking does not which creates humour or tension
empathy
Identifying with a character in a literary work
Epigraph
Quotation placed at the beginning of the book as an indication of its theme
Epigram
Wittily condensed expression e.g. the most limited of all specialist the world grounded man
Epiphany
Sudden and striking revelation of the essence of something sublime
Eponymous
Main character after whom a work is named
Eternal triangle
Three way relationship course in jealousy and betrayal went to men love one woman or vice versa
Euphemism
Tactful word or phrase to refer to something unpleasant or offensive
Figurative
Using imagery non-natural use of language
Foreshadowing
Arranging events and information so that later events are prepared for
Framing
A story within which another story is presented for parallels or contrast
Freudian
Reference the belief of the Austrian psychoanalyst that early childhood experience affects all adult responses to life through the workings of the subconscious where repressed urges lurk and reveal themselves in dreams and through Freudian slips
Genre
Type or form of writing with identifiable characteristics
Holy grail
Cup that is said to have caught the blood of Christ on the cross
Homo phone
A play on words involving two words that sound the same but are spelt differently
Hyperbole
Deliberate exaggeration for effect
Icarus
A character in Greek mythology who attempted to escape from exile using wings his father has had made he flew too close to the Sun the works in his wings melted and he fell into the sea symbolic of heroic audacity
idiolect
Style of speech peculiar to an individual and recognisable as such
Imagery
Descriptive language appealing to the senses imagery maybe sustain or occurring throughout the text usually in the form of simile or metaphor
Intertextuality
Relationship between one text and another
Intrusive narrator
Narrator who addresses the reader or interpolates comments
Irony
Language intended to mean the opposite of the words express or using all amusing or cruel or a reversal of an outcome expected intended all deserve situation in which one is mocked by fate or the facts
Juxtaposition
Sing side-by-side for ironic contrast of interpretation
Lexis
A term used in linguistics to designate the total vocabulary used in a particular text
Lyrical
Expression of strong feelings usually love suggestive of music
Metaphor
suppressed comparison implied not stated
Midas
Greek mythology a king who was supposed to be turned every thing he touched to gold
Modernism
A general term applied retrospectively to the wide range of experimental trends in literature of the early 20th century characterised chiefly by rejection of 19th-century traditions
Motif
Recurring verbal or structural device that reminds the audience of a theme e.g. ash
Myth
Fiction involving supernatural beings that explains natural social phenomena and embodies traditional and popular ideas
Narrative
Connected and usually chronological series of events to form a story
Objective correlative
Nicks reaction to the photograph of Gatsby at Oxford is excessive in the circumstances
Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate the sound of being described
Oxymoron
Phrase consisting of a contradiction in terms
Paradox
Self contradictory truth
Pathetic fallacy
Attributing emotions to intimate objects usually elements of nature to represent the personas feelings
Pathos
evocation of pity by a situation of suffering and helplessness
Personification
Human embodiment of an obstruction or object using capital letter
PlaTonic
reffering to the doctrines of the Greek philosopher Plato especially the idealist believe that the perceptible world is an illusory shadow of some higher realms of transcending ideas and forms
plot
Cause and affect sequence of events caused by characters actions
Plurality
Possible multiple meanings of a text
poetic justice
Appropriate and often ironic rewarding of virtue and punishment of evil
Poetic justice
Appropriate and often ironic rewarding of virtue and punishment of evil
protagonist
the principal character
Puritanism
Extreme protestant belief that the physical pleasure or enjoyment of art is spiritually dangerous
Realism and idealism
Associated with the rise of the noble in the early 18th century realism refers to the depiction of detailed accurately observe scenery objects characters and behaviours it contrast with idealism which filters out unpalatable realities and individual experience or perception
reflective
Revealing the thoughts of writer or character
Register
Level of formality form of speech shaped by social contexts
Romance
Story of love and heroism driving from medieval court life and fairytale
romanticism
Influential artistic movement of the late 18th century and early 19 century characterised by the rebellious assertion of the individual and a belief in the spiritual correspondence between man and nature
satire
Exposing of vice or foolishness of a person to institution or ridicule
Semantic field
Group of words with theMatic relationship
Semantics
Study of influence of words of thought and behaviour
Seven deadly sins
According to the medieval Catholic Church the following sins were mortal and led straight to hell pride, envy,gluttony, lechery, avarice, wrath, sloth, included as symbols.
Seven cardinal virtues
faith, hope, charity, justice, fortinude,prudence and temperance
simile
Comparison introduced by as or like, an epic simile is a lengthy and detailed analogy
Sirens
sea nymphs who by their sweet singing lured sailorsto destruction on the rocks
Stereotype
Category of person with typical characteristics often used for mockery
style
Selection and organisation of language elements related to genre or individual user of language
subtext
The layer of meaning that lies below the surface of a text which is not actually said or done but maybe deduced by the reader
Symbol
Object person or event that represents something more than itself
synaesthesia
Fusion of different sense impressions to enhance the experience
Syntax
Arrangement of grammar and word order in sentence construction
Theme
Abstract idea or issues explored in a text
Tone
Emotional aspects of the voice of a text e.g. violently or enthusiastically
Tragedy
Literary work of a serious nature traditionally concerning people in high positions with a fatal conclusion for both guilty and the innocent, characterised by waste loss and a fall from power
Tragic hero
A literary character who makes errors in judgement in his or her actions that inevitably lead to his or her own downfall
Transferred epithet
Adjective noun phrase where the adjective cannot literally apply but only by association e.g. curious intensity
Unreliable narrator
A narrator whose account of the events appears to be faulty misleading biased or otherwise distorted so that it departs from the true understanding of events shared between the reader and the author
Zeitgeist
German for the spirit of the time the outlook characteristic of a particular age
