General Terms D-I Flashcards
Diction
Related to style, diction refers to the writer’s word choice, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.
Didactic
Designed or intended to teach people something
Euphemism
A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word of concept.
What is an example of an euphemism?
Saying “earthly remains” rather than “corpse”
Exposition
In essays, one of the four chief types of composition; the purpose of exposition is to explain something.
What are the four chief types of composition?
- Argumentation
- Exposition
- Description
- Narration
Extended Metaphor
A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.
Figurative Language
Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.
Figure of Speech
A device that produces figurative language. (figures of sleep include: apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, and metaphor.)
Generic Conventions
The term describes traditions for each genre; these conventions help to define each genre
Denotation
The strict, liberal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotions, attitude, or color.
Homily
This term means “sermon,” but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.
Genre
The major category into which a literary work fits.
What are the basic divisions of literature?
Prose, poetry, and drama
Hyperbole
A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (produces irony + often has a comic effect - but not always).
Imagery
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.
Inference/Infer
To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.
Invective
An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language
Irony/Ironic
The contrast between what is stared explicitly and what is really meant.
What is verbal irony?
The words literally state the opposite of the writer’s (or speaker’s) true meaning.
What is situational irony?
Events turn out the opposite of what was expected. (What the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen).
What is dramatic irony?
Facts or events unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but know to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work.
