Glossary #1 Flashcards
Definition-Active Voice
The subject of the sentence performs the action.
Example and nonexample- Active Voice
Example- Sally made the pie
Nonexample- The pie was made by Sally
Impact- Active Voice
Makes writing more lively and interesting and provide clarity
Definition- Allusion
An indirect reference to something which the reader should be familiar with
Example- Allusion
“It looked like World War II happened in there”
Impact- Allusion
Helps readers understand the scene by comparison
Definition- Anecdote
A brief recounting of a relevant episode
Example- Anecdote
Telling a story of when my brother broke his arm
Impact- Anecdote
develops a point or injects humor
Definition- Antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun
Example- Antecedent
“Sally finished making her pie”- Her refers to Sally
Definition- Classicism
Art or literature characterized by a realistic view of people and the world; sticks to traditional themes and structures.
Example- Classicism
Thinking people who are lower class are inferior to them.
Definition- Comic relief
when a humorous scene is inserted into a serious story, to lighten the mood somewhat.
Example- Comic relief
Lafou in Beauty and the beast
Fester in Addams Family
(Funny characters/scenes)
Impact- Comic relief
Lightens the mood in a serious situation
Definition- Diction
Word choice, particularly as an element of style.
Definition- Colloquial
Ordinary or familiar type of conversation
Example- Colloquial
“y’all, gonna, there’s more than one way to skin a cat, step up to the plate”
Impact- Colloquial
Helps readers connect to the writing and gives it more passion and more engaging.
Definition- Connotation
Implied meaning rather than literal meaning
Definition- Denotation
The literal meaning of a word, dictionary definition
Definition- Jargon
The diction used by a group which practices a similar profession or activity
Example- Jargon
Lawyers use particular jargon such as defendant and appeal.
Impact- Jargon
Creates barriers in communication and prevents effective communication with audience if they don’t understand
Definition- Vernacular
- Language or dialect of a particular country. 2. Language or dialect of a regional clan or group. 3. Plain everyday speech
Definition- Didactic
A term used to describe fiction, nonfiction or poetry that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.
Example- Didactic
How-to and self-help books, instruction manuals, the turtle and the rabbit.
Definition- Adage
A folk saying with a lesson.
Example- Adage
Better safe than sorry, slow and steady wins the race
Impact- Adage
Teach a lesson
Definition- Allegory
A story, fictional or nonfictional, in which characters, things, and events represent qualities or concepts. The interaction of these characters, things, and events is meant to reveal an abstraction or a truth.
Example- Allegory
Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies
Impact- Allegory
They reveal an abstraction or a truth, create a deeper meaning
Definition- Aphorism
A terse statement which expresses a general truth or moral principle. An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author’s point.
Example- Aphorism
“God helps them that help themselves,” , “A watched pot never boils.”
Impact- Aphorism
Allow an idea to be conveyed in few words
Definition- Ellipsis
The deliberate omission of a word or phrase from prose done for effect by the author.
Example- Ellipsis
“The whole day, rain, torrents of rain., ”To be or not to be… that is the question.”
Impact- Ellipsis
it represents silence or a pause as if the speaker trailed off
Definition- Euphemism
A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts can be used for political correctness or to exaggerate correctness to add humor
Example- Euphemism
“physically challenged” instead of cripples, or “vertically challenged” instead of short,
Impact- Euphemism
Makes it less offensive, helps avoid offending others, and keeps peace
Definition- Figurative Language
Opposite of literal language (writing that makes complete sense when you take it at face value). This is writing that is not meant to be taken literally.
Definition- Analogy
An analogy is a comparison of one pair of variables to a parallel set of variables. Similes and metaphors are sometimes also analogies
Example- Analogy
“America is to the world as the hippo is to the jungle.” “Battery is to the flashlight as the engine is to the car”
Impact- Analogy
To show that the relationship of the first variables is the same as the relationship of the second pair.
Definition- Hyperbole
An exaggeration
Example- Hyperbole
“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” “I cried a river”
Impact- Hyperbole
Creates emphasis, imagery, and conveys emotion/intensity.
Definition- Idiom
A common, often used expression that doesn’t make sense if you take it literally
Example- Idiom
“It’s raining cats and dogs”
Impact- Idiom
Adds imagery, makes it more memorable and engaging for readers
Definition- Metaphor
Making an implied comparison, not using “like,” as,” or other such words. An extended metaphor is when the metaphor is continued later in the written work. A particularly elaborate extended metaphor is called using conceit.
Example and nonexample- Metaphor
Example- “The store was a zoo”
Nonexample- “The store was like a zoo”
Impact- Metaphor
Helps create clear imagery
Definition- Metonymy
Replacing an actual word or idea, with a related word or concept
Example- Metonymy
“I’m going for a meeting with the suits from head office.” “I could not understand his tongue,”
Impact- Metonymy
Creates images, and adds a deeper meaning and emphasis
Definition- Synecdoche
A kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, or vice versa.
Example- Synecdoche
“All hands on deck.”, “Check out my new wheels.”
Impact- Synecdoche
This allows the writer to express ideas in fewer words and creates a deeper meaning by having the readers consider the deeper meaning rather than just the statement.
Definition- Simile
Using words such as “like” or “as” to make a direct comparison between two very different things.
Example and Nonexample- Simile
Example- We are like two peas in a pod
Nonexample- We are two peas in a pod
Impact- Simile
Show comparison and create a more descriptive image
Definition- Synesthesia
a description involving a “crossing of the senses.”
Example- Synesthesia
“A purplish scent filled the room.” “I was deafened by his brightly-colored clothing.”
Impact- Synesthesia
It gets readers to think and perceive their senses better to create a deeper description.
Definition- Personification
Giving human-like qualities to something that is not human.
Example- Personification
“The trees danced in the wind”
Impact- Personification
Adds life to parts of a story to make it more entertaining and engaging
