Key Terms For AO2 Flashcards
Adventure
unusual or exciting or darting experience.
Allegory
story or poem or picture, can be interpreted to reveal hidden meaning (typically political or moral one)
Allusion
expression designed to call something to mind without meaning it explicitly. indirect or passing reference (“an allusion to Shakespeare”).
Amplification
action of enlarging or adding detail to a story or statement
Anadiplosis
form of repetition: last word of one clause or sentence is repeated as first word of following clause or sentence. (fear leads to anger. anger leads to hate)
Anaphora
use of a word referring back to a word used earlier in text in order to avoid repetition (I like it and so do they)
Analogy
comparison between one thing and another, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification
Anastrophe
the inversion of the usual order of words or clauses (excited the children were about Santa)
Anecdote
short amusing interesting story about a real incident or person.
Anthropomorphism
the attribution of human characteristics to a god, animal or object.
Antithesis
rhetorical or literary device where an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed.
Aphorism
A concise statement of a scientific principle, typically a classical author.
Aposiopesis
the device of suddenly breaking off in speech (don’t go there or else).
Archetype
(In Jungian Theory) a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious
Aysendeton
the omission or absence of a conjunction (and, but if…) between parts of a sentence (I looked, and ran).Au
Authorial Intrusion
Literary device wherein the author writing the text steps away from the text and speaks to the reader.
Bildungsroman
A novel dealing with one’s formative years or spiritual education.
Cacophony
a harsh discordant mixture of sounds
Catachresis
the use of a word in an incorrect way (the chair’s arm)
Characterisation
the creation of a fictional character.
Chiasmus
a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions or concepts are repeated in reverse order.
Conflict
a serious incompatibility between two or more opinions, principles or interests.
Connotation
an idea or feeling which a word invokes for a person in addition to it’s literal or primary meaning.
Denotation
te literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
Deus Ex Machina
an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation.
Diacope
A rhetorical term meaning repetition of a word or phrase with one or two intervening words. (he’s a good man. what a good man!)
Diction
the choice and use of words and phrases in speech and writing.
Dopplegänger
an apparition or double of a living person.
Epanalepsis
a figure of speech in which the beginning of a clause or sentence is repeated at the end of that same clause or sentence with words intervening. (the king is dead. long live the king!)
Epilogue
A section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment or conclusion to what has happened.
Epistrophe
The repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences. (government of the people, by the people for the people)
Epizeuxis
repetition of a word or phrase in immediate succession, typically written within the same sentence, for emphasis.
Euphemism
a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
Flashback
a scene set in a time earlier than the main story.
Foil
a character who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, highlights qualities of other character. (nick foil to Gatsby)
Folklore
the traditional beliefs, customs and stories of a community passed through generations.
Foregrounding
make (something) the most prominent or important feature.
Foreshadowing
be a warning or indication of a future event.
Hendiadys
the expression of a single idea by two words connected with “and”. (“nice and warm” could be nicely warm)
Hubris
excessive pride or self confidence.
Hyperbaton
inversion of the normal order of words, especially for emphasis (this I must see).
Hyperbole
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Imagery
Visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work.
In Media Res
Starts in the middle of the narrative.
Irony
The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite. For humour or emphasis.
Isocolon
Succession of sentences of grammatically equal length. sentences have parallel structure made up of words, clauses or phrases of equal length, meter and rhythm.
