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.
Juxtaposition
Two things being placed close together with contrasting effect.
Litotes
Ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by a negative of its contrary. (I shan’t be sorry for I shall be glad)
Malapropism
the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar one, often with an amusing effect.
Metaphor
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Metonymy
The Substitution of the name of ana attribute for that of the thing meant (suit instead of business exec)
Mood
The atmosphere or tone of something.
Motif
A decorative image or design, especially a repeated one forming a pattern.
Oxymoron
A figure of speech in which apparently contradicting terms appear in conjunction. (the same difference)
Paradox
A seemingly absurd or contradicting statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be true.
Pathetic Fallacy
The attribution of human feelings and responses to things found in nature which aren’t human.
Periphrasis
The use of indirect speechwriting (e.g. the mother of my father instead of my grandma)
Personification
The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human, or representation of an abstract quality in human form.
Plot
The main events of a text.
Point Of View
The narrator’s position in relation to a story being told.
Polyptoton
words derived from the same roof are repeated (who shall watch the watchmen?)
Polysyndeton
several coordinating conjunctions are used in succession achieve artistic effect (using several “ands” in list)
Portmanteau
A word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others (motel, brunch…)
Prologue
A separate introductory section of a text.
Puns
A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word, or words that sounds alike but have different meanings.
Satire
Use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to exposer and criticise stupidity.
Setting
The place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where are event takes place.
Simile
Figure of speech with comparison or one thing with another different kind of thing, makes description more emphatic or vivid.
Spoonerism
verbal error where speaker accidentally transposes the initial sounds or letters of 2 or more words, often for humour ( you have hissed the lecture).
Stream of Consciousness
character’s thoughts, feelings and reactions are depicted in a continuous flow, uninterrupted by objective description or conventional dialogue.
Suspense
in fiction arouses excited expectation or uncertainty about what may happen.
Symbol
A mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function or process.
Synecdoche
figure of speech where a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa (England won by 6, England is the whole).
Synaesthesia
The production of a sense impression relating to one sense or part of the body by stimulation of another sense or part of the body. (combining sense like sight and smell)
Syntax
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
Theme
The subject of something, the topic.
Tone
The general character of a piece of writing.
Tragedy
A play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially with the downfall of the main character.
Understatement
The presentation of something as being smaller or less good or important than it really is.
Verisimilitude
The appearance of being real or true.
Zeugma
A figure of speech where a word applies to two others in different senses (John and his driving license expired)
Advantageous?
Creating favourable situation to give an advantage- beneficial.
Alacrity?
Cheerful and eager behaviour.
Amiable?
Friendly / good natured
Aptitude?
Talent or ability.
Assiduity?
dedication, diligence and great focus.
Candor?
Open; honest, sincere.
Cumulative?
All added together.
Debase?
Corrupt or contaminate.
Diligent?
Attention to detail.
Eloquent?
Fluent (words)
Emboldened?
Being made bold.
Ephemeral?
Fleeting or short lived
Extol?
Give high praise.
Gratuitous?
Unnecessary / uncalled for.
Gregarious?
Outgoing / extroverted.
Incisive?
Ability to identify sharp distinctions
Industrious?
Hard-working and persevering.
Innate?
Born with it.
Insular?
Isolated.
Intrepid?
Bold or brave
Latent?
Potential being hidden.
Maxim?
Widely known saying accepted as truth.
Myriad?
Large amount
Nuance?
Very subtle difference
Obsequious?
Subservient, suck up
Pellucid?
Clearly understandable.
Penchant?
Strong preference or liking.
Plethora?
Abundance or extreme excess.
Pragmatic?
Realistic and practical.
Predilection?
Preference or bias.
Salient?
Something that stands out as obvious.
Staid?
Dignified
Superflous?
In excess
Sycophant?
Sucking up for personal gain.
Venerable?
Honourable- highly regarded.
Zenith?
Highest point.
