Lit Terms #31 - 60 Flashcards
Cacophony
Succession of harsh, discordant sounds in prose or verse to achieve a specific effect
Blank Verse
Un rhymed iambic pentameter
Caesura
A pause in a line of verse, usually near the middle of the line
Characteristic
The process by which the writer reveals the personalities of the characters; direct statement, physical description, dialogue, thoughts and feelings, actions, effect on others, others’ reactions
Chiasmus (antimetabole)
Sentence strategy in which the arrangement of ideas in the second clause is reversal of the first
Circular Reasoning
Trying to prove one idea with another idea that is too similar to the first idea
Clause
A group of words with a subject and a verb; may be independent (main) or dependent (subordinate); a subordinate clause may function as a noun, adjective, or adverb in a sentence
Climax
The decisive or turning point in a story or play when the action changes course and begins to resolve itself
Closed Couplet
Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme and represent a complete thought
Colloquialism
The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing; not generally acceptable in formal writing; colloquialisms create a conversational tone
Comic Relief
Something said or done that provides a break from the seriousness of the work
Conceit
A juxtaposition that makes a surprising connection between two seemingly different things
Conclusion
A reaffirmation or restatement of the thesis; also expresses a final thought about a subject, summarizes main points, uses a quotation, predicts an outcome, makes an evaluation, or recommends a course of action
Confessional Poetry
Poetry that uses intimate and painful, disturbing or sad material from the poet’s life
Conflict
Internal or external tension created by the the struggle or by the outcome of the struggle
Connotative Language
Words which have an implied meaning, emphasizing feelings or subjectivity that surrounds the word
Contrast
A literary technique in which the author examines two opposites to create an attitude, to accomplish a purpose or effect, or to make an assertion
Control of a Wide Range of the Elements of Writing
Mature diction, varied syntax, and effective organization to convey a clear and insightful evaluation, analysis, impression, or assertion
Couplet
Two lines of poetry
Dactyl
A metrical foot with one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables
Deduction
Arriving at a conclusion by making an inference from the premise
Denotative Language
The literal, dictionary definition of a word, emphasizing an objective tone
Denouement
Resolution of the plot
Description
Using vivid words to create a dominant impression of what the five senses are experiencing
Dialogue
Conversation between two or more characters
Diction
Word choice
Didactic
A work in which the author’s primary purpose is to instruct, teach, or moralize
Digression
Use of material unrelated to the subject of the work
Dilemma
A type of conflict in which both choices have negative connotations
Dramatic Monologue
A poem in which the speaker addresses one or more listeners who remain silent or whose replies are not revealed
