Lit Terms Quiz 2 Flashcards
Connotation
the non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested, meaning
Denotation
the strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color
Diction
related to style, diction refers to the writer’s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness
Didactic
from the Greek, didactic literally means “teaching”
Euphemism
from the Greek for “good speech”, euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept
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 used to produce figurative language; many compare dissimilar things
Generic Conventions
describes traditions to for each genre; these conventions help to define each genre
Genre
the major category into which a literary work fits
Homily
this term literally means “sermon” but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice
Hyperbole
a figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement
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 present
Invective
an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language
Irony/Ironic
the contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true
Verbal Irony
when the words literally state the opposite of the writer’s meaning
Situational Irony
when events turn out the opposite of what was expected
Dramatic Irony
when facts or events are unknown to a character in a p[lay or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work
Litotes
a form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite
Loose Sentence/Non-Periodic Sentence
a type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses
Metaphor
a figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity
Metonymy
a term from the Greek meaning “changed label
“ or “substitute name”, metonymy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it
Mood
the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work
Narrative
The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events
Onomatopoeia
a figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words
Oxymoron
from the Greek for “pointedly foolish”, an oxymoron is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox
Paradox
a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity
Parallelism
also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this term comes from the Greek roots meaning “beside one another”; it refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity
