Lit terms: Task #2 Flashcards
Archetype
In literacy it refers to characters that represent universal meanings, independent of time and place, that embody basic human experiences.
Ex.
The hero
The companion
The creator
Epic
Comes from the Greek term “epikos” meaning long story. It is a piece of literature which is long and told in verse. Usually it has:
Supernatural forces
Invocation
Hero vs villain
Many settings and characters
In medias res
Epithet
A word or phrase that describes something in a way that emphasizes a certain characteristic. Its also known as a “by-name
Humbaba the Evil
sparkling-eyed Athena
Eponym
When something is named after the person or group who invented or who it is most associated with. It is so widely recognized it becomes a word (always capitalized).
Gilgamesh
Alzheimer’s (Alois Alzheimer)
Dickensian (Charles Dickens)
Foil
Character who sets off the main character. We can learn a lot about both by comparing and contrasting both.
Gilgamesh and Enkidu
Macbeth and Macduff
Hubris
When a character has a large ego, ultimately bringing their own downfall. Extreme pride and arrogance is shown by the character.
The rabbit in the “Tortoise and the Hare”
In medias res
When a narrative begins in the middle of the story. The reader is expected to already know events that prelude the book.
Gilgamesh is an example; a story beginning “Once upon a time” is not
Invocation
An appeal for help from someone, especially in regard to gods. In epics it is when a narrator or character calls to a muse to help tell a story.
Understatement
When one says less than what one means. Can be comedic, ironic, or create emphasis.
Upon hearing his wife died Macbeth says this,
She should have died hereafter.
(5.5.20)
Metaphor
Directly comparing two different things.
Love is a fragrant rose with thorns that pierce the hand that reaches for it.
Love = rose
This metaphor emphasizes the dualism of love being both fragrant and injurious.
Alliteration
The use of initial consonant sounds close together, creating some sort of literary effect.
Notice the repetition of the “d” and how it creates increasing tension and dramatic effect.
A child screamed at their feet
That danced the dance of life
Which hovers close to death.
