Literary Devices A-B Flashcards
1
Q
Define ABSTRACTION
A
- something you can’t directly experience using your 5 senses, i.e. it’s not tangible
- Ex: Love, War, Culture
- We know these exist but if it’s not tangible then it’s an ABSTRACTION
- writers help readers understand abstraction by backing them up w/ concrete language:
EX: RELAXATION- sun on skin, taste of tea, smell of a fresh novel, sound of singing seals
2
Q
Define ACCENT
A
- abundant in poetry
- the accent is the STRESSED SYLLABLE in the word:
- EX: “for” in california
3
Q
Define the AESTHETIC MOVEMENT
A
- “art for art’s sake”
- started in the late 19thC
- art should make you happy; no social/moral messages
- art= almost serves a superficial purpose
- life should imitate art
- poster boy: OSCAR WILDE
4
Q
Define AFFECTIVE FALLACY
A
In literary criticism, it refers to incorrectly judging a piece by how it emotionally affects its reader
- need to separate own emotions from your evaluation of the poem
- individual emotional responses= bad judge of merit= everybody, when it comes to emotions, reacts differently
5
Q
Define an ALEXANDRINE
A
- is a line of verse made up of 6 IAMBS
- i.e. it’s a line of poetry written in IAMBIC HEXAMETER
- iamb= dadum
6
Q
Define ANAPEST
A
- this foot of poetry is made of 3 SYLLABLES:
2 unstressed followed by a stressed (dadaDUM)
-EX: “‘Twas the Night Before Xmas”- made up almost entirely of anapests, i.e. it’s an anapestic poem
7
Q
Define ANAPHORA
A
- describes a poem that REPEATS the same phrase at the BEGINNING of each clause
- can draw attention to a central theme/metaphor
- writers use it to build emphasis, rhythm and cadence in poetry & prose- creates a kind of music with the repetition
- EX: CD ‘Tale of 2 Cities’… “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
8
Q
Define ANASTROPHE
A
- subversion of the order of a sentence: normal sentence goes: subject, then verb, then object
- IF you intentionally switch that order up, it’s anastrophe
9
Q
Define ANTHROPOMORPHISM
A
- when an object or animal does human-things
- Why is it DIFFERENT to personification?
With anthropomorphism, the object is actually doing something human
With personification, the object just SEEMS like it’s doing something human
10
Q
Define ANTIHERO
A
- not a knight in shining armour; they might be ugly/ a criminal/ low class- yet despite all of this, you root for them.
-Ex: BOSOLA
11
Q
Define ANTITHESIS
A
- means opposite
- use it to show contrast
- EX: CD’s ‘Tale of 2 Cities’: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”- by creating a huge contrast, he bequeaths a more palpable idea of what that tumultuous time was like.
-EX: MLK “We must learn to live together as brothers OR perish together as fools”
The antithesis here creates balance and helps emphasise the point
12
Q
Define APHORISM
A
- a saying that meets 3 criteria:
1) concise
2) clever
3) true
Ex:
“Two wrongs don’t make a right”
“Practice makes perfect”
13
Q
Define APOSTROPHE
A
- in poetry, it’s a term used when a speaker directly addresses someone/ something that is NOT present in the poem
- could be addressing an abstract concept, a person (Dead or alive), a place, or even a thing
- Ex: OTaGU
14
Q
Define ASSONANCE
A
- a kind of internal rhyme that makes use of repeated vowel sounds- poets use it to create and enhance meaning
15
Q
Define BATHOS
A
- bathos is when an author seems to be trying hard to write about something noble, but then descends into the trivial and/or stupid
- i.e. it’s an abrupt shift in tone from high to low
- can be intentional or used for comedic effect
