Literary Terminology Flashcards
Allegory
A literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions
Ad hominen
An argument attacking an individual’s character rather than his or her position on an issue.
Alliteration
The reptition of initial sounds in successive or neighboring words
Allusion
A reference to something literary, mythological, or historical
Analogy
A comparison between two different things which are similar in some way
Anaphora
The repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences
Anecdote
A brief personal narrative which focuses on a particular incident or event
Antithesis
A statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced
Aphorism
A concise statement that expresses a general truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance
Apostrophe
The act of speaking directly to an absent or imaginary person, or to some abstractions
Chiasmis
A statement consisting of two parts in which the second part is structurally reversed
Colloquialism
Informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing
Conceit
A fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor
Connotation
The implied or associative meaning of a word
Denotation
The literal meaning of a word
Diction
Having to do with the word choices made by a writer
Didactic
Something which has as its primary purpose to teach or instruct
Ellipsis
Omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from context
Epiphany
A momenr of sudden revelation or insight
Euphemism
An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant
Genre
A major category or type of literature
Hyperbole
Intentional exaggeration to create an effect
Imagery
A concrete sensory details which contribute to the themes or ideas of a work
Invective
An intensely vehement, highly emotional verbal attack
Irony
A situation or statement where the truth is the opposite of appearances
Litotes
A type of understatment in which something affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite
Metaphor
A direct comparison of two different things which suggests they are somehow the same
Metonymy
Substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it
Motif
A standard theme or dramatic situation which recurs in various works
Non sequitur
An inference that does not logically follow from the premise
Onomatopoeia
A word formed from the imitation of natural sounds
Oxymoron
An expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined
Paradox
An apparently comtradictory statement which actually contains some truth
Parody
A humorous imitation of a serious work
Pathos
The quality in a work that prompts the reader to feel pity or sorrow
Pedantic
Describing an excessive display of learning or scholarship
Personification
Endowing non-human objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics
Sarcasm
Harsh, cutting language/tone designed to ridicule
Satire
The use of humor to emphasize human weaknesses or imperfections in social institutions
Style
The overall manner in which an individual writer expresses ideas
Syllepsis
The linking of one word with two other words in two strinkingly different ways
Syllogism
A logical argument in which a conclusion is based on a major premise and minor premise
Symbol
An object that is something in itself yet is used to represent something else
Synecdoche
Using ine part of an object to represent the entire object
Syntax
The manner in which words are areanged by a writer into sentences
Tautology
Needless repetition which adds no meaning or understanding
Tone
Attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience
Understatement
The deliberate representstion of something as less in magnitude than it really is
