Literary Terms Flashcards
Accent
The stressed portion of a word
Allegory
An extended narrative in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface story; the underlying meaning may be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric.
Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close to one another; for example, “beautiful blossoms blooming between the bushes”
Allusion
A reference to another work or famous figure assumed to be well known enough to be recognized by the reader
Anachronism
An event, object, custom, person, or thing that is out of order in time; some of which are unintentional, such as when an actor performing Shakespeare forgets to take off his watch; others are deliberately used to achieve a humorous or satiric effect, such as Mark Twain’s, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
Analogy
A comparison of two similar but different things, usually to clarify an action or relationship, such as comparing the work of a heart to that of a pump.
Anecdote
A short, simple narrative of an incident
Aphorism
A short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life.
Apostrophe
Usually, in poetry but sometimes in prose, the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, or to a place, thing, or a personified abstraction either to begin a poem or to make a dramatic break in though somewhere within the poem
Aside
A brief speech or comment that an actor makes to the audience supposedly without being heard by the other actors on stage; often used for melodramatic or comedic effect
Assonance
The repetition of vowel sounds between different consonants; such as neigh/fade
Ballad
A long narrative poem that presents a single dramatic episode, which is often tragic or violent; Two Types
Folk Ballad
One of the earliest forms of literature, usually sung and was passed down orally from singer to singer; the author is generally unknown, and its form and melody often changed according to a singer’s preference
Literary Ballad
Also called an art ballad; balled that imitates the form and spirit of the folk ballad, but is more polished and uses a higher level of poetic diction
Blank Verse
Poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter; a favorite form used by Shakespeare
