Literary Terms Flashcards
Auschwitz
infamous concentration camp est. by Nazis in Poland. 1 of 3 major locations where ethnic groups were taken to be put to death in gas chambers by order of the leaders of Third Reich.
Bastille
A prison in Paris where many political prisoners, and other offenders, were held and tortured until the time of the French Revolution. The prison was attached by workers (common laborers) on July 14th, 1789, during the revolution; the prisoners were released, and the building was later demolished.
Alamo
A fort, once a chapel, in San Antonio, Texas, where a group of Americans made a heroic stand against a much larger Mexican force in 1836, during the war for Texan independence from Mexico.
Abstract
Refers to the language that describes concepts rather than concrete images (ideas and qualities rather than observable or specific things, people or places.) The The observable or “physical” is usually described in concrete language.
Allegory
An extended narrative in pros 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 of the story; underlying meaning may be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric.
Anecdote
A short, simple narrative of an incident.
Annotation
Explanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibilographical data.
Anitithesis
The presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause or paragraphs. “To be or not to be”
Aphorism
A short, often witty statement of principle or a truth about life: “Early bird gets the worm”
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 personified abstraction.
Argumentation
Writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by presenting reasoned arguments; persuasive writing is a form of argumentation.
Cacophony; Dissonance
Harsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or pose; the opposite of euphony.
Caricature
Descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a persons’ appearance or a facet of personality.
Colloquialism
A word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing (y’all, ain’t)
coherence; unity
Quality of a piece of writing in which all the parts contribute to the development of the central idea, theme, or organizing principle.
Concrete Language
Language that describes specific, observable things people or places, rather than ideas or qualities.
Connotation
Implied or suggested meaning of a word because of its association in the readers mind.
Consonance
Repetition of identical consonant sounds with two or more words in close proximity, as in boost best.
Condrum
A riddle whose answer is or involves a pun; it may also be a paradox or difficult problem.
Deduction
The process of moving from a general rule to specific example.
Denotation
Literal meaning of a word as defined.
Description
The picturing in words of something or someone through detailed observation in color, motion, sound, taste, smell and touch.
Consonance
Repetition of identical consonant sounds with two or more words in close proximity, as in boost best.
Condrum
A riddle whose answer is or involves a pun; it may also be a paradox or difficult problem.
Deduction
The process of moving from a general rule to specific example.
Denotation
Literal meaning of a word as defined.
Description
The picturing in words of something or someone through detailed observation in color, motion, sound, taste, smell and touch.
Diction
Word choice, an element of style; d*****n creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as meaning.
Ballad
Is a poem that tells a story and is meant to be sung or be recited.
Biography
A story of a person’s life that is written by someone else.
Blank Verse
Unrhymed iambic pentameter (see meter)
Caesura
A pause or sudden break in a line of poetry.
Cause and Effect
Two events are related as ce and et when one event brings about or causes the other. The event that happens first is the ce, the event that happens second is the e**t.
Character
A person who is responsible for thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature.
Antagonist
A character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character.
Caricature
A picture or imitation of a person’s habits, physical appearance or mannerisms exaggerated in comic or absurd way.
Foil
A character who serves as a contrast or a conflict to another character.
Hero/heroine
A character whose actions are inspiring or noble; often the mail character in a story.
Comedy
A dramatic work that is light and often humorous in tone and usually ends happily with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict.
Chronological Order
The order in which events happen in time.
Clarifying
The reader’s process of pausing occasionally while reading to quickly review what he or she understands.
Cliché
A type of figurative language containing an overused expression or a saying that is no longer considered original.
Climax
See plot.
Comedy
A dramatic work that is light and often humorous in tone and usually ends happily with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict.
Comparison
The process of identifying similarities.
Concrete Poetry
A type of poetry that uses its physical or visual form to present its message.
Conflict
The tension or problem in the story; a struggle between opposing forces.
Central Conflict
The dominant or most important conflict in the story.
External Conflict
The problem or struggle that exists between the main character and outside force. (Example; Person vs. person, person vs. society, person vs. nature, person vs. supernatural, person vs. technology.)
