Literary Terms 5 Flashcards
Define MALAPROPISM
Misusing words by substituting words with similar sounding words that have different, often unconnected meanings and thus creating a situation of confusion and amusement.
Define METAPHOR
A meaning or identity ascribed to one subject by way of another (something implied to be something else)
Define METONYMY
Not using the formal word for an object or subject and instead referring to it by using another word that is intricately linked to the formal name or word
Define MOOD
A definitive stance the author adopts in shaping a specific emotional perspective towards the subject of the literary work - mental and emotional disposition
Define MOTIF
Any element, subject, idea or concept that is constantly present through the entire body of literature
Define NEGATIVE CAPABILITY
A concept promoted by John Keats - matters might have to be left unsolved and uncertain
Define NEMESIS
A situation of poetic justice wherein the positive characters are rewarded and the negative characters are penalized
Define ONOMATOPOEIA
Words whose very sound is very close to the sound they are meant to depict
Define OXYMORON
Allows the author to use contradictory, contrasting concepts placed together in a manner that actually ends up making sense and slightly complex manner
Define PARADOX
Use of concepts or ideas that are contradictory to one another, yet when placed together hold significant value on several levels
Define PATHETIC FALLACY
When the author describes the human feelings of one or more of his or her characters to non-human objects or nature or phenomena
Define PERIODIC STRUCTURE
A particular placement of sentence elements such as the main clause of the sentence and/or its predicate are purposely held off and placed at the end instead of at the beginning of their conventional positions
