Literary Terms Flashcards
Adage
A brief piece of wisdom in the form of short, philosophical + memorable sayings. Expresses a well-known + simple truth in a few words
Anaphora
When a certain word/phrase is repeated at the beginning of clauses or sentences that follow each other. Repetition emphasizes the phrase while adding rhythm to the passage = more memorable + enjoyable to read
Anthropomorphism
Giving human traits/attributes to animals, inanimate objects, or other non-human things. Comes from the Greek words anthropo (human) and morph (form)
Aphorism
A short, concise statement of a general truth, insight, or good advice. Roughly synonymous with “a saying.” Often use metaphors/creative imagery to get their point across
Archaism
An old word/expression that is no longer used with its original meaning or is only used in specific studies or areas
Asyndeton
Skipping one or more conjunctions (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) which are usually used in a series of phrases, AKA asyndetism
Chiasmus
Comes from a Greek word meaning “crossed”, refers to a grammatical structure that inverts a previous phrase. That is, you say one thing, and then you say something very similar, but flipped around
Circumlocution
Means “talking around” or “talking in circles.” When you want to discuss something, but don’t want to make any direct reference to it, so you create a way to get around the subject. The key = that the statement has to be unnecessarily long and complicated
Denouement
The very end of a story, the part where all the different plot lines are finally tied up and all remaining questions answered
Dues ex machina
Latin for “a god from the machine.” When some new character, force, or event suddenly shows up to solve a seemingly hopeless situation. Effect is usually much too abrupt + it’s often disappointing for audiences
Diacope
When a writer repeats a word/phrase with one or more words in between. A common + persistent example of diacope is Hamlet’s “To be, or not to be!”
Epistrophe
When a certain phrase/word is repeated at the end of sentences or clauses that follow each other. Repetition creates a rhythm while emphasizing the repeated phrase. AKA epiphora/antistrophe
Epithet
A glorified nickname. Traditionally replaces the name of a person and often describes them in some way
Equivocation
Commonly known as “doublespeak,” the use of vague language to hide one’s meaning or to avoid committing to a point of view
Homphone
When two or more words have the same sound but different meanings. They may be spelled the same or differently
Invective
The literary device in which one attacks or insults a person or thing through the use of abusive language and tone
Metonymy
A figure of speech that replaces words with related or associated words. Typically a part of a larger whole, e.g. when we say “wheels,” we are figuratively referring to a “car” and not literally only the wheels
Motif
A symbolic image/idea that appears frequently in a story, can be symbols, sounds, actions, ideas, or words.
Parable
A short story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson
Parallelism
AKA parallel structure, when phrases in a sentence have similar or the same grammatical structure
Parody
A work that’s created by imitating an existing original work in order to make fun of or comment on an aspect of the original
Peripeteia
A sudden change in a story which results in a negative reversal of circumstances. AKA the turning point, the place in which the tragic protagonist’s fortune changes from good to bad
Platitude
A platitude repeats obvious, simple, and easily understood statements that have little meaning or emotional weight
Stichomythia
Dialogue in which two characters speak alternate lines of verse, used as a stylistic device in ancient Greek drama
Synonym
A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word.
Tautology
Defining or explaining something by saying exactly the same thing again in different words.
