Literary Terms: A-F

Question 0

the repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two ro more neighboring words

Answer 0

Alliteration

Question 1

Device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning

Answer 1

Allegory

Question 2

a direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.

Answer 2

Allusion

Question 3

the multiple meanings, either intentional or not, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage

Answer 3

Ambiguity

Question 4

a similarity of comparison between two different things or relationshop between them. Aims at explaining the idea or things by comparing it to something that is familiar. Metaphors are similes are tools used to draw an analogy. Therefore, analogy is more extensive and elaborate than a simile or metaphor. Consider the following example: “Structure of an atom is like a solar system. Nucleus is the sun and electrons are the planets revolving around their sun”.

Answer 4

Analogy

Question 5

the word, phrase, or clause referred to by the pronoun

Answer 5

Antecedent

Question 6

a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle

Answer 6

Aphorism

Question 7

a figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction

Answer 7

Apostrophe

Question 8

the emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work. Established partly by setting

Answer 8

Atmosphere

Question 9

a grammatical unit that contains a subject and a verb

Answer 9

Clause

Question 10

the use of slang or informalities in speech or writing

Answer 10

Colloquial

Question 11

a fanciful expression usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar thing

Answer 11

Conceit

Question 12

the non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning

Answer 12

Connotation

Question 13

the strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of emotion, attitude, or color

Answer 13

Denotation

Question 14

referring to the style, diction refers to the writer’s choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness

Answer 14

Diction

Question 15

from the greek, literally meaning ‘teaching’

Answer 15

Didactic

Question 16

from the Greek for “good speech”, a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept

Answer 16

Euphism

Question 17

a metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work

Answer 17

Extended Metaphor

Question 18

writing or speech that is not intended to carry any literary meaning and is usually meant to be imaginable

Answer 18

Figurative Language

Question 19

a device used to produce figurative language

Answer 19

Figure of Speech

Question 20

is derived from a Greek word ‘asyndeton’ which means unconnected. It is a stylistic device used to intentionally eliminate conjunctions between the phrases and in the sentence, yet maintain the grammatical accuracy. Asyndeton helps in speeding up the rhythm of words. EX. “This is the villain among you who deceived you, who cheated you, who meant you completely”/

Answer 20

Asyndeton

Question 21

is derived from Greek word that means turning upon, which indicates the same word returns at the end of each sentence. EX: “Let the white folks have their money and power and segregation and sarcasm and big houses and schools and lawns like carpets, and books, and mostly- mostly- let them have their whiteness”

Answer 21

Epistrophe

Question 22

is the opposite of epistrophe and means the repetition of the same phrase or word at the beginning of successive sentences, such as in this example. EX: Five years have passed; Five summers, with the length of Five long winter! And again I hear these waters…”

Answer 22

Anaphora

Question 23

Literally means opposite, is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are pit together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. Antithesis emphasizes the idea of contrast parallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers. For example: “Setting foot on the moon may be small step for a man but a giant step for mankind”. The use of contrasting ideas, “a small step” and “a giant step”, in the sentence above emphasizes the significance of one of the biggest landmarks of human history.

Answer 23

Antithesis

Question 24

is a short and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point and make reader and listeners laugh. Anecdotes can include an extensive range of tales and stories. In fact, it is a short description or account of any event that makes readers laugh or brood over the topic presented for a purpose.

Answer 24

Anecdote