Literary Terms: A-F

Question 0

Alliteration

Answer 0

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (e.g. “she sells sea shells”)

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Allusion

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Ambiguity

Answer 3

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase,sentence, or passage

Question 4

Analogy

Answer 4

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.

A comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it. It aims at explaining that idea or thing by comparing it to something that is familiar. Metaphors and similes are tools used to draw an analogy. Therefore, analogy is more extensive and elaborate than either a simile or a 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.”

Question 5

Antecedent

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Aphorism

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Apostrophe

Answer 7

a figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction, such as liberty or love

Question 8

Atmosphere

Answer 8

the emotional mood create by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting.

Question 9

Clause

Answer 9

a grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb

Question 10

Colloquial

Answer 10

the use of slang or informalities in speech or writing

Question 11

Conceit

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Connotation

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Denotation

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Diction

Answer 14

referring to style, diction refers to the writers word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, cleanness, or effectiveness.

Question 15

Didactic

Answer 15

from the Greek, literally means “teaching”

Question 16

Euphemism

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Extended Metaphor

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Figurative Language

Answer 18

writing or speech that is not intended to carry literary meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid

Question 19

Figure of Speech

Answer 19

a device used to produce figurative language

Question 20

Asyndeton

Answer 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 to betray you completely.”

Question 21

Epistrophe

Answer 21

is derived from a Greek word that means turning upon, which indicates the same word returns at the end of each sentence. EX. Hourly joys be still you! Juno sings her blessings on you…
Scarcity and want shall shun you,
Ceres blessing so is on you.”

Question 22

Anaphora

Answer 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.
Five years have passed;
Five summers, with the length of
Five long winters! and again I hear these waters

Question 23

Ethos

Answer 23

e

Question 24

Antithesis

Answer 24

literal meaning opposite, is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. Antithesis emphasizes the idea of contrast by 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 a small step for 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.

Question 25

Anecdote

Answer 25

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