Literary Terms & Definitions Flashcards
literally means “opposite,” is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect
Antithesis
the language used by the people of a specific area, class, district, or any other group of people. The
Dialect
literary device that is used in narratives to omit some parts of a sentence or event, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while acting or reading it out. It is usually written between the sentences as a series of three dots, like this: “…”
Ellipsis
a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character. The objective is to highlight the traits of the other character.
Foil
a literary device in which the plot goes ahead of time; meaning a scene that interrupts and takes the narrative forward in time from the current time in the story.
Flash forward
an earlier clause, phrase, or word to which a pronoun, noun, or another word refers.
Antecedent
the use of informal words, phrases, or even slang in a piece of writing
Colloquialism
Define Antagonist.
The character in conflict with the Protagonist.
Define ad hominem
a Latin word that means “against the man.” As the name suggests, it is a literary term that involves commenting on or against an opponent, to undermine him instead of his arguments
Define plot.
the logical sequence of events that develops a story.
derived from a Greek word that means “becoming silent.” It is a rhetorical device that can be defined as a figure of speech in which the speaker or writer breaks off abruptly, and leaves the statement incomplete. It is as if the speaker is not willing to state what is present in his mind, due to being overcome by passion, excitement, or fear. In a piece of literature, it means to leave a sentence unfinished, so that the reader can determine his own meanings.
Aposiopesis
a literary technique in which an abstract idea is given a form of characters, actions or events.
For example:
“Animal Farm” used the actions of animals on a farm to represent the overthrow of the last of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and the Communist Revolution of Russia before WW II. In addition, the actions of the animals on the farm are used to expose the greed and corruption of the Revolution.
Allegory
a figure of speech commonly used to replace a word or phrase that is related to a concept which might make others uncomfortable. Euphemism refers to figurative language designed to replace phrasing that would otherwise be considered
Euphemism
is a literary device that is a laudatory expression in a speech, or a written tribute to a person recently deceased
Eulogy
is a literary device that can be defined as a concise and brief story intended to provide a moral lesson at the end
Fable
an erroneous argument dependent upon an unsound or illogical contention
Fallacy
the term refers to the use of words with sharp, harsh, hissing, and unmelodious sounds – primarily those of consonants – to achieve desired results.
Cacophony
Define Narrator
The person who is telling the story.
It is the term used to signal the rising and falling of the voice when reading a literary piece. In poetry, it is the momentary changes in rhythm and pitch. Helps set the rhythmic pace of a literary piece
Cadence
Define Fallacy.
an erroneous argument dependent upon an unsound or illogical contention
an account or detailed description about the life of a person
Biography
is a figure of speech sometimes represented by an exclamation, such as “Oh.” A writer or speaker speaks directly to someone who is not present or is dead, or speaks to an inanimate object.
Apostrophe
gives a thing, an idea or an animal human qualities.
For example:
The flowers are dancing beside the lake.
Have you see my new car? She is a real beauty!
Personification
a term that refers to a particular philosophy in art and literature that emphasizes the idea that different forms of art and literature ought to convey information and instructions, along with pleasure and entertainment.
Didacticism
a figure of speech in which two essentially dissimilar objects or concepts are expressly compared with one another through the use of “like” or “as
Simile
that particular point in a narrative at which the conflict or tension hits the highest point. It is a structural part of a plot, and is at times referred to as a “crisis.” It is a decisive moment or a turning point in a storyline at which the rising action turns around into a falling action.
Climax
a device used in descriptive writing and visual arts, in which particular aspects of a subject are exaggerated, to create a silly or comic effect
Caricature
a figure of speech that involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.
Hyperbole
refers to repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase. This repetition often takes place in quick succession, such as in “pitter, patter.”
Consonance
represents credibility, or an ethical appeal, which involves persuasion by the character involved.
Ethos
Define Conflict
involves a struggle or issue between two opposing forces, usually a protagonist and an antagonist, around which the story revolves
German word meaning “look-alike,” or “double walker,” originally referred to a ghost, or shadow of a person; but in modern times it simply refers to a person that is a look-alike of another person.
Doppelgänger
Define Mood
a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions
that moment in the story where a character achieves realization, awareness, or a feeling of knowledge, after which events are seen through the prism of this new light in the story
Epiphany
What is a monologue
the speech or verbal presentation given by a single character in order to express his or her collection of thoughts and ideas aloud. Often such a character speaks directly to audience, or to another character. These are found in dramatic medium like films and plays, and also in non-dramatic medium like poetry.
as style of speaking or writing, determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer. It’s the choice of words which often separates good writing from bad writing
Diction
a literary technique in which writers employ two or more characters to be engaged in conversation with one another
Dialogue
Literary device that uses figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive, and impactful
Figurative Language
a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning; words or statements lead to vagueness and confusion, and shape the basis for instances of unintentional humor.
Ambiguity
refers to an expression that has been overused to the extent that it loses its original meaning or novelty. It may also refer to actions and events that are predictable because of some previous events.
Cliche’
refers to an inversion in the arrangement of common words. It can be defined as a rhetorical device in which the writers play with the normal positions of words, phrases, and clauses in order to create differently arranged sentences, which still suggest a similar meaning
Hyperbaric
The use of the words in such a way in which the intended meaning is completely opposite to their literal meaning.
For example:
The bread is soft as a stone.
So nice of you to break my new PSP!
Irony
Names something by describing it’s qualities in a two word compound expression (often consiting of a noun and a verb made into a noun using an -er ending) for example mouse catcher = cat.
Kenning
typical character, an action, or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature.
Archetype
a literary device that can be defined as a phrase or a figure of speech that might have multiple senses, interpretations, or two different meanings, or which might be understood in two different ways. Oxford Dictionary says that it “conveys an indelicate meaning
Double entendre
literary device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters, or other elements of a work to the audience or readers
Exposition
is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things. As a literary device, it creates implicit comparisons without the express use of “like” or “as.
For example:
Laughter is the best medicine.
Time is money.
Metaphor
A short, pointed, and memorable saying that is based on facts, and which is considered a veritable truth by the majority of people
Adage
literary term that is defined as the use of specific phrases and words in a particular situation, profession, or trade
Jargon
a short form of literary composition based on a single subject matter, and often gives the personal opinion of the author.
Essay
an emotional discharge through which one can achieve a state of moral or spiritual renewal, or achieve a state of liberation from anxiety and stress.
Catharsis
The typical structures used by writers in their works to convey his or her messages in a simple manner to the readers. When employed properly, they help readers to appreciate, interpret and analyze a literary work.
Literary Devices
a form of word play in which letters of a word or phrase are rearranged in such a way that a new word or phrase is formed
Examples:
William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” rearranged of the name “Amleth,” a Danish prince.
Vladamir Nabakov, in his novel Lolita, presents the character “Vivian Darkbloom,” which is an rearrangement of his own name.
K. Rowling, in her Harry Potter series, uses “I am Lord Voldemort” for her character “Tom Marvolo Riddle,” to reveal the two different identities of the villain.
Anagram
refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly
Connotation
refers to a set expression or a phrase comprising two or more words. The phrase is understood to mean something quite different from what individual words of the phrase would imply
Idiom
literary device used commonly in literature, and in daily life, where logical deductions are made based on premises assumed to be true. Another definition of inference suggests that it is rational but non-logical, which means that, through the
Inference
literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story. It often appears at the beginning of a story, or a chapter, and helps the reader develop expectations about the coming events in a story
Foreshadowing
A rhetorical device that features repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, phrases, or clauses. It works as a literary device to allow writers to convey, emphasize, and reinforce meaning. This word repetition at the beginning of each phrase in a group of sentences or clauses is a stylized technique that can be very effective in speeches, lyrics, poetry, and prose.
Anaphora
the main statement of a poem, an essay, a short story, or a novel, which usually appears as an introduction, or a point on which the writer will develop his work in order to convince his readers.
Argument
a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner. The term is often applied to philosophical, moral, and literary principles.
Aphorism
Define Dialoque
When the characters speak to each other.
deliberate exaggeration of actions and ideas for the sake of emphasis. For example:
Your bag weighs a ton!
I have got a million issues to look after!
Hyperbole
a rhetorical or literary device in which a writer compares or contrasts two people, places, things, or ideas
Comparison
is a type of literary device that appears in different categories of essays and theses, in the form of paraphrase and quotations. It is presented to persuade readers, and used with powerful arguments in the texts or essays
Evidence
A form of language that has no formal metrical structure. It applies a natural flow of speech, and ordinary grammatical structure, rather than rhythmic structure, such as in the case of traditional poetry.
Prose
a poetic device that can be defined as metrical lines in which its middle words and its end words rhyme with one another
Internal rhyme
Systems of thoughts composed of ideas, attitudes, and courses of action, beliefs and practices that systematically construct the subjects and the worlds of which they speak.
Discourse
derived from a Greek word which means “turning about.” It is a literary term or device that involves repeating a phrase in reverse order
A timetable
known as a conclusion reached through reasoning
Induction
refers to the same consonant sounds in words coming together
For example:
Better butter always makes the batter better.
She sells seashells at seashore.
Alliteration
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.
Analogy
a literary device that is used step-by-step in literature to highlight and explain the details about a character in a story. It is in the initial stage in which the writer introduces the character with noticeable emergence
Characterization
an indirect or a subtle observation about a thing or a person. It is generally critical, disparaging, or salacious in nature, and its use is almost always derogatory.
Innuendo
It is a figure of speech in which a used phrase or word is considered very old fashioned and outdated
Archaism
the use of figurative language to create visual representations of actions, objects and ideas in our mind in such a way that they appeal to our physical senses.
For example:
The room was dark and gloomy. -The words “dark” and “gloomy” are visual images.
The river was roaring in the mountains. – The word “roaring” appeals to our sense of hearing
Imagery
Define Protagonist.
The main character
What is a soliloquy?
the character or speaker speaks to himself, keeping these thoughts secret from the other characters of the play.
refers to the circumstance where an implausible concept or a divine character is introduced into a storyline, for the purpose of resolving its conflict and procuring an interesting outcome.
Deus ex machina
is a brief writing or saying inscribed on a grave
Epitaph
means a type of art, literature, or music characterized by a specific form, content, and style
Genre
means to use figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses.
Imagery
What are common literary elements?
Plot, Setting, Conflict, Mood, Theme, Dialogue, Narrative Method, Protagonist, Antagonist, Narrator
brief, simple, and popular saying, or a phrase that gives advice and effectively embodies a commonplace truth based on practical experience or common sense
Proverb
literary device in which the repetition of similar vowel sounds takes place in two or more words in proximity to each other within a line of poetry or prose
Assonance
a literary element that involves a struggle between two opposing forces, usually a protagonist and an antagonist
Comparison
Define Setting.
It refers to the time and place in which a story takes place.
an error of chronology or timeline in a literary piece. In other words, anything that is out of time and out of place.
Example:
The most famous example comes from Act 2, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar:
Brutus: “Peace! Count the clock.”
Cassius: “The clock has stricken three.”
The time this play depicts is a point in history dating back to 44 A.D. Mechanical clocks referred to in the above-mentioned dialogue had not been invented at that time, but were present in Shakespeare’s time. The mention of a clock in this play is an example.
Anachronism
A short and interesting story, or an amusing event, often proposed to support or demonstrate some point, and to make the audience laugh.
Anecdote
is extreme pride and arrogance shown by a character, which ultimately brings about his downfall.
Hubris
What are the 2 types of literary devices?
Literary Elements and Literary Techniques
generally defined as literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings.
Denotation
