Sophomore Summer Assignment Flashcards
Allegory
a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. allegory comes from the Latin word “allegoria.” noun.
Alliteration
the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. alliteration comes from the Latin word “littera.” noun.
Allusion
an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference. allusion comes form the Latin word “allusio.” noun.
Ambiguity
a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning. ambiguity comes Latin word “ambiguitas.” noun.
Analogy
a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification. analogy comes from the Latin word “analogia.” noun.
Antithesis
a figure of speech which refers to the juxtaposition of opposing or contrasting ideas. antithesis comes the Greek word “antitithenai.” noun.
Colloquial
the usage of informal or everyday language in literature. colloquial comes from the Latin word “colloquium.” adjective.
Connotation
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning. connotation comes from the Medieval Latin word “connotatio.” noun.
Denotation
the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests. denotation comes from the Latin word “ denote.” noun.
Diction
the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing. diction comes from the Latin word “dictio.” noun.
Extended metaphor
an author’s exploitation of a single metaphor or analogy at length through multiple linked tenors, vehicles, and grounds throughout a poem or story. extended comes from the Latin word “extendere” and metaphor comes from the Greek word “metaphora”
Figurative language
language that deviates from the conventional order and meaning in order to convey a complicated meaning, colorful writing, clarity, or evocative comparison. Figurative comes from the Late Latin word “figurativus”
Figure of speech
a word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect.
Genre
a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. noun.
Imagery
visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work. The word imagery comes from the Old French word “imagerie.” noun.
Inference/infer
deduce or conclude (information) from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements. verb. infer comes from the Latin word “inferre.”
Irony/ironical (verbal, situational, dramatic)
a situation in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality. noun. irony comes from the Latin word “eironia.”
Personification
the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form. noun.
Point of View
a particular attitude or way of considering a matter. noun.
Prose
any written work that follows a basic grammatical structure (think words and phrases arranged into sentences and paragraphs).
Repetition
the action of repeating something that has already been said or written. noun. repition comes form the Latin word “ repetitio”
Rhetoric
the art of using language to persuade, motivate, or inform an audience via writing or speech. noun. rhetoric
Satire
human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit. noun. satire comes from the Latin word “satur.”
Semantics
the different meanings of words, phrases, signs, or other symbols. noun.
Symbolism
to imbue objects with a certain meaning that is different from their original meaning or function. noun. symbolism comes from the Late Latin word “symbolicus”
Theme
the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person’s thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic. noun. theme comes from the Latin word “thema”
Thesis
a statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved. noun. theme comes from the Greek word “tithenai”
Tone
the writer’s attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience. noun. tone comes from the Latin word “ tonos”
Transition
a word or phrase that shows the relationship between paragraphs or sections of a text or speech
Voice
the rhetorical mixture of vocabulary, tone, point of view, and syntax that makes phrases, sentences, and paragraphs flow in a particular manner.
