Terminology

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

Alliteration

Answer 2

the repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (eg “she sells sea shells”)

Question 3

Allusion

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Ambiguity

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Analogy

Answer 5

a similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them

Question 6

Antecedent

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Aphorism

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Apostrophe

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Atmosphere

Answer 9

the emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author’s choice of objects that are described

Question 10

Clause

Answer 10

a grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb

Question 11

Colloquial

Answer 11

the use of slang or informalities in speech or writing

Question 12

Conceit

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Connotaion

Answer 13

the nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning

Question 14

Denotaion

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Diction

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Didactic

Answer 16

from the Greek, literally means “teaching”

Question 17

Euphemism

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Extended Metaphor

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Figurative Language

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Figure of Speech

Answer 20

a device used to produce figurative language

Question 21

Generic Conventions

Answer 21

refers to traditions for each genre

Question 22

Genre

Answer 22

the major category into which a literary work fits (eg prose, poetry, and drama)

Question 23

Homily

Answer 23

literally “sermon”, or any serious talk, speech, or lecture providing moral or spiritual advice

Question 24

Hyperbole

Answer 24

a figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement