Terminology Flashcards
Define allegory
work of literature in which people, objects, and events stand for abstract qualities
Define allusion
an indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work
Define antithesis
juxtaposition of strongly contrasting words, images, or ideas, often using parallel structure
Define aphorism
brief statement that expresses a general principal or truth about life
Define archaic language
an old-fashioned way of using language, as opposed to the modern way
Define assonance
the repetition of vowel sounds
(e.g, ‘he slowly mowed the overgrown lawn’ or ‘Estha enthused eloquently’)
Define caesura
a pause or break in a line of poetry
Define consonance
the repetition of consonant sounds within and at the ends of words
Define diction
a writer’s or speaker’s choice of words, including both vocabulary and syntax (the order or arrangement of words)
Define syntax
The order or arrangement of words
Define elevated language
formal words and phrases that lend serious tone to a discussion
Define a foil character
a character who’s traits contrast with those of another character
Define gothic literature
literature characterised by grotesque characters, bizarre situations and violent events
Define hyperbole
the truth being exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect
Define modernism
a literary movement that is characterized by a high degree of experimentation and characters that are most often alienated
Define mood
the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader
Define imagery
descriptive words and phrases that a writer uses to re-create sensory experiences
Define naturalism
emphasis on how instinct and environment affect human behaviour
Define irony
a contrast between appearance and actuality
Define paradox
a statement that seems to contradict itself but may nevertheless suggest an important truth
Define parallelism
when a speaker or writer expresses ideas of equal worth with the same grammatical form
Define periodic sentences
a long sentence that has additional details at the beginning and the main point at the end
Define rationalism
a movement in 18th-century thought that emphasized the role of reason in human affairs
Define realism
a literary method based on careful observations of contemporary life, often focusing on the middle or lower classes
Define rhetorical question
a question to which no answer is expected because the answer is obvious
Define stream of consciousness
presents the flow of a character’s seemingly unconnected thoughts, responses, and sensations in a way that is often devoid of punctuation
Define style
distinctive way in which a work of literature is written
Define syllogism
a form of deductive reasoning made up of a three-part set of statements or propositions that includes a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion
Define synesthesia
imagery that appeals to one sense when another is being stimulated
Define theme
central idea or ideas the writer intends to share with the reader
Define tone
a writer’s attitude towards their subject
Define tragedy
a dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character who is involved in historically, morally, or socially significant events
Define tragic hero
a character whose basic goodness and superiority are marred by a flaw that brings about or contributes to his or her downfall
Define local colour realism
a style of writing that brings a particular region alive by portraying its dialects, dress, mannerisms, customs, character types, and landscapes
Define Ad Hominem
a type of argument that attacks a person rather than ideas, words or actions.
Define euphemism
to express an unpleasant or uncomfortable situation in a more sensitive, kind or tactful manner
(e.g. he died –> he passed away)
Define innuendo
A disapproving remark which hints at something without stating it directly.
(e.g. do you own a hairbrush? [implying that your hair looks messy])
Define climax
A build-up of ascending ideas. It reaches a peak, creating excitement and heightening tension.
Define anti-climax
A build-up of ideas, with a flat or unexpected final statement/peak.
Define synecdoche
A part being used to describe a whole, or a whole being used for a part.
(e.g. ‘Australia won the cricket.’ It was the team, not the country, that won the cricket.)
Define metonymy
Something associated with the object representing the object.
(e.g, ‘They swore loyalty to the crown.’ the crown = the monarch)
Define malapropism
The unintentional use of incorrect, similar sounding words.
(e.g, ‘I can ensure you that this is correct.’ (should be assure))
Define spoonerism
The transposition or mixing up of the initial sounds of spoken words.
(e.g, ‘He hissed his mistory lesson.’)
Define simile
Direct comparison using like or as
Define metaphor
Direct comparison that does not use like or as
Define an extended metaphor
Recurring metaphors or analogies over a passage or throughout poem.
Define a mixed metaphor
Incongruous and incompatible metaphoric terms used to describe the same object or event - should be avoided when writing.
(e.g, ‘Mountains of strawberries and cream were consumed during the titanic battle at Wimbledon.’ This creates confusing imagery for the reader).
Define personification
Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas
Define anthropomorphism
The attribution of human characteristics or behaviour to a god, animal, or object.
Define apostrophe (the literary device, not the punctuation)
An abstract idea, an inanimate object or a person who is no longer living being addressed or spoken to as if it were human.
(e.g, “Lady Luck, be there when I throw the dice!” or even “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are!”)
Define alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
(e.g, five feverish frogs)
Define onomatopoeia
Imitation of real life sounds and actions. For example, crash/bang/whoosh/hiss
Define an oxymoron
Placement of two seemingly contradictory words next to one another. For example, angry relief, pretty ugly, painful pride., deafening silence)
Define situational irony
When the opposite of what is expected in a situation occurs. For example: A detective employed to catch a thief getting arrested for dishonesty.
Define dramatic irony
When the audience/reader has knowledge of somethings of which the characters are unaware.
Define sarcasm
When one thing is said but something else is intended or understood with the intention of insulting/humiliating/teasing/hurting someone.
Define satire
Sharp wit, irony or sarcasm used to highlight, expose or ridicule human, social or political weaknesses or stupidities with aims to change the situation, educate, and entertain through humour. Often used in comic strips, cartoons and plays.
Define parody
The imitation and/or exaggeration of other text types in order to satirise or create humour.
Define epigram
A brief and pointed statement which often contains humour or irony, usually with a deeper underlying meaning.
(e.g, ‘Employ a teenager while he still knows everything!’)
Define litotes
Use of a negative and an opposite to understate what is intended.
(e.g, ‘He is no Einstein.’)
Define anaphora
Repetition of the first letter across multiple consecutive lines in poetry.
Define a misrelated participle (AKA dangling participle)
When a modifier can be misinterpreted as being associated with the one that was not intended.
E.g: Having finished my dinner, the waitress offered to bring me the dessert tray.
Modifier: ‘having finished my dinner’
Notice how it sounds as though the waitress just finished the person’s dinner. This is the misrelated participle. Better wording would be:
The waitress offered to bring me the dessert tray after i had finished my dinner.
Or
After I had finished my dinner, the waitress offered to bring me the dessert tray.
