terms Flashcards
Allegory
a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
Alliteration
repetition of the same sound at the start of a series of words in succession whose purpose is to provide an audible pulse that gives a piece of writing a lulling, lyrical, and/or emotive effect.
Allusion
an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.
Ambiguity
a word, phrase, statement, or idea that can be understood in more than one way
Anadiplosis
a device in which the last word or phrase of one clause, sentence, or line is repeated at the beginning of the next
Analogy
something that shows how two things are alike, but with the ultimate goal of making a point about this comparison
Anaphora
the repetition of words or phrases in a group of sentences, clauses, or poetic lines
Anecdote
a usually short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident.
Antecedent
grammatical device in which a pronoun, noun, or other word refers to an earlier noun or phrase
Antithesis
pairs exact opposite or contrasting ideas in a parallel grammatical structure
Aphorism
short statement or catch phrase containing a well-known or general truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner
Apostrophe
a speech or address to a person who is not present or to a personified object
Asyndeton
the omission of the conjunctions that ordinarily join coordinate words or clauses
Atmosphere
the way an author uses setting, objects, or internal thoughts of characters to create emotion, mood, or experiences for the reader
Chiasmus
a two-part sentence or phrase, where the second part is a mirror image of the first
Clause
a group of words that contains a subject and a verb that have a relationship
Conduplicatio
Figure of repetition in which the key word or words in one phrase, clause, or sentence is/are repeated at or near the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases
Colloquialism
utilizes informal words or phrases
Coherence
chieved when sentences and ideas are connected and flow together smoothly
Conceit
an extended rhetorical device, summed up in a short phrase, that refers to a situation which either does not exist, or exists rarely, but is needed for the plot
Connotation
the use of a word to suggest a different association than its literal meaning
Denotation
the objective meaning of a word
Diction
choice of words, especially with regard to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.
Didactic
A written or spoken work that is didactic is designed or intended to teach people something
Enumeratio
Figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details, and may include a listing of causes, effects, problems, solutions, conditions, and consequences; the listing or detailing of the parts of something.
Expletive
Figure of emphasis in which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis to the words on either side of the expletive.
Euphemism
an appropriate expression used in the place of a phrase or words that may be found inappropriate or offensive
Exposition
the background information on the characters and setting explained at the beginning of the story
Extended metaphor
a version of metaphor that extends over the course of multiple lines, paragraphs, or stanzas of prose or poetry
Figurative language
asking the reader or listener to understand something by virtue of its relation to some other thing, action, or image
Figure of speech
word or phrase that possesses a separate meaning from its literal definition
Generic conventions
the features shown by texts that allow them to be put into a specific genre
Genre
story elements such as character archetypes, key events, and settings that are commonly found in a specific genre
Homily
a sermon or speech delivered typically by a member of the clergy whose purpose is to offer a moral change in direction
Hyperbole
a device in which an author creates an over-exaggerated situation or image for emotional effect.
Hypophora
a strategy in which a speaker or writer raises a question and then immediately answers it
Imagery
uses vivid description that appeals to a readers’ senses to create an image or idea in their head
Inference
logical deductions are made based on premises assumed to be true
Invective
the literary device in which one attacks or insults a person or thing through the use of abusive language and tone
Irony
a situation in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality
Juxtaposition
places two or more dissimilar characters, themes, concepts, etc. side by side, and the profound contrast highlights their differences
Litotes
the signature literary device of the double negative
Loose sentence
the independent clause is at the beginning, followed by one or more dependent clauses.
Metaphor
a comparison between two things that are otherwise unrelated
Metonymy
a figure of speech in which one object or idea takes the place of another with which it has a close association
Mood
a feeling that can refer to the emotional state of mind of a person/character or the atmosphere of a story.
Narrative
the telling of related events in a cohesive format that centers around a central theme or idea (a story)
Onomatopoeia
the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it
Oxymoron
a rhetorical term that describes words or phrases that, when placed together, create paradoxes or contradictions
Paradox
functions as a means of setting up a situation, idea, or concept that appears on the surface to be contradictory or impossible
Parallelism
coordinate ideas are arranged in phrases, sentences, and paragraphs that balance one element with another of equal importance and similar wording
Parody
an imitation of the style and manner of a particular writer or school of writers
Pedantic
someone who is concerned with precision, formalism, accuracy, and minute details in order to make an arrogant and ostentatious show of learning
Periodic sentence
a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This
independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. The effect of a periodic sentence is to add
emphasis and structural variety
Personification
author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by
endowing them with human attributes or emotions. Personification is used to make these abstractions, animals, or objects
appear more vivid to the reader.
Polysyndeton
repetition of conjunctions in close succession
Point of view
, the vantage point from which a story is presented
Predicate adjective
adjectives that modify or describe the subject of a sentence or clause and are linked to the subject by a linking verb
Predicate nominative
a grammar term that describes a noun clause in the predicate of certain sentences
Prose
the ordinary language people use in speaking or writing
Repetition
involves intentionally using a word or phrase for effect, two or more times in a speech or written work
Rhetoric
the art of speaking or writing effectively
Rhetorical question
A question asked without expecting an answer but for the sake of emphasis or effect
Sarcasm
a literary device that uses irony to mock someone or something or convey contempt
Satire
the art of making someone or something look ridiculous, raising laughter in order to embarrass, humble, or discredit its targets
Semantics
the interpretation of language, including words, sentences, phrasing, and symbols
Style
the way in which an author writes and/or tells a story
Subject complement
a word or phrase (usually an adjective phrase, noun phrase, or pronoun) that follows a linking verb and describes or renames the subject of the sentence
Subordinate clause
a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it merely complements a sentence’s main clause, thereby adding to the whole unit of meaning
Syllogism
a kind of logical argument that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two propositions that are asserted or assumed to be true
Symbolism
the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense
Synecdoche
a literary device in which a part of something is substituted for the whole) or less commonly, a whole represents a par
Syntax
arrangement of words to form a sentence
Theme
a universal idea, lesson, or message explored throughout a work of literature
Thesis
the major claim or point made by an author in a work of writing
Tone
a literary device that reflects the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience of a literary work
Transition
a word or phrase that connects one idea to another
Understatement
description of something as having much less of a particular quality than it does
Undertone
the secondary tone or meaning of a literary work (might be more complicated)
wit
a biting or insightful kind of humor. It includes sharp comebacks, clever banter, and dry, one-line jokes. It is often cynical or insulting
