Vocab Test #2 Flashcards
Denotation
The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.
Diacope
Repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase.
Word/phrase, . . ., word/phrase
Diction
Related to style, diction refers to the writers word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.
Didactic
From the Greek, didactic literally means “teaching”. Didactic works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.
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
From the Greek for ‘good speech”, euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. The euphemism may be sued to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement.
Exposition
In essays, one of the four chief types of composition, the others being argumentation, description, and narration. The purpose of exposition is to explain something. In drama, the exposition is the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict.
Extended Metaphor
A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work.
Figurative Language
Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.
Figure of speech
A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. figures of speech include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement.
Generic conventions
This terms describes traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre; for example, they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing.
Genre
The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. However, genre is a flexible term; within these broad boundaries exist many subdivisions that are often called genres themselves.
Homily
This term literally means “sermon”, but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.
Hyperbole
A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Hyperboles often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony.
Hypophora
Figure of reasoning in which one or more questions is/are asked and then answered, often at length, by one and the same speaker; raising and responding to one’s own question(s). A common usage is to ask the question at the beginning of a paragraph and then us the paragraph to answer it. You can use the hypophora to raise questions in which you think the reader obviously has on his/her mind and would like to see formulated and answered.
Imagery
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the five senses; we refer to visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory imagery. On a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represent more than one thing.
