Yellow Words Flashcards
a word free from limitations or qualifications (“best,” “all,” “unique,” “perfect”)
absolute
a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize
allusion
a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way
analogy
a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event
anecdote
insincere or overly sentimental quality of writing/speech intended to evoke pity
bathos
an expression that has been overused to the extent that its freshness has worn off
cliche
the implied or associative meaning of a word
connotation
literal meaning of a word
denotation
language employing one or more figures of speech (simile, metaphor, imagery, etc.)
figurative language
intentional exaggeration to create an effect (understatement is its opposite) both often used in irony
hyperbole
a question that raises a hypothesis, conjecture, or supposition
hypothetical question
the use of figures of speech to create vivid images that appeal to one of the senses
imagery
the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or, incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs
irony
placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast
juxtaposition
a direct comparison of two different things
metaphor
the emotional atmosphere of a work. This is related to but different than tone which is the author’s treatment of a subject
mood
a standard theme, element, or dramatic situation that reocurs
motif
a character’s incentive or reason for behaving in a certain manner; that which impels a character to act
motivation
an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth
paradox
(archetype)–a person or group that bears the blame for another
scapegoat
a comparison of two things using “like,” “as,” or other specifically comparative words “than”
simile
the choices a writer makes; the combination of distinctive features of a literary work
style
an object that is used to represent something else
symbol
a central idea of a work
theme
the attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience
tone
a construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions
asyndeton
a restatement of a text in a different form or in different words, often for the purpose of clarity
paraphrase
the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural
polysyndeton
the vantage point from which a story is told
point of view
the one who tells the story; may be first person, third person, limited, omniscient, or objective
narrator
narrator in poetry
speaker
a narrator who presents the story as the main character, uses “I”
first person
a narrator who presents the story as it is seen and understood by a single character and restricts information to what is seen, heard, thought, or felt by that one character (also called third person limited)
limited narrator
the narrator’s voice is subsumed into a character’s perspective to the extent that the reader doesn’t notice that s/he is now getting information from a character in the story other than the narrator. This is much like third person limited; however, it often happens with an omniscient narrator who dips in and out of other character’s thoughts within a scene or segment of a book.
free indirect discourse
a narrator who is able to know, see, and tell all, including the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters
omniscient narrator
a narrator that moves the reader’s attention through the story like a roving movie camera
objective narrator
the point of highest interest in a literary work
climax
process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions primarily through art
catharsis
a moment of sudden revelation or insight
epiphany
a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story
flat character
the presentation of material in such a way that the reader is prepared for what is to come later in the work
foreshadowing
a traditional story presenting supernatural characters and episodes that help explain natural events
myth
the use of corresponding grammatical or syntactical forms
parallelism
the action of a narrative or drama
plot
the falling action of a narrative; the events following the climax
resolution
a character who demonstrates some complexity and who develops or changes in the course of a work
round character
a change in the tone, meaning, or other aspect in a literary work
shift
the time, place, and environment in which the book takes place–including the historical setting and the culture
setting
the point in a work in which a very significant change occurs
turning point
the primary position taken by a writer or speaker
thesis
the subject treated in a paragraph or work
topic
