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165 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Abstract
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(n) an abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research
(adj) dealing with or tending to deal with a subject apart from a particular or specific instance |
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ad hominem
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directed to or appealing to feelings or prejudice instead of to intellect or reason
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adage
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a saying or proverb containing a truth Based on experience and other couched in a metaphorical language
ex. there is more than one way to skin a cat |
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allegory
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a story in which a second meaning is to be read beneath the surface
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alliteration
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the repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines in a poem
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allusion
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a reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of and idea
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ambiguity
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a vagueness in meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings or interpretations
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anachronism
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a person, scene, event, or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.
ex. Columbus sailing to the united states |
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analogy
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a comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things
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anecdote
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a brief narrative often used to illustrate an idea or make a point
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annotation
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a brief explanation, summary, or evaluation of a text or work of literature
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antagonist
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a character or force in a work of literature that, by opposing the protagonist, produces tension or conflict
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antecedent
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a word which refers to a pronoun
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antithesis
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a rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences
ex. "ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country" |
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aphorism
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a short, pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment
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Apollonian
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refers to the most god-like, noble, qualities of human nature and behavior
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apostrophe
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a locution that addresses a person or personified thing not present
ex. "oh, you cruel streets of Manhattan, how i detest you" |
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arch
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characterized by clever or sly humor, often saucy, playful, and somewhat irreverent.
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archetype
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an abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model or form
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assonance
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the repetition to two or more vowel sounds in a group of words in prose or poetry
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bard
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a poet; in olden time a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment
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bathos
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insincere or overdone sentimentality
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belle-lettres
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a french term for the world of books, criticism, and literature in general
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bibliography
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a list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a particular subject
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bombast
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inflated, pretentious language
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burlesque
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a work of literature mean to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation
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cacophony
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grating, inharmonious sounds
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canon
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the works considered most important in a national literature or period; works widely read and studied
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caricature
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a grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things
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carpe diem
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literally "seize the day"; enjoy life while you can; a common theme in life and literature
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circumlocution
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literally "talking around" a subject; discourse that avoids direct reference to a subject
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classic
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a highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time
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classical, classicism
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deriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity, and restraint
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clause
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a structural element of a sentence consisting of a subject and predicate
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climax
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the high point, or turning point, of a story or play
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comparison and contrast
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a mode of discourse in which two or more things are compared and contrasted; comparison often refers to similarities and contrast to differences
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conceit
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a witty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea, often stated in figurative language
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concrete detail
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a highly specific, particular, often real, actual, or tangible detail; the opposite of abstract
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consonance
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the repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a unit of speech or writings
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connotation
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the suggested or implied meaning od a word or phrase.
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critique
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an analysis or assessment of a thing or situation for the purpose of determining its nature, its limitations, and its conformity to a set of standards
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cynic
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one who expects and observes nothing but the worst of human conduct
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deductive reasoning
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a method of reasoning by which specific definitions, conclusions, and theorems are drawn from general principles.
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denotation
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the dictionary definition of a word
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denouement
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the resolution that occurs at the end of a drama or narrative, real or imagined
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descriptive detail
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graphic, exact, and accurate presentation of the characteristics of a person, place, or thing
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deus ex machina
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use of an artificial device to solve a problem
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diction
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choice of words
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didactic
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having an instructive purpose; intending to convey information or teach a lesson
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digression
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portion of discourse that wanders or departs from the main subject or topic
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Dionysian
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sensual, pleasure seeking impulses
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dramatic irony
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audience knows more than the character
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elegy
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a poem or prose selection tat laments or meditates on the passing or death of someone or something or value. (elegiac)
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ellipsis
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... omition of a word(s)
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elliptical construction
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a sentence deliberately omitting words
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empathy
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a feeling of association or identification with an object or person
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epic
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a narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero
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epigram
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a concise but witty, ingenious, and thoughtful statement
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euphony
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pleasing, harmonious sounds
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epithet
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an adjective or phrase expressing a striking quality in a person or thing
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eponymous
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a term for the title character for a work of literature
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euphemism
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mild of less negative use for a harsh or blunt term (pass away - die)
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exegesis
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a detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of prose or poetry
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expose
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a piece of writing that reveals weakness, faults, frailties, or other shortcomings
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exposition
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the background and events that leas to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of an essay or other work; the meaning of a piece of work
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explication
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the interpretation or analysis of a text
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extended metaphor
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a series of comparisons between two unlike things
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fable
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a short tale often with non-human characters from which a useful lesson may be drawn
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fallacy, fallacious reasoning
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an incorrect belief or supposition based on false information
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fantasy
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a story containing unreal or imaginary features
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farce
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a comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose
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figure of speech, figurative language
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in contrast to literal language; implies meanings; similes, metaphors, personification, ect...
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frame
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structure that provides a premise or setting for a narrative or other discourse. setting.
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genre
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a term used to describe literary forms such as a novel, play and essay
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harangue
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a forceful sermon, tirade, or lecture
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homily
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a lecture or sermon on religious or moral theme meant to guide human behavior
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hubris
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excessive pride that often reflects tone
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humanism
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a belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity
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hyperbole
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overstatement; gross, exaggeration for rhetorical effect
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idyll
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a lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life style or place
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image
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a word or phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled, or felt
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indirect quotation
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a rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased
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inductive reasoning
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a method of reasoning in which a number of specific facts or examples are used to make a generalization
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inference
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a conclusion or proposition arrived at by considering facts observations or some other specific data
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invective
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a direct verbal assault; a denunciation; casting blame on some or something
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irony
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a mode or expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule, or slight sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is in the reverse or what might have been expected
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keening
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a device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities; as in "ring giver" for kind and "whale road" for ocean
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lampoon
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a mocking, satirical assault on a person or situation
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litotes
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a form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve intensity or emphasis
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loose sentence
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a sentence that follows the customary word order of English sentences (s-v-o)
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lyrical prose
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personal, reflective prose that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject
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malapropism
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a confused use of words in which the appropriate word is replaced by one with a similar sound but inappropriate meaning
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maxim
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a saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth
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melodrama
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a literary for in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response
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metaphor
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a figure of speech that compares unlike objects without like or as
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metaphysical
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a term describing poetry that uses elaborate conceits, expresses the complexities of love and life, and is highly intellectual.
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metonymy
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a figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated
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Middle English
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the language spoken in england around 1150 AD and 1500 AD
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mock epic
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a parody or traditional epic form
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mock solemnity
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feigned or deliberately artificial seriousness, often for satirical purposes
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mode
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the general form, pattern, and manner or expression of a piece of discourse
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montage
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a quick secession or images or impressions used to express an idea
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mood
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the emotional tone to prevailing atmosphere in a work of literature or other discourse.
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moral
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a brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature
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motif
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a phrase, idea, or event through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a essay or other discourse
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muse
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one of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts; and imaginary source of inspiration from an artist or writer
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myth
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an imaginary story that has become accepted as part of the cultural or religious traditions of a group or society
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narrative
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a form of verse or prose (both fiction and non fiction) that tells a story.
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naturalism
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a view of experience characterized as bleak or pessimistic; realism often associated
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non sequitur
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a statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before
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objective (adj)
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relating to facts and reality as opposed to feelings and attitudes
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ode
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a lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject
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Old English
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the Anglo-Saxon language spoken from 450 to1100 ad in what is now great britian
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omniscient narrator
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a narrator with unlimited awareness and understanding of everything
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onomatopoeia
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the use of words who's sound suggests their meaning
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oxymoron
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a term consisting of contradictory elements to create a paradoxical statement. "loud silence"
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parable
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a story consisting of events from where a moral and spiritual truth may be found
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paradox
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a statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true
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parallel structure
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the structure required for expressing two or more grammatical elements of equal rank
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parody
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an imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject
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paraphrase
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a version of a text put into simpler, everyday words
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pastoral
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a work of literature dealing with rural life
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pathetic fallacy
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faulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or non human objects
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pathos
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element in literature the simulates pity or sorrow
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pedantic
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narrowly academic instead of broad and humane; excessively petty and meticulous
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periodic sentence
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unusual sentence with the main thought expressed only at the end; particulars presented before the ideas they support
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persona
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the role or facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader or other audiences
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personification
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a figure of speech where which objects and animals are given human characteristics
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plot
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the interrelationship among events in a story; plot line is the pattern of events
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point of view
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the relation in which the narrator or speaker stands to a subject; opinion
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predicate
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the part of the sentence that is not the grammatical subject
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prose
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any discourse that is not poetry
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proverb
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a short pithy statement of general truth; condenses a common experience into a memorable form
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pseudonym
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a false name or alias used by writers
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pulp fiction
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novels written for mass consumption; often emphasizing exciting plots
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pun
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a humorous play on words using similar sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings
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realism
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the depiction of people, things, and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect; naturalism (not as pessimistic)
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rebuttal/refutation
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the part of discourse where opposing arguments are anticipated and answered
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reiteration
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repetition of an idea using different words, often for emphasis or another effect
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repetition
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reuse of the same words, phrases, or ideas for rhetorical effect, usually to emphasize a point
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retraction
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the withdrawal of a previously stated idea or opinion
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rhetoric
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the language of a work and its style; words, often highly emotional, used to convince or sway an audience
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rhetorical mode
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a general term that identifies discourse according to its chief purpose
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rhetorical question
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a question to which the audience already knows the answer, no answer expected
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rhetorical stance
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language that conveys a speaker's attitude or opinion with regard to a particular subject
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rhyme
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the repetition of similar sounds at irregular intervals
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rhyme
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the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up speech and writing
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romance
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an extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places
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sarcasm
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a sharp, caustic attitude conveyed in words through jibes, taunts, or other remarks
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satire
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a literary style used to poke fun at, attack, or ridicule an idea, vice, or foible often for the purpose of inducing change
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sentence structure
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the arrangements of the parts of a sentence. Simple, compound, complex
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sentiment
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a synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in literature
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sentimental
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a term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish
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setting
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an environment that consists of time, place, historical milieu, and social, political, and even spiritual circumstances
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simile
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a figurative comparison using the words like or as
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steam of consciousness
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a style of wringing in which the author ties to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind
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style
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the manner in which the author uses and arranges words, shapes ideas, forms sentences, and creates a structure to convey ideas
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stylistic devices
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a general tern reffering to diction, syntax, tone, figurative language, and all other elements that contribute to the "style" or manner of a given piece of discourse
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subject complement
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the name of a grammatical unit that is comprised of predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives
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subjective
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(adj) of or relating to private and personal feelings and attitudes as opposed to facts and reality
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subtext
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the implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of and essay or other work
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syllogism
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a form of deductive reasoning in which given certain ideas or facts, other ideas or facts must follow
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symbolism
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the use of one object to evoke ideas and associations not literally part of the original object
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synecdoche
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a figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole, or whole signifies the part. when the name of the material stands for the thing itself
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syntax
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the organization of language into meaningful structure; every sentence has a particular syntax or patter of words
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