English Vocab Terms

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Aesthetics

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philosophical investigation into the nature of beauty and the perception of beauty, especially in the arts; the theory of art or artistic taste

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Allegory

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A story or visual image with a second distinct meaning partially hidden behind its literal or visible meaning. In written narrative, it involves a continuous parallel between 2 or more levels of meaning in a story, so that its persons and events correspond to their equivalents in a system of ideas or a chain of events external to the tale.

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Allusion

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An indirect or passing reference to some event, person, place, or artistic work, the nature and relevance of which is not explained by the writer but relies on the reader's familiarity with what is thus mentioned. The technique of allusion is an economical means of calling upon the history or the literary tradition that author and reader are assumed to share

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Ambiguity

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Opennes to different interpretations: or an instance in which some use of language may be understood in diverse ways. Defended by modern literary critics as a source of poetic richness rather than a fault of imprecision

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Canon

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Abody of works considered authentic (as in the body of works actually written by a particular author) or considered by a particular culture or subculture to be central to its cultural identity

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Connotation

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The emotional implications and associations that words may carry, as distinguished from their denotative meanings

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Convention

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An established practice whether in technique, style, structure, or subject matter. Commonly adopted in literary works by customary and implicit agreement or precedent rather than by natural necessity

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Denotation

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The basic dictionary meaning of a word, as opposed to its connotative meaning

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Diction

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Literary word choice

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Didactic

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A work designed to impart information, advice, or some doctrine of morality or philosophy