Hot Words For The Sat Lesson 37: Literary Terms That Are Helpful To Know

Front 1

allusion

Back 1

n. an indirect reference, often to a character or theme found in another work of literature

Front 2

anecdote

Back 2

n. a short biographical account or snippet from someone's past, usually humorous

Front 3

catharsis

Back 3

n. an emotional cleansing or release of emotional tensions, fears, or pity

Front 4

euphemism

Back 4

n. a more pleasant word or phrase that replaces another that is too direct, distasteful, or offensive

TIP: "eu" means good or well

Front 5

hyperbole

Back 5

n. an exaggeration used to a creative effect

TIP: "hyper" meaning "overly" as in hyperactive

Front 6

irony

Back 6

n. an unexpected outcome or unanticipated twist of events presented in literature and in life

Front 7

metaphor

Back 7

n. a figurative device in which a direct comparison is made, without using "like" or "as"

Front 8

oxymoron

Back 8

n. contradictory terms, appearing side by side, used for rhetorical effect

Front 9

parable

Back 9

n. a brief story, told or written in order to teach a moral lesson

Front 10

parody

Back 10

n. a work that imitates the style of another literary work; may be mocking or amusing; short, humorous parodies can be called spoofs

Front 11

pathos

Back 11

n. the quality of a piece of writing that evokes pity, sympathy, or some other strong emotional response in the reader

TIP: "pathos" is Greek for suffering, as in ""empathy" or "sympathy"

Front 12

prose

Back 12

n. writing that is not poetry or rhyming verse (i.e., a novel, play or essay)

Front 13

satire

Back 13

n. a literary work, often humorous, intended to ridicule the public figures, behaviors, or political situations presented or alluded to in the work.

Front 14

vignette

Back 14

n. a brief descriptive passage in writing