Lit. Terms 10/18/13

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Abstract

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Word or idea referring to a generality, state of being or quality that can not be reached by the five senses.

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Acronym

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A coined word formed from the initial letter or syllables of successive words in a phrase. Example-radar-radio detecting and arranging

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Adjective

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Modifies, alters, changes a noun or pronoun

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Adverb

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Modifies, alters, changes a verb, adjective or other adverb

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Allegory

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writing that has a deeper meaning hidden beneath the obvious one: an extended metaphor, a story in which the people, places, and things represent general concepts or moral qualities.

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alliteration

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Repetition of consonants sounds at the beginning of words.

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Ambiguity

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Having more than one meaning, used in verbal, written, and nonverbal communication

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Analogy

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A comparison between two things in which the more complex is explained in terms of the more simple.
Example-comparing a year long profile of the stock market to a roller coaster ride.
comparison of two dissimilar things that are alike in some way. Example- he reminded me of a pig eating his swill.

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Anaphora

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The repetition of a word or words at the beginning of two or more successive line of verse, sentences, etc.

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Anecdote

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A short entertaining account of some happening, frequently personal or biographical.

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Antagonist

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Person who opposes or competes with the main character, hero, often the villain.

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Antecedent

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The noun to which the pronoun refers.

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Antithesis

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A figure of speech in which contrary ideas are expressed in a balanced sentence:oxymoron:opposing view: view contrasted with thesis.

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Aphorism

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Wise saying, usually short and written, reflecting a general truth.
Example-Hast makes waste.

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Apostrophe

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A figure of speech in which a person not present, an inanimate object, or a virtue is addressed (spoken to) directly.
Ex-Oh love, why dost thou leave me lonely?

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Attitude

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The author's or speaker's feelings towards the subject

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Cause and Effect

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Examination of the causes and effects of a situation or phenomena.
ex- essay topics such as, how did the incumbent mayor lose the election?

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Caveat

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A warning or caution; objection; dissent

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Cliche

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Trite; overused idea or statement.
ex-have a nice day

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Climax

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High point in the plot where the reader is most intrigued and does not know yet the outcome.

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Colloquial Expression

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Words and phrases used in everyday speech but avoided in formal writing.
EX-jack was bummed out over his grade.

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Concrete Detail

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Details used in a persuasive paper which attempt to conceive the reader: proof of evidence.

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Conflict

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Opposing elements or character in a plot.

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Connotation

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Surrounding feelings and associations added to word meaning.
EX- mother-kindly, nurturing, loving

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Controlling image

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an image or metaphor which runs throughout the work and determines its form and nature

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Deduction/ deductive reasoning

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a from of reasoning that begins with a generalization, then applies the generalization to a specific case or cases, opposite of induction.

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Diction

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Word choice, denotation-dictionary definition: connotation- all- all the emotions the word brings to the reader

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Didactic

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Describes literary works meant to teach a moral or a lesson- such as a fable

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Dilemma

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2 choices, but bad: or 2 choices, either one producing a bad outcome.

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Dramatic irony

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a condition in which the audience is made aware of information unknown to some of the actual characters

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Editorial

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Newspaper or magazine article expressing opinion of an editor or publisher

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Ellipsis

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Three dots... to show words have been left out of a quotation or to indicate the passage of time.

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Empathy

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Identification with an object and sharing in its physical and emotional sensations. Empathy involves ascribing the feelings and attitudes present in oneself tot he plight of characters in a literary work and the conditions of their lives.

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Ephemeral

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An adjective meaning short lived, transitory

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Epiphany

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A sudden understanding or realization which prior to this was not though or understood

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Ethos

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The moral element in dramatic literature that determines a character's situation rather than his own thought or emotion (outside factors); the fundamental spirit of a culture ( one speaks of the democratic ethos of the American people. )

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Euphemism

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More palatable word for less pleasant subject.
EX-Lady of the evening instead of prostitute or passed away instead of died.

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Expository writing

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writing that explains or analyzes

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Foil

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Character opposite or different from the protagonist, used to highlight the protagonist's traits; incidents or settings may also be used as foils.

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Genre; leterary

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a particular type or category of writing
ex-novel, science fiction

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hyperbole

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Use of extreme exaggeration
ex-she cried an ocean

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idiom

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phrase in common use that does not literally mean what it says.
ex-hold on to your hat

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in medias res

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"in the midst of things" starting a story in the middle of the action, Later the first part will be revealed.

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Jargon

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words peculiar to a particular occupation

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metonomy

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Figure of speech. The substitution of the name of an objects with a word closely associated with it.
ex-the white house for the presidency or the crown for the royal family.

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Non sequitar

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a statement that does not follow logically from what preceded it.
ex-I made an A on the test because I wore my yellow shirt.

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objective

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A tone of fairness and even discussion of a subject; it usually suggests that there is a distance between the author and the subject being discussed. Be careful, this tone can also be cold and impersonal.

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paradox

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a statement that seems to be contradictory or even absurd; however, it is found to be true.

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parallelism

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the coordination of sentence syntax, word order and ideas; used for effect and emphasis.
ex-over the hill, and through the woods and to grandmother's house we go. or the vegetable is both rich in vitamins and low in calories.

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Parody

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Satire imitating, but mocking an author's work; usually a humorous imitation of a serious work.

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pathos

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the quality in something which arouses pity, sympathy sorrow, etc.

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periodic sentence

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a sentence written so that the full meaning can not be understood until the end. The dependent clause is at the beginning and i ends with the independent clause.

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personification

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giving human like qualities to inanimate objects or ideas.