Literature Term

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analogy

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a comparison using a recognizable concept/image to explain something unfamiliar

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antagonist

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the counter force or opponet who provides conflict in the play or story, confronting or attempting to complicate the life of the central character or protagonist

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archetype

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a recurrent image emerges from deep seated associations that are anchored in universal role assumed by a character ex: the prodical son, damsal in distress, or knight-errant

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caricature

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exaggeration, a term that describes characters that are comically distorted by the exaggeration of key traits that make them seem ridiculous or worthy of parody

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character

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person in a literary work sometimes referred to flat or round

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climax

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the culmination of events in the story, novel or play, the highest point of interest or intensity

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characterization

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the way in which an author represents or portrays a character for the reader

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conflict

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the central tension and point of suspense in a literary work
it is possible that a character can be in conflict with himself

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connation

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the emotional sense of the word, an association or attitude that is embedded in a words meaning, or is brought to mind by the mention of a word or phrase. ex: the word odor might mean the same thing as scent

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dark humor

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sardonic, sarcastic, paradoxical form of humor that allows readers or audiences to observe and find comedy in disastrous or sobering event such as deaths illness misfort

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denotation

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the literal definition of a word, devoid of contextual or emotional issues or connotations.

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denouement

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the conclusion or untying and unraveling of events in a story

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dialet

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regional variations in the speech of a common

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dialogue

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a verbal exchange between two
or more

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diction

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the writers choice or use of words

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empathy

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a kind of smpathy that allows us to identify with the experiences emotions situations and motives of another person or character

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epiphany

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a moment of sudden realization or understanding in which the true meaning of certain events is revealed

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exposition

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the part of play story or novel in which the author establishes setting situatins and often central characters and themes

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falling action

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action that is usually composed of the characters immediate reactions and responses to the climactic events of a story

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first person narrative

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a narrative that tells his/her own story using 1st person pronouns I, ME, WE, US. narrator tells the story knowing only infornation that he or she can observe based on his or her limited perspective

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flash back

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a reversion back to events that have previously taken place. that allows the writer to interrupt normal chronological order on the narative

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flat character

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a character who is easily describle or represented with a one tract personality or who is representative of a sterotype

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genre

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a type of mode or writing ex: drama short stories essays poems novels etc

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TYPE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
irony

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dicrepancy between what is perceived and what is real

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mimesis

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from latin for "mirror" this refers to the authors means of representing or mirroring reality in fiction

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mood

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the overriding dominate emotional quality presents in a literary work created by the author description of theme setting or character

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narrator

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in a story the person speaking to the reader or telling the reader the story

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omniscient

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all knowing or able to see everything at once. usually used in reference to an omniscient narrative voice

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plot

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the way an author represents a chain of events within a literary work

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point of view

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the perspective or vantage point by which the reader is able to see or experience certain events within a story or poem.
points of view:
first person, second person, third person limited, third person omniscent and third person objective

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prose

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language is unmetered, unrhymned, what we speak everyday, and that is printed from the left to the right margin

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protagonist

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the central character in a piece of drama or fiction
the root of the word is agon greek for contest
ex; hero main character in contest or conflict with the antagonist

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rising action

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the increasing conflit or struggle within a story the culmination of which will result in the climax
the means in which the suspense of the story is established

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round characters

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a character that is more developed or complicated exhibiting a range of responses emotions, and loyalties

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satire

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the use of humor and wit and ridicule

satires are meant to expose some folly in human behavior for the purpose of social echange, reform or awareness.

satire is a mode manifestation of authorial attitute (tone)

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second person narrative

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more rare than first or third person. look for the subjective pronoun "you" as the subject or primary character of the piece

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setting

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the place where a story occurs ( may refer to the time as well as the place of a story)

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analyzing novels by these 5 things

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what is the story plot & subplots =
introduction, exposition, complication,rising action, climax, falling action, denoumnet, conclusion

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stock characer

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exists because the the plot demands it
ex: a guman that robs a bank will require stock characters, the bankers lovely daughter

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sterotype

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ex: a sheiff in a small town, football player is all brawn

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TYPE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
allegory

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type of symbolism, a description or narrative (poetry or prose)with a secondary meaning

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theme

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the why of the story,the unifying central subject or idea, turns a topic into a statement
EX: good things come to those who wait

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setting

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is the where element of the story, also the when and atmosphere

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author style

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the how, word choice, (syntax)
word order, sentence length & type, choice of narrative voice

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essays speculative, argumentive, narrative, expository

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spectculative= looks at ideas rather then explaines them, also may be said to be meditative.

argumentive - always clear and to the point and provides evidence to support it.

narrative and expository - have elements of both argumentive and speculative modes

expository- the primary purpose to explain and clarify ideas

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stream of conciousness

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a narrative technique that attempts to simulate the complete flow of a characters thoughts, in the form of memories, dreams, sensory impressions, and conversations

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subplot

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a second plot usually one that involves minor characters
this plot is subordinate to the main plot

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symbol

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anything that represents more than itself

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third person narrative

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a narrator tells the story from one characters point of view using 3rd persons pronouns SHE, HER, HIM, IT, THEY. THEM.

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third person objective narrative

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tells the story like a cam corder would
reavealing the sights and sounds it percieves
recognize the narrator by the lack of emotion or personal interest in the subject

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third person omniscient

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a narrative in which the writer uses an all seeing or all knowing narrator who is aware of all of the prtivate thoughts emotions and behaviors of each character

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turning point

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the point at which things change irrevocably for the characters

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abstract language

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language that refers to concepts ideas quralities or abstracts rather then people,
cannot be experienced by the 5 senses.
examples: love pride bravery are abstracts. rock man car are concrete.

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alexandrine

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contains 6 iambic feet
may be referred to iambic hexameter

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alliteration

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repetition of similiar consonant sounds, occuring at the begining of consecutive words

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allusion

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reference to another character setting, concept, association, or memory signifcant to the reader

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ambiguity

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double or multiple layers of meaning in a work
demands interpretation

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analogy

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a comparison that uses a known thing or idea to explain something vague or unfamiliar

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anapest

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a metrical foot of 2 unaccented syllables followed by an accented syllable
(example jamboree)

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archaism

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use of outdated or obselete language for affect or to complicate a definition

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assonance

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repition of vowel sounds in a stance or sentence. assonace maybe internal or an "a" in the middle of consecutive words or at the end of a line to prompt a rhyme.

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ballad

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a narrative poem that focuses on an event or episode told without authorial comment. THE form is of 4 quadrants of alternating 4 and 3 stress iambic lines. 2nd and 4th will rythme. ballads will use a refrain the last lines of each stanze are nearly identical.

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blank verse

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unrythmed verse
a conventional meter often associated with Shahesperes plays

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casesura

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a strong pause or break within a line of verse ( latin for cutting)

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carpe diem

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used in the 16th and 17th century england. urging the reader to take advantage of each day before time runs out, latin for sieze the day.

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conceit

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an extended metaphor or comparison

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concrete language

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langauage that emplys vivid graphic images that appeals to the senses

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consonance

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a repition of similiar sounds
typically consonant sounds at the ends of words
(example: purse curse, horse purse, turn burn)

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couplet

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2 rhymed lines of verse
couplets may appear in a stanze or maybe self contained and set away from the rest of the text. in this case this would be referred to a closed couplet

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dactyl

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1 stressed syallable followed by 2 unstressed syallables ( example admiral or carousel)

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dimeter

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a line of poetry that consist of 2 metrical feet

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dramatic monologue

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a poem in which 1 speaker addresses another person in the form of a monologue.
(a character in the poem that is only recognizable to the speaker)

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elegy

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a poem read on the ocassion of death. ( the subject of death, human frality, and mortality)

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end ryhme

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a true ryhme that sounds like an echo of similiar sounds (ex: the rythming of tense/defense, or pure/cure)

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end stop line

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a lone of verse that ends with a period, colon, or semicolon

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enjambment

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occurs when one line in a poem runs on to another without pause or puncuation

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epigraph

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a short quotation or obeservation related to the theme of a work that is placed at the begining of the piece or chapter

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explication

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a line by line explanation of a literay text. a step by step reading of the work

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feminine rhyme

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2 syllable rhymes in which the last syllables are unstressed
( ex: flying /crying)

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figurative language

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language not meant to be taken literally
narrowed down this language would be a metaphor
(learn to read between the lines for meaning)

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foot

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the smallest unit of verse in a poem. a foot is composed of one stress and 1 or more unstressed syallables( ex: anapest iamb dactyl trochee and spondee

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free verse

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poetry that is open in form and free of a pattern meter and rhyme. possess its own pattern and rhyme

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heptameter

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verse line that consist of 7 metrical feet

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heroic couplet

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lines of iambic pentameter that rhyme aa bb cc and so forth
Often this couplets are closed or end stopped.

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hexameter

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a line of verse that is composed of 6 metrical feet

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hyper bole

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figuarative language that includes overstatement or exaggeration

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iamb

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a metrical foot consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (ex: today or defered)

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imagery

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figurative language that refers or makes reference to physical sensation. (usually sight or touch)

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internal ryhme

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2 or more words in a line of poetry that rhyme within the line itself rather than at the end of a line.

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masculine rhyme

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occurs when the last stressed syllable rhymes as in dog /fog

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metaphor

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a figure of speech containing 2 elements and one element is provided with certain attributes or characteristics by being equated with the second element
something described as though it were something else
ex: " life is a bowel of cherries"

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meter

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recuuring patterns of syllables in lines of verse. this syllables may be stressed or unstressed. each metrical unit is called a foot

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nonameter

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a verse line that consist of 1 metrical foot

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octamenter

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verse line that containes 8 metrical feet

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octave

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stanz containing 8 lines, the opening eight lines of an italian sonnet that are followed by a concluding the poem. the octave will be followed by rhymed abbaabba.

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ode

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a poem reserved for solemn, important subjects to pay homage to people, places or things

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off rhyme

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know as a oblique line, occures when words of marginal structure relationship are made to rhyme ex:( pearl acohol ) and will not match completely

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onamatopeia

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words whose sounds seem to correspond to and reflect there meaning ex: pop. buzz hiss, or stream

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oxymoron

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means literally silly, a figure of speech in which contradicts ideas and are combined to create a paradoxical phrase or statement ex: thunderous silence, manic grace, wise fool.

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pentameter

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a line that contains 5 metrical feet

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persona

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the assumed identity that the writer presents when speaking to his reader, maybe related to real life personality of the writer or maybe moved removed from it serving as a mask or disguise

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personification

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to attribute human qualities to nonhuman things
such as animals, certain aspects of nature, abstractions, or ideas

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petrarchan sonnet

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alos refered to as an italian sonnet, begins with an 8 line segment or octavewith a rhyme scheme abbabba followed by a sestet ( 6 line segment) with a rhyme scheme that varied often cdcdee or cdecde. this type of sonnet will have a turning point narrative turn, after the 1st two quatraints and before the concluding setset

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poetic line

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a unit of poetry consisting of words and phrases that are printed on one side of the page

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quatrain

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set of 4 lines, such as 2 sets of 4 lines taht form the opening of a petrachan sonnet

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refrain

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a group of lines, usually at the end of a stanza in a folk song, ballad or poem that echoes, or repeats at intervals in the poem.

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rhyme

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words with repetitions of the final stressed vowel sounds
( example cat/rat and debate/ relate)

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rhythm

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created by the relationship between stressed and unstressed syllables

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scansion

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a system of reading charting or identify the underlying beat or meter of a poetic work

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sestet

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a stanza consisting of six lines

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simile

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an imaginative figure of speech that shows comparison by using the words "like" "as" or "as if". the simili is more of a direct statement that something is like something else. EX: o my love is like a red red rose.

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shakespearean sonnet

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also referred to as the english or elizabethan sonnet

arranged as 3 quadrants
4 line segments and a couplet the

rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg

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sonnet

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crafted 14 line poem in an iambic pentameter. there are different types of sonnets EX: petrarchan spenserian shakespearean

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spenserian stanza

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9 line stanza following the rhythming pattern abab bcb cdcd ee

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spenserian sonnet

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a sonnet like shakespearearn sonnet, consists of 3 quatrains, a couplet,

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spondee

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2 consecutive stressed syllables
for ex: the word base ball or daylight

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stanza

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a group of lines in a poem that have either structural topical or metrical relationship. often stanzas will possess a metrical and rhyme scheme that will be repeat or varied in later stanzas of the poem.

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stress

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a accent or emphasis that makes one syllable stand out from others in a word or phrase

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tercet

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a set of three lines or a stanza consisiting of 3 lines

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tetrameter

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a line that consists of 4 metrical feet

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trimeter

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verse line that consists of 3 metrical feet

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triplet

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a sequence of three rhymed lines of verse

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trochee

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a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable EX: master or movie

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understatement

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highly figure of speech that attempts to represent something as being less important than is it

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verse

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a term that is often used interchangeably with poetry but also refers to a stanza of a poem

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villanelle

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a french form of verse consisting of nineteen lines any length divided into six stanzas

five tercet and one quatrain that consists of 2 lines and 2 refrains

line 1 will be repeated as lines 6, 12, and 18.
line 3 will be repeated as lines 9, 15, and 19

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aside

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lines of dialogue that are spoken by one character when more then one character is on stage and are only meant to be heard by members of the audience

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catharsis

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the circumstances or situations within a play that allow the audience to identify with the hero or heroine
or to assume that characters experience for a short time.

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chorus

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a group of mask dancers who will chant lyric hymns at religious festivals at ancient greece

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comedy

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usually represents situations that are designed to amused as well as instruct to delight and entertain in a dramactic production

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deus ex machina

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latin meaning "god from a machine" a mechanical contraption

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denounment

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untying refers to unraveling
the untying of the plot after climax

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dialogue

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the words characters in a play speak to each other

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TYPE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
dramatic irony

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when the audience of a literay work (usually a play) is aware of situations actions or word meanings that one or more characteres are not aware of. in other words the READER KNOWS something the character DOES not.

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farce

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an exaggerated form of comedy that derives much of its humor from slapstick humor crude jokes pratfalls hilariously inept characters , and characters and rambunctious behavior

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hubris

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greek meaning insolence or outrage, best defined as overeaching pride of humans that inevitably leads to their downfall.

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monologue

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a long uninterrupted speech by a character monologue is present with other characters present.

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pacean

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originally greek theater hymn of praise often sung in honor of god apollo

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pathos

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greek for suffering and passion refers to a quality in literature of art that arouses pity sympathy tenderness or sorrow

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peripety

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a reversal or sudden turn in the fortress of a character

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solioquy

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a speech in which a single character revels his or her feelings and inner conflict. the character is alone onstage not addressing any other characters.

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subplot

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an event or events within a play that are secondary to the to the primary driving action and plot

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tragedy

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this is one of the two of the dramatic genres as defined greek theater, the tragedy will commonly recount the story of the fall of a hero or person who occupies a high position at the begining of the play as in a fall of a king.

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tragic flaw

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a fatal flaw or shortcoming in a tragic hero or herione. the flaw may manifest itself in a character as pride anger jealously uncertainty etc.

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TYPE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
verbal irony

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when what is said is different than what is meant

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TYPE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
situational irony

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when an aspect of the situation seems incongruous
to either what seems appropriate or to what is expected

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TYPE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
metonymy

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the use of a closely related detail for the thing actually meant, EX: the white house to refer to the president

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apostrophe

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(R/T personfication) addressing someone or someone, nonliving or incapable of response as if it could hear and response.