Reading And Literacy Terms

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Allusion

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The definition of an allusion is a statement that hints at something rather than being direct.

Saying to someone, "boy you look really tired, have you been getting enough sleep" instead of telling someone they look old because of wrinkles under their eyes is an example of an allusion.

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Antithesis-

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The definition of antithesis is a contrary or opposite opinion, concept, or characteristic.

An example of someone who is the antithesis of friendly is a grump.

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Aphorism

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The definition of an aphorism is a brief sentence or phrase that expresses an opinion or a statement.

“A penny saved is a penny earned” is an example of an aphorism.

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Assonance

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Assonance is defined as the act of repeating a vowel sound in a phrase or sentence, often in poetry.

An example of assonance in a sentence would be the repeated use of the /oo/ sound in the sentence, “True, I do like Sue.”

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blank verse

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Unrhymed verse having a regular meter, most commonly iambic pentameter.

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Caesura-

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The definition of a caesura is a break or pause, generally in a speech, song, poem.

An example of a caesura is a stop in a speech for a few seconds for a dramatic effect.

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Conceit

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Conceit is a figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors. -Love is like an oil change

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Connotation

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The definition of a connotation is an idea suggested by another idea.

An example of connotation is the name Hitler being associated with negative images.

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Consonance

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The definition of consonance is a pleasing combination of sounds or two things that are in agreement.

1. An example of consonance is when you have two words that both have a "ch" sound that are right next to each other in a sentence.
2.

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Couplet

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The definition of a couplet is two lines of verse or two lines in a poem, especially when they are the same length and they rhyme.

An example of a couplet is two rhyming lines in a Shakespearean poem.

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Denotation

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Denotation is defined as the literal dictionary definition of a word, as opposed to the feelings or emotions the word brings up.

An example of denotation is the actual definition of the word "love" listed in a dictionary, instead of all of the feelings associated with the word love

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Diction

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The definition of diction is the style of speech, or the choice of words in speaking or writing.

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Exposition

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defined as a piece of writing with facts and ideas.

An example of exposition is an essay explaining the reasons for wanting to be in the School of Education.

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Figurative language

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language used to describe someone or something by comparing to another, or using words for description that do not have a literal meaning.

An example of figurative language is someone saying "her voice sounds like Madonna."

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Free verse

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poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter.

An example of free verse is Walt Whitman's "I Dream'd in a Dream."

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Hyperbole

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a description that is exaggerated for emphasis.

An example of hyperbole is saying you are so hungry you could eat a horse.

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Iambic pentameter

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one short syllable followed by one long one, or, as in English verse, of one unaccented syllable followed by one accented one (Ex.: “Tŏ stríve, tŏ séek, tŏ fínd, ănd nót tŏ yíeld”)

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Inversion-

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* Placing an adjective after the noun it qualifies e.g. the soldier strong
* Placing a verb before its subject e.g. shouts the policeman
* Placing a noun before its preposition e.g. worlds between

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Irony

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use of words where the meaning is the opposite of their usual meaning or what is expected to happen.

1. An example of irony is someone who talks a lot having nothing to say when asked a question.
2.

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Kenning

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A figurative, usually compound expression used in place of a name or noun, especially in Old English and Old Norse poetry; for example, storm of swords is a kenning for battle.

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Metaphor

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The definition of a metaphor is a word or phrase used to compare two unlike objects, ideas, thoughts or feelings to provide a clearer description.

An example of a metaphor is calling the dependable father a rock.

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Metaphysical poetry

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It's extremely intelligent and witty. It is deeply religious but is also sure to be ironic and cynical.

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Metonymy

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is a figure of speech in which one thing is replaced with a word closely associated with it.

An example of a metonymy is referring to the King as "the Crown."

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Motif -

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a primary or recurring theme.

An example of a motif is a house decorated with the theme of horses.

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Onomatopoeia

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word that sounds like the common sound of the object it is describing.

An example of onomatopoeia is a train being called a choo choo.

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Octava rima

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Originally an Italian stanza of eight 11-syllable lines

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Oxymoron-

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s a combination of contradictory words.

An example of oxymoron is "definite maybe

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Parallelism personification

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attributing animation to something inanimate ("a grieving nation"); treating a thing or abstract quality as though it were a person.

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Quatrain

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a group of four lines in a poem.

An example of a quatrain is a stanza in a poem.

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Scansion

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1. the act of scanning, or analyzing poetry in terms of its rhythmic components

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Simile

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s a figure of speech where two unlike things are compared using the word "like" or "as" followed by a figurative example.

An example of a simile is "He is as hungry as a horse."

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Soliloquy

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a speech in a drama in which a character tells the audience how he feels by talking to himself.

An example of soliloquy is the famous speech by Macbeth that starts with "She should have died hereafter" (V.v.17).

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Synecdoche

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a figure of speech using a word that is a part to represent a whole, a whole to represent a part or a material to represent an object.

An example of a synecdoche is referring to a vehicle as "wheels," one policeman as "the police," cola as "Coke" and credit cards as "plastic."°

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Tone

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is a sound in terms of its quality, pitch, origin or power.

An example of tone is off-ke