Ap Comp Vocab Abstract-Irony

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abstract

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represent ideas or thoughts--generalities

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aesthetic distance

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a total objectivity of writer wherin his/her views and judgments are withheld in his/her account of human experience.

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allegory

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the recounting of an unreal series of experiences bearing such close resemblance to reality as to encourage the reader to make the association

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ambiguity

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lack of clarity in a work consciously used as a phase of the author's view of his/her world or characters and reflecting the vagueness of life

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anachronism

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the incorporation of an event, scene, or person who does not correspond with the time period portrayed inthe work

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analogy

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a comparison between two similar things

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appolonian

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refers to the noble qualities of human beings and nature

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apologue

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an allegorical story conveying a useful lesson; most frequently deals with animals or inanimate

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archetype

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a plot which repeats basic historical or primitive life patterns

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bard

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Modern: a poet
Historic: referred to poets who related stories of heroes to the accompaniment of a musical instrument such as the harp

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baroque

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an elaborate and unstructured style

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bathos

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the use of ludicrous, commonplace speech or writing; anticlimax

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belles-lettres

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a body of literature including drama, poetry, fiction, and criticism which is inherently artistic, as opposed to scientific writing

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bombast

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inflated language

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burlesque

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a literary composition that aims to provoke laughter by ridiculing serious works

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caricature

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a grotesque likeness of striking characteristics in person or things

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carpe diem

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one should enjoy life to the fullest

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catharsis

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a cleansing of the spirit of the spectator at a tragedy through experiencing the emotions of pity and terror

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Classicism

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implies objectivity and simplicity, restraint and formality

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conceit

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a figure of speech in which a striking association is made between two seemingly dissimilar things

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concrete

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things that have actual existence

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denouement

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the final resolution of the strands of plot, complications or problems

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dues ex machina

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the employment of any artificial device of gimmick that the author uses to solve a difficult situation

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diction

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the selection of words in oral or written discourse

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dionysian

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refers to the sensual pleasure-seeking qualities of man and nature

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empathy

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a feeling of association or identification with an object; experiencing its sensations and responding with similar feelings

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epigram

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the ingenious, witty, thoughtful, provocative statement ending a short poem

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existentialism

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a view of life that emphasizes existence as opposed to essence; human beings are presented as unable to solve basic enigmas of life

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expressionism

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a form of art in which the artist depicts the inner essence of man and projects his view of the world as colored by that essence

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fable

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a short story designed to teach a useful lesson; its characters are usually animals or inanimate things

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fantasy

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the creation of unreal worlds and people, bearing a relation to the real

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genre

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a term used to describe literary forms such as tragedy, comedy, novel, and essay

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hamartia

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aristotle's term for the protagonist's tragic flaq or tragic error judgment

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hubris

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aristotle's term for the pride of the tragic hero that leads him to ignore or overlook warnings of impending disaster or to break moral laws

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humanism

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in common usage, an attitude that emphasizes human interests; an optimistic view of human potential

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humor

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the quality in action, speech, or writing which excites amusement;less intellectual than wit and having a more sympathetic tone

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impressionism

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the presentation of the salient features of a scene, event, or person as the appear to the author at the time

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invective

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use of denunciatory, angry, and insulting language

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irony

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contrast between what is said and what is really happening