English literary terms midterm

Original myth

A traditional story that explain to the reader how something can about in the world

First-hand account

A narrative told my someone who experienced the even directly

Puritan plain style

A simple and direct style of writing used my puritans that avoid elaborate language, clear and straightforward

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration for emphasis ex: I prize my love more than gold

Repetition

Using the same word over and over again for emphasis

Paradox

A statement that’s seems contradictory or doesn’t make sense but in the end reveals a truth and makes sense ex: that when we live no more we may live ever ( like living in heaven together)

Apostrophe

A direct address to something or someone who cannot respond ( like addressing God directly )

Conceit (extended metaphor)

A metaphor that continues throughout a literary work. Ex: in huswifery he compared his spiritual journey to a spinning wheel the whole time.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses ex: in the sinners of an angry God it’s described him holding flames over the sinners

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unrelated things ( diffrent that a simile )

Simile

A comparison using the works like or as ex: his wrath is LIKE great waters

Anecdote

A short personal story used to illustrate a point ex: in Franklin autobiography

Aphorism

A brief and wise saying examples in : a poor riachard almanack

Personification

Giving someone nonhuman human like quality’s ex: in to his excellency when discribing America as goddess

Tone

The authors attitude twords the subject in a story

Logical appeal ( logos )

Persuasion using reason, fact, or knowledge

Emotional appeal ( pathos )

Persuasion using emotion

Romanticism

A literary movement emphasizing emotion, imagination, and nature

Gothic literature

A darker for of romantisim that includes mystery, supernatural events, and physolcical depth

Alliteration

The repetition of the same sounds at the begging of a word in the same sentence

Frame story

A story within a story

Indirect characterization

when an author reveals a characters traits through actions thoughts and speech rather than a direct description

Refrain

A repeated like or phrase in poetry

Trancsendtalism

A philosophical and literary movement that emphasized individuality, nature, and self reliance

Self reliance

The belief that individuals should spend on themselves rather than on society