Humanities

Allegory

a story that offer both a literal and figurative interpretation. The story is symbolic on every level.

Allegory

example: “Little Red Riding Hood”

Allusion

A reference to something in history,literature, culture, society

Allusion

example: He has a Napoleonic quality about him.

Alliteration

Repitition of consonant sounds.

Alliteration

Example: Beowulf boldly brandished his battle sword.

Apostrophe

Adressing something that is dead, not human, or nor present.

Apostrophe

example: O Shy Sun, why won’t you shine on me?

Anachronism

The placing of a person, event, or thing outside of its historical era. Most often purposeful.

Anachronism

example: Shakespeare has a clock striking in the scene prior to Julius Caesar’s death-this is for effect only since Ancient Rome did not have striking clocks.

Archetype

Narratives, designs, patterns, or character types often found in literature.

Archetype

example: A hero is typically strong, virtuous, and steadfast in his efforts.

Assonance

repetition of vowel sounds

Assonance

example: The May day made the fields sway in a spray of lilacs and a faint scent of hay.

Connotation

the implied meaning of a word.

Connotation

example: That is “cool”

Denotation

the literal meaning of a word

Denotation

example: That is “temperate, not warm”.

Diction

word choice

Diction

My mind pricked with anger-(the word “pricked” reveals the author’s tone towards the person he/she is adressing here)

Elements of Plot

Exposition: the conflict, setting, and conflict are introduced.

Rising Action: the action builds on the exposition.

Complications: events that are added to build on tension

Climax: the point of the highest tension/turning point.

Falling Action: immediately follows climax-immediate consequences

resolution: the final

Elements of Plot

example: All stories have most or all of these elements.

“Cliffhangers” end the plot at the climax-leaving readers wondering about the falling action and resolutions

Enjambment

A tool in poetry where a sentence or thought keeps going past the end of a line without any punctuation. This technique can be deployed to increase reading speed, to build suspense between lines by cutting off a thought before it is finished, or lead to a surprise twist in the next line.

Epithet

A descriptive phrase used to describe a person or thing-often used in place of it.

Epithet

example: The Trojan warrior is an … for Odysseus.

Figurative language

Language that is used in a non-literal way for added meaning and effect.

Foreshadow

To hint at future events.

Genre

A term that denotes a type of literature or literary form.

Hyperbole

a great exaggeration

Imagery

use of sensory details to describe something

Dramatic irony

when the audience/readers know something that character doesn’t

Verbal/literal irony

when the literal meaning is the opposite of the implied

Situational irony

when a scene or story end that opposite way one would expect

juxtaposition

An intentional placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

implied metaphor

when an inderect comparison is made between two different things

named metaphor

a direct comparison between two different things

meter

a recognized pattern of beats and stresses in verse-rhythm

mood

the feeling or atmosphere of a work

motif

a specific element, event, things that reoccur throught a specific work for added meaning