axolot vocab

Abstraction

Abstraction

refers to concepts or values that cannot be seen, such as love or honor. Writers illustrate these ideas through metaphorical comparisons to concrete objects, enhancing understanding.

Allegory

 literary device where abstract ideas are represented through characters and events. For example, in George Orwell's Animal Farm, the farm animals symbolize different political figures and ideologies.

Alliteration

 involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds, creating rhythm and musicality in language. An example is the phrase 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.'

Assonance

 is the repetition of vowel sounds within words in close proximity, enhancing the lyrical quality of poetry. For instance, 'The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.'

Cacophony

refers to a series of harsh, discordant sounds used intentionally to create a jarring effect, often found in works that aim to evoke discomfort.

Analogy

is a comparison between two different things that highlights similarities, often used to clarify complex ideas. For example, comparing life to a journey.

Apostrophe

 is a direct address to an absent or imaginary person or an abstraction, such as in John Keats' Ode to a Nightingale, where he addresses the nightingale directly.

Antithesis

presents contrasting ideas in a balanced structure, such as in Charles Dickens' famous line, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.'

Antagonist

is a character who opposes the protagonist, creating conflict. In Harry Potter, Voldemort serves as the primary antagonist.

Archetypical Characters

are universally recognized figures, such as the hero, the mentor, or the trickster, that embody specific human experiences.

Caricature

exaggerates traits for comedic or critical effect, often seen in political cartoons or satirical literature.

Anecdote

 is a brief story that illustrates a point, often used in speeches or essays to engage the audience.

Bildungsroman

is a coming-of-age story that follows the protagonist's growth from childhood to adulthood, exemplified by novels like To Kill a Mockingbird.

Aside

 refers to a character's spoken words directed to the audience, unheard by other characters, often used in plays to reveal inner thoughts.

Ballad

 is a narrative poem with a song-like quality, typically structured in quatrains with an abcb rhyme scheme, often telling a story of love or tragedy.

Blank Verse

consists of unrhymed iambic pentameter, commonly used in English dramatic poetry, such as in the works of Shakespeare.

Cadence

refers to the rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words, contributing to the overall musicality of a poem.

Archaic Language

 includes words that were once common but are now outdated, often found in older literary works.

Approximate Rhyme

uses words that have similar sounds but do not perfectly rhyme, creating a subtle musical effect.

Asyndeton

is the deliberate omission of conjunctions in a series, creating a sense of urgency or emphasis, as seen in Julius Caesar's famous line, 'I came, I saw, I conquered.'

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature or to art, history, or current events.

Anaphora

Repetition of an initial word or words to add emphasis.

Aphorism

is a short, witty statement that expresses a general truth, principle, or piece of wisdom in a memorable and concise way.

Archetype

The original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies

Archetypal Settings

Setting elements that have some universal aspect that is associated with a particular human experience

Catharsis

Refers to the emotional release felt by the audience at the end of a tragic drama.

Annotation

refers to the act of adding explanatory notes, comments, or critical insights to a text. It’s a way of interacting with the material by highlighting important points, asking questions, or noting your thoughts.

Archetypal Characters

People who fulfill specific roles within the plot or conflict and help develop the literary work’s theme, meaning, or purpose

 Attitude

The author’s way of looking at a subject, implicit in the mode/genre (tragedy, satire, etc) and essential to meaning

Caesura

A pause in a line of verse, usually near the middle of the line