Huck Finn Study

Malaprop

the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect

deus ex machina

an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel

bildungsroman

a novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education - a coming-of-age story

picaresque

relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero

sentimentalism

the excessive expression of feelings of tenderness, sadness, or nostalgia in behavior, writing, or speech

Irony

The contrast between what appears to be true and what is actually true; also the contrast between what the reader expects and what actually happens

Socratic Irony

a pose of ignorance assumed in order to entice others into making statements that can then be challenged

Satire

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues

Anaphora

repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

Motif

recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes

Frame Story

a narrative that frames or surrounds another story or set of stories. It usually appears at the beginning and end of that larger story and provides important context and key information for how to read it

Intercalary Chapter

a chapter in a novel or novella that is relevant to the theme, but does not involve the main characters or further the plot