english 10 (accel) exam terms

alliteration

the repetition of initial consonant sounds in successive or neighboring words

allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

assonance

the repetition of similar vowel sounds in neighboring words

atmosphere

the prevailing mood or feeling of a literary work.

blank verse

Verse (poetry) written in unrhymed iambic pentameter

caesura

a break or pause in a line of poetry

conflict

a struggle between two opposing forces or characters; conflict may be external or internal

connotation

All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests or implies

consonance

the repetition of middle or final consonant sounds in neighboring words.

couplet

two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme

denotation

the literal meaning of a word; dictionary definition

diction

A writer's choice of words

end-stopped line

a line of poetry that has a full pause at the end, typically indicated by a period or semicolon

enjambment

line of poetry that ends with no punctuation and consequently runs over into the next line

apostrophe

a direct and explicit address either to an absent person or to an abstract or nonhuman entity

hyperbole

extreme exaggeration for effect and not meant to be taken literally

metaphor

figure of speech comparing two different things

metonymy

one word substituted for another that it is closely associated with (pen mightier than the sword)

oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa ("wheels" to represent a car)

foreshadowing

A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.

free verse

Poetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme

iamb

an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one

iambic pentameter

a poetic meter that is made up of 5 stressed syllables each followed by an unstressed syllable

imagery

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

meter

A regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry

mood

alternative term for atmosphere

motif

a recurring feature (name, image, phrase) in a work of literature; it generally contributes to a theme within the work

motivation

the reasons, either stated or implied, for a character's behavior

onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

paradox

an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth

parallelism

Phrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other

quatrain

a stanza of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes.

refrain

A line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.

rhyme

the repetition of sounds at the ends of words

rhyme scheme

the ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of the lines of a poem or verse.

rhythm

the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry

setting

The context in time and place in which the action occurs.

sonnet

A popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme, usually written in iambic pentameter

symbol

an object, person, place, or action that has meaning in itself and is also used to represent something else

syntax

the way that sequences of words are ordered into phrases, clauses, and sentences

tercet

a three-line stanza or poem

theme

the general idea or insight about life that a writer wishes to express in a literary work.

tone

the attitude a writer takes toward his or her subject, characters, or audience (created by diction, imagery, detail, and syntax)

villanelle

a nineteen-line poem divided into five tercets and a final quatrain

Allusion

A reference to a person, a place, an event or a literary work that a writer expected a reader to recognize.

Anadiplosis

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase at the end of a sentence/clause is repeated at or near the beginning of the next sentence/clause.

Anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive clauses, sentences, or paragraphs. It can be used to emphasize specific diction choices, to create rhythm, or to link-compare-contrast ideas.

Antimetabole

 the repetition of words in successive clauses, but in reversed grammatical order. It can be used to emphasize specific diction choices, to link/compare/contrast ideas, or to call attention to an idea through unique inversion.

antistrophe

the repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses. It is often used to place emphasis on a particular thought or idea.

antithisis

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the juxtaposition of __opposing__ ideas in a balanced or parallel manner. It is often used to link/compare/contrast ideas. It can help the audience better understand the point the speaker is trying to make since the comparison of two situations or ideas makes choosing the correct one simpler.

Asyndeton

the lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. It can be used to create rhythm and to emphasize ideas, typically in an evenly distributed manner.

Inversion

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 the reversal of the usual word order in a prose sentence or a line of poetry for emphasis or variety. The main function of inversion is to help writers achieve stylistic effect; it can help emphasize a particular point or better focus the reader on a particular point or word choice.

Verbal Irony

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 when a person says one thing and means another. Through verbal irony, writers can convey bitter messages indirectly, in a less bitter and more effective way. It provokes the audience into analyzing and thinking harder about a situation. By contrasting and comparing statements with reality, the readers can better understand the speaker’s intent.

Paralipsis

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a specific type of verbal irony when a person draws attention to an idea by seeming to discount the idea. It is used to draw the attention of readers towards a sensitive matter, while the speaker can appear detached from it. Speakers use paralipsis in order to keep themselves away from unfair claims, though they bring them up quite often. They use it to distance themselves from consequences.

Parallelism

 the use of a series of words, phrases, or sentences that have similar grammatical form. The balance between clauses or phrases makes complex thoughts easier to process while holding the audience's attention.

Polysyndeton

the repetition of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. It can be used to create rhythm and to emphasize ideas, typically in an evenly distributed manner.

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Repetition

a literary device in which sounds, words, phrases, lines, or stanzas are repeated for emphasis in a speech, a poem, or another piece of writing. It can be used to create rhythm, to emphasize specific diction choices, or to emphasize a particular mood/tone

rhetorical question

a question that is asked to get the audience or reader involved, but no reply is expected. The question implies the correct answer. It is used to emphasize a point or draw the audience’s attention, since it provokes thoughtful participation on the part of the audience.