Terminology

Anaphora

The deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect.

Assonance

The repetition of a vowel sound or diphthong (a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable) in non-rhyming words.

Chiaroscuro

A literary device that displays the juxtaposition of light and shade.

Charactonym

a name especially for a fictional character that suggests a distinctive trait of the character.

Caesura

A caesura is a pause in a line of poetry that is formed by the rhythms of natural speech rather than by metrics. Remember Caesura "ceases"

Malapropism

Malapropism is the act of using an incorrect word in place of one that is similar in pronunciation. The word comes from a character named Mrs. Malaprop in the play "The Rivals" by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Elbow from Measure for Measure uses malaprops.

Register

Formality scale

Imagery

is the literary term used for language and description that appeals to our five senses. When a writer attempts to describe something so that it appeals to our sense of smell, sight, taste, touch, or hearing; he/she has used imagery. Essentially, there are five types of imagery, each corresponding to one of our senses: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory (smell), and gustatory(taste).

Epigraph

A literary device in the form of a poem, quotation or sentence usually placed at the beginning of a document or a simple piece having a few sentences but which belongs to another writer.

Diction

Refers to a writer's choice of word. It can be defined as style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer. Considering whether the writer uses High or Low frequency lexis could be useful in analysis.

Pathos

Pathos is an appeal to emotion, and is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response. A quality of an experience in life or a work of art that stirs up emotions of pity, sympathy and sorrow. Pathos can be expressed through words, pictures or even with gestures of the body.

Bathos

Bathos is when a writer or a poet falls into inconsequential and absurd metaphors, descriptions or ideas in an effort to be increasingly emotional or passionate.

Ethos

Ethos is an appeal to ethics, and it is a means of convincing someone of the character or credibility of the persuader.

Logos

Logos is an appeal to logic, and is a way of persuading an audience by reason.

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally.

Portmanteau

a literary device in which two or more words are joined together to coin a new word. A portmanteau word is formed by blending parts of two or more words but it always refers to a single concept. To remember think of Kimye or Brangelina combined on the Port of Manteau. Some examples for inspiration: smog (smoke + fog); brunch (breakfast + lunch), sitcom (situation + comedy), and infomercial (information + commercial).

Hubris

Extreme pride and arrogance shown by a character that ultimately brings about his downfall.

Epanorthosis

Immediate rephrasing for intensification or justification

apotheosis

elevation to divine status; the perfect example of something