12th Christenson

Variation

the restatement of a concept or term using different words

Synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa

Metonymy

the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant

Kenning

a compound expression in Old english and Old norse poetry with metaphorical meaning

Litotes

a form of understatement in which a thing is affirmed by stating the negative of its opposite

Alliterative Verse

a form of verse that used alliteration as the principal structuring device to unify lines of poetry

Heroic Code

defines how a noble person should act

Caesura

a natural pause or break

Convention

a commonly used description for a person

Epithet

an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned

Elegy

a kind of lyric that expresses grief over the loss of something

Lyric

a short, highly musical poem that tells the emotions of the speaker

Epic

a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero

Satire

a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn

Exemplum

an illustration, an example; short narrative

Mock-Heroic

uses language and devices of an epic poem and applies them to a trivial or ridiculous subject

Compounding

the combining of two words to make a new word

Fabliau

short, humorous stereotypes

Lament

to express profound grief

Melancholy

gloomy, mournful or dejected

exile

the state of being barred from one’s native country

bulwarks

a powerful defense or safeguard

Languishing

to decline in health; to weaken

Marauding

raiding for the purpose of plunder (to rob)

barrow

a mound of earth or stones erected in early times over a grave

boast

to speak about oneself with exaggeration and excessive pride

pilgrimages

a journey made to a sacred place

vouchsafe

granting something as a courtesy

blank verse

unrhymed iambic pentameter: a line of five iambs

dramatic irony

irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play

situational irony

irony involving a situation i which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended

hyperbole

a figure in speech that relies on exaggeration

humanism

a renaissance cultural movement that turned away from medieval scholasticism and revived interest in ancient Greek and roman thought

Iambic pentameter

a line of verse with five metrical feet

monologue

a long speech given by a character in a story

oxymoron

a figure of speech in which contrasting terms are brought together

aside

an actors speech heard by the audience but supposedly not by other characters

renaissance

the period of European history between the 14th and 17th centuries when there was a new interest in science and in ancient art and literature

rhyming couplet

two lines of poetry that rhyme and have the same meter

tragedy

a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (such as destiny)

soliloquy

a long, usually serious speech that a character in a play makes to an audience and reveals the character’s thoughts

sub-plot

a minor plot in a play or a novel

equiovocation

deliberate evasiveness in wording

accurse

curse or declare to be evil or anathema or threaten with divine punishment

avouch

admit openly and bluntly

palpable

capable of being perceived

carouse

engage in boisterous merrymaking

sacrilegious

grossly irreverent toward what is considered holy

parley

a negotiation between enemies

speculative

not based on fact or investigation

arbitrate

act between parties with a view to reconciling differences

malevolence

the quality of threatening evil

ratify

approve and express assent