IB Lit Literary Terms

Allusion

Figure of speech which makes brief reference to an historical or literary figure, event, or object (Hint: My love for you is passionate as Romeos for Juliet)

Antithesis

A contrast or opposition of thoughts, usually in two phrases, clauses, or sentences

Aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle

Apostrophe

Addressing someone or something not present as though present.

Archetype

A universal symbol

Cacophony

The use of seemingly harsh, unmusical sounds to bring out the harshness of something

Catharsis

Aristotles word for pity and fear an audience experiences upon viewing the downfall of a hero.

Chiasmus

Repeating phrases in reverse order for surprise and emphasis

Colloquialism

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, they give a work a conversational, familiar tone. This expression includes local and regional aspects.

Conceit

An extended metaphor. Two unlike things are compared in several different ways.

Connotation

The emotional implications a word may carry

Consonance

Repetition of a consonant sound in two or more words in a line of verse.

Denotation

The specific, exact meaning of a word.

Diction

An authors choice of words

Didactic

Having the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially teaching moral or ethical principles.

Dramatic irony

When the audience or reader knows something that the character does not so that what he says is ironic.

Dynamic character

A character who changes dramatically over the course of a work

Euphony

A quality or style marked by pleasing sounds

Extended parallelism

The repetition of words or grammatical elements to achieve cumulative force and rhythm

Extended metaphor

This is developed at a great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work

Figurative language

Writing or speech not meant to be taken literary

Foil

A character who provides a contrast to another character, thus emphasizing the others traits.

Hubris

The pride or overconfidence which often leads a hero to overlook divine warning or to break a moral law

Imagery

Devices which appeal to the senses: visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory, kinetic

Irony

Contrast between reality and expectations (Hint: a fire house burning down)

Juxtaposition

A poetic and rhetorical device I'm which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, creating an effect of surprise and wit

Litotes

Understatement employed for the purpose of enhancing the effect of the ideas expressed. Contains a negative (HINT: that was no small task!)

Mask(persona)

a character with a distinct identity created by an author to achieve a particular effect of to deliver a particular message which reflect the author's viewpoint

Metonymy or metonomy

substituting a word naming an object for another word closely associated with it (ex: pay tribute to the CROWN, crown symbolizing the authority of the king and queen)

Mood

The atmosphere of a literary work or the feelings that are elicited in the reader by the author

Motif

A main theme or subject

Oxymoron

Technique used to produce an effect by a seeming self contradiction. (ex. Cruel kindness)

Paradox

A statement or concept that seems contradictory, unbelievable, or absurd that may actually be true in fact. (Ex. War brings peace)

Parallelism

Refers to the repeated use of phrases, clauses, or sentences that are similar in structure and meaning. Writers use this technique to emphasize important ideas, create rhythm, and make their writing forceful and direct.

Pedantic

Teaching; instructive

Point of view

The perspective in which a story is told.

Rhetorical question

Something that expects no answer. It is used to draw attention to a point and is generally stronger than a direct statement

Shift

A change of feelings by the speaker from the beginning to the end, laying particular attention to the conclusion of the literature

Situational irony

A form of irony which arises from situations as opposed to verbal irony

Static character

A character who remains unchanged by the conclusion of a work

Stream of consciousness

a narrative technique that presents thoughts as if they were coming directly from a character's mind

Symbol

anything that stands for or represents something else

Synecdoche

Figurative language in which the part stands for the whole

Syntax

The arrangement of words in sentences

Tone

a writer's attitude toward the subject

Tragic flaw

error in judgment

Understatement

Statement in which the literal sense of what is said falls short of the magnitude of what is being talked about

Verbal irony

A kind of irony in which words are used to suggest the opposite if their actual meaning

Vernacular

Using the native language of a country or place; commonly spoken by the people of a particular country or place

Voice

The "speaker" in a piece of literature