Literary Words, Terms & Vocabulary

Antithesis

the direct opposite, a sharp contrast

Diction

A writer's or speaker's choice of words

Ellipsis

three periods (...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation

Parallelism

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses

Reiteraton

the act of saying, doing, or repeating something again, usually to make a point clearer or to add emphasis

Rhethorical Question

a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.

Stylistic Device

a term referring to elements contributing to style such as diction, tone, syntax, figurative language

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

Anastrophe

Inversion of the usual, normal, or logical order of the parts of a sentence.

Assonance

Repetition of similar vowel sounds

Anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

Anticlimax

A sudden drop from a serious, grand idea down to something completely silly or ordinary in a sentence; A plot twist or ending that drops the tension instead of resolving it with a big moment. It leaves the audience feeling deflated on purpose or by accident

Cumulative Sentence

sentence that completes the main idea at the beginning of the sentence and then builds and adds on

Enumeration

a list of words, phrases or clauses, sometimes numbered or bulleted

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Polysyndeton

Deliberate use of many conjunctions

cacophany

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

Consonance

Repetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity. Can be in the middle, end or beginning of a word.

Epistrophe

the repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences

Periphrasis

using more words than necessary to express an idea

Epanalepsis

repeats a word or phrase within the same single sentence or clause, at the beginning and at the end

Polypoton

repeating the root of a word with different endings throughout a sentence

Anadipolis

repetition at the end of one sentence and the beginning of the other

verbal irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant

Antimetabole / Chiamus

Repetition of words in reverse order

Euphony

pleasant, harmonious sound

Anthimeria

The substitution of one part of speech for another, often turning a noun into a verb

Mesodiplosis

Repetition of the same word or words in the middle of successive sentences.

Euphemism

An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

Oxymoron

conjoining contradictory terms (as in 'deafening silence')

onomatopeoia

is the use of words that imitate sound

periodic sentence

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.

verisimilitude

the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable

Anecdote

a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

Analogy

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way

Asyndeton

the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence.

Situational Irony

An outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected

Juxtaposition

placement of contrasting ideas next to each other, often to produce an ironic or thought-provoking effect.

Paradox

A paradox is a juxtaposition of contrasting ideas

Allegory

An allegory is a story whose sole purpose is to represent an abstract concept or idea. Such as George Orwell's animal farm

Ekphrasis

refers to a poem or story that is directly inspired by another piece of art.

Latibule

a hiding place; a place of safety and comfort

Chionophile

A person who loves cold weather, snow

Bereft

deprived of

Listless

lacking energy

sepulchral

(adj.) funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal

Zephyr

a gentle breeze

Sururrus

A soft whispering or rustling sound

Lacuna

An empty space or missing part

Etereal

Delicate and ghostly; too perfect for this world

Liminal

Of, relating to, or being an intermediate state, phase, or condition.

Phosphorescent

softly glowing in the dark

Eloquence

Graceful and fluent in speech or writing

Somnolent

sleepy or drowsy

Ineffable

inexpressible

Caliginous

dark, misty and gloomy

Profane

disrespectful toward sacred things

Pernicious

Slowly and subtly destructive

exsanquinate

to bleed out

Verbose

wordy

Ambivalent

Having mixed feelings

Austere

severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

Murmuration

A twisting flock of birds

Squalid

filthy, retched

Idyll

an episode or experience that describes a kind of ideal life or place

Deride

to ridicule, laugh at with contempt

Fortitude

courage in facing difficulties

Abscond

to run off and hide

Adjudicate

To hear and decide judicially; to judge

Untenable

(adj.) not capable of being held or defended; impossible to maintain

Irate

angry, enraged

Reticent

not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily

Specious

(adj.) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit

Competent

having the ability to do what is needed/right successfully

Aversion

strong dislike

Carrion

decaying flesh

Apalling

horrifying,shocking.

Abnegation

unwillingness to admit reality or truth; denial

Inadequate

Lacking the necessary quality

Effused

to give off

Vargaries

an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior

Sordid

(adj.) wretchedly poor; run-down; mean or selfish

Vindication

proving right after prior doubt

Quaint

charmingly old-fashioned

Sojourned

a temporary stay

Drudgery

work that is hard and tiresome

Cordial

friendly

Redolent

(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura

Belatedly

later than usual or than expected

Avidly

eagerly

Enthralled

fascinated

Pallid

pale

Rapt

Giving total attention to; captivated

Archaic

ancient; old-fashioned

Desolate

Deserted and lonely

Chuffed

Moved with a sharp puffing sound; pleased

Inert

lacking the ability or strength to move

Unkempt

not combed, untidy

Bestial

(adj.) beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility

Sensuous

appealing to the senses