Literary Terms and Definitions

allusion (n)

an implied or indirect reference, especially in literature, often used to establish comparison

anaphora (n)

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or phrases to emphasize or reinforce meaning

antithesis (n)

antithetical (adj)

the opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite of someone or something

apposition (n)

appositive (adj)

a (typically) adjacent word, clause, or phrase that provides extra information about another noun in a sentence

circumlocution (n)

“talking around” “talking in circles”

writing that is unnecessarily long and complicated (can be intentional or unintentional)

colloquial (adj)

informal, conversational language, often pertaining to a local area or region; can be slang but is not limited to it

concrete (adj)

involving specific people, things, or actions rather than general ideas or qualities

abstract (adj)

relating to or involving general ideas or qualities

denotation (n)

the literal definition

connotation (n)

the abstract idea or quality that a word makes you think about or is suggested and implied, beyond the word’s meaning

diction (n)

the choice of words and phrases in speech or writing

euphemism (n)

a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive

figurative speech/language (n)

phrasing that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to get a message or point across

hyperbole (n)

a figure of speech using deliberate and extravagant exaggeration or overstatement for effect

imagery (n)

words and descriptions that appeal to a reader’s senses to create an image or idea in their head

general irony (n)

the contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true, often used to create poignancy or humor

verbal irony (n)

when the words literally state the opposite of the writer’s/speaker’s meaning

situational irony (n)

when events turn out the opposite of what was expected; when what the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen

dramatic irony (n)

when facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work

juxtaposition (n)

the placement of two very different things together for effect, often through contrast

metaphor (n)

a figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other; suggesting some similarity; makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful

mood (n)

the atmosphere of a work, established by its details and an author’s choices, and the overall feeling conveyed to the reader

nuance (n)

shades of meaning created by the subtle differences in word meaning and usage

paradox (n)

a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity

parallelism/parallel construction/structure (n)

grammatical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity

used to add emphasis, organization, impact, or rhythm

parody (humor) (n)

a work that closely imitates the style or context of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule

personification (n)

assigning non-human entities with human emotions, qualities, or actions

used to make these abstractions, animals, or objects, appear more vivid to the reader

point of view (n)

perspective from something is told, including biases based on persona or past experiences

first person: “I”

second person: “you”

third: “he” “she” they” “it”

pun (humor) (n)

a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound or are spelled alike but have different meanings

repetition (n)

duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern

rhetorical question (n)

asked just for effect, or to lay emphasis on some point being discussed when no real answer is expected

sarcasm (humor) (n)

from the Greek meaning “to tear flesh,”’ involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something; may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are —— (that is, intended to ridicule)

satire (humor) (n)

a work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule; more of style of writing rather than a purpose for writing

simile (n)

comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as”

style (n)

the distinct, or idiosyncratic, choices (diction, syntax, etc.) made by the author to achieve a purpose; can be called flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, laconic, etc.

symbols/symbolism (n)

anything that represents itself and stands for something else; usually is something concrete -- such as an object, action, character, or scene – that represents something more abstract

syntax (n)

the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences; similar to diction, but refers to groups of words, while diction is individual words

tone (n)

the author’s attitude toward the material, the audience, or both

understatement/litostes (n)

the ironic minimalizing of fact for effect, considered the opposite of hyperbole