100 Lit Terms Quiz

Abstract

Used as a noun, the term refers to a short summary or outline of a longer work. As an adjective applied to writing or literary works, it refers to words or phrases that name things not knowable through the five senses.

Adage

Brief pieces of wisdom in the form of short, philosophical, and memorable sayings.

Allegory

A narrative technique in which characters representing things or abstract ideas are used to convey a message or teach a lesson - typically used to teach moral, ethical, or religious lessons but is sometimes used for satiric or political purposes.

Allusion

A reference to a familiar literary or historical person or event, used to make an idea more easily understood.

Anachronism

When an author, deliberately or accidentally, puts historical events, fashions, technology, etc., in the wrong place.

Analogy

A literary technique in which two unrelated objects are compared for their shared qualities - used to make rational arguments and support ideas by showing connections and comparisons between dissimilar things.

Anecdote

A very short story that is significant to the topic at hand; usually adding personal knowledge or experience to the topic, can be humorous, reminiscent, philosophical, inspirational, or cautionary.

Anti-hero

A central character in a work of literature who lacks traditional heroic qualities such as courage, physical prowess, and fortitude - typically distrust conventional values and are unable to commit themselves to any ideals. They generally feel helpless in a world over which they have no control and usually accept, and often celebrate, their positions as social outcasts.

Antithesis

Usually the opposite of a statement, concept, or idea; a pair of statements or images in which the one reverses the other - the pair is written with similar grammatical structures to show more contrast.

Apologue

A short story or fable which provides a simple moral lesson; often told through the use of animal characters with symbolical elements.

Archetype

An idea, symbol, pattern, or character-type, in a story that appears again and again in stories from cultures around the world and symbolizes something universal in the human experience.

Aside

A comment made by a stage performer that is intended to be heard by the audience but supposedly not by other characters.

Bard

A professional storyteller, typically employed by a patron to commemorate their family's history or to praise that patron's life and actions

Bathos

An abrupt turn from the serious and poetic to the regular and silly.

Belles-lettres

A French phrase meaning "beautiful/fine letters"; a literature movement that valued the aesthetic qualities of writing rather than any informative value it may have.

Bestiary

A descriptive or anecdotal book on various real or mythical kinds of animals, especially a medieval work with a moralizing tone.

Bombastic

A particular style of speech or writing that is pretentious, hyperbolic, and full of extravagant language.

Burlesque

A style in literature and drama that mocks or imitates a subject by representing it in an ironic or ludicrous way, resulting in comedy. It is a form of the literary genre, satire.

Caricature

A device used in descriptive writing and visual arts, in which particular aspects of a subject are exaggerated, to create a silly or comic effect.

Carpe diem

A Latin term meaning "seize the day"; a traditional theme of poetry that advises the reader or the person it addresses to live for today and enjoy the pleasures of the moment.

Catharsis/cathartic

A literary theory first developed by the philosopher Aristotle, who believed that cleansing our emotions was the purpose of a good story, especially a tragedy. It applies to any form of art or media that makes us feel strong negative emotions, but that we are nonetheless drawn to - we may seek out art that creates these emotions because the experience purges the emotions from our system.

Classicism/Neoclassicism

An aesthetic attitude dependent on principles based in the culture, art and literature of ancient Greece and Rome, with the emphasis on form, simplicity, proportion, clarity of structure, perfection, restrained emotion, as well as explicit appeal to the intellect. OR: The revival of the attitudes and styles of expression of classical literature; generally used to describe a period in European history beginning in the late seventeenth century and lasting until about 1800. In its purest form, it marked a return to order, proportion, restraint, logic, accuracy, and decorum.

Climax

The highest point of tension or drama in a narratives' plot. Often, it is also when the main problem of the story is faced and solved by the main character or protagonist.

Comic relief

The use of humor to lighten the mood of a serious or tragic story, especially in plays.

Concrete

The opposite of abstract - refers to a thing that actually exists or a description that allows the reader to experience an object or concept with the senses.

Connotation

The impression that a word gives beyond its defined meaning.

Context

The background, environment, setting, framework, or surroundings of events or occurrences. Simply put, it is the circumstances forming a background of an event, idea, or statement, in such a way as to enable readers to understand the narrative or a literary piece.

Dark humor

A literary method of employing humor and outrageous examples of the taboos so that they become less disturbing or bothersome and more amusing.

Denotation

The definition of a word, apart from the impressions or feelings it creates in the reader.

Denouement

Also known as falling action; denotes the resolution of conflict in fiction or drama and provides an outcome to the primary plot situation as well as an explanation of secondary plot complications (plotholes).

Deus ex machina

Latin for "a god from the machine"; refers to any artificial device or coincidence used to bring about a convenient and simple solution to a plot (can be a new character, force, or event)

Diction

The writer's choice of words and phrases and how those phrases convey their story. There are four general types: "formal," used in scholarly or lofty writing; "informal," used in relaxed but educated conversation; "colloquial," used in everyday speech; and "slang," containing newly coined words and other terms not accepted in formal usage.

Didacticism

A term that refers to a particular philosophy in art and literature that emphasizes the idea that different forms of art and literature ought to convey information and instructions, along with pleasure and entertainment.

Empathy

A sense of shared experience, including emotional and physical feelings, with someone or something other than oneself.

Epigram

A short but insightful statement, often in verse form, which communicates a thought in a witty, paradoxical, or funny way; communicates the speaker's point quickly and concisely.

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; can serve different purposes, such as a summary, introduction, example, or an association with some famous literary work, so as to draw a comparison, or to generate a specific context for the piece.

Epilogue

An optional final chapter of a story, such as in a play or book, and which may serve a variety of purposes—concluding or bringing closure to events, wrapping up loose ends, reporting the eventual fates of characters after the main story, commenting on the events that have unfolded, and or setting up a sequel.

Epistle (epistolary)

A letter in the form of prose or poetry to a particular person or group; an "epistolary novel" refers to the works of fiction that are written in the form of letters or other documents.

Epitaph

A short statement about a deceased person, often carved on his/her tombstone.

Exemplum

Latin for "example"; a tale with a moral message.

Existentialism

A predominantly twentieth-century philosophy concerned with the nature and perception of human existence; generally focused on the condition of human existence, and an individual's emotions, actions, responsibilities, and thoughts, or the meaning or purpose of life.

Explication

A literary technique in criticism and research, used for a close analysis of an excerpt or text taken from a lengthy piece of work. It is neither a summary, nor a rewording, nor a paraphrase, but a commentary that reveals the meanings of a literary work. It usually tells about figures of speech, tone, setting, connotations, points of view, themes, contrasts, and anything else that could add to the meaning of a text.

Exposition

The introductory material which presents the characters, setting, context, and tone of the story.

Fable

A short fictional story that has a moral or teaches a lesson. Use humanized animals, objects, or parts of nature as main characters, and are therefore considered to be a subgenre of fantasy.

Fabliau (plural fabliaux)

A short metrical tale made popular in medieval France by the jongleurs, or professional storytellers. Were characterized by vivid detail and realistic observation and were usually comic, coarse, and often cynical, especially in their treatment of women.

Falling/rising action

The series of events that lead up to and occur after the climax

Fantasy

A genre of fiction that concentrates on imaginary elements. This can mean magic, the supernatural, alternate worlds, superheroes, monsters, fairies, magical creatures, mythological heroes—essentially, anything that an author can imagine outside of reality.

Farce

A comedy in which everything is absolutely absurd - usually involves some kind of deception or miscommunication and is characterized by broad humor, outlandish incidents, and often vulgar subject matter.

Figurative/metaphorical language

Refers to words, phrases, and sentences that go beyond their literal meaning to add layers of interpretation to the audience's understanding. Instead of relying solely on the dictionary definition of words, it adds nuance, context, imagery, association, and other heightened effects to written or spoken phrasing.

Flashback

A device that moves an audience from the present moment in a chronological narrative to a scene in the past. Often are abrupt interjections that further explain a story or character with background information and memories.

Foil

A character in a work of literature whose physical or psychological qualities contrast strongly with, and therefore highlight, the corresponding qualities of another character.

Foreshadowing

A device used in literature to create expectation or to set up an explanation of later developments.

Genre

A category of literature identified by form, content, and style.

Hamartia (tragic flaw)

The flaw or error that reverses a protagonist's fortune from good to bad; includes character flaws such as excessive ambition, greed, or pride which result in tragic consequences

Hubris

Excessive pride or overconfidence that causes a character to begin believing that they are invincible, which causes them to make foolish decisions that ultimately bring about their defeat.

In medias res

A Latin term meaning "in the middle of things." It refers to the technique of beginning a story at its midpoint and then using various flashback devices to reveal previous action.

Invective

A literary device in which one attacks or insults a person or thing through the use of abusive language and tone. Often accompanied by negative emotion.

Inversion

A literary device in which the writer purposefully words phrases or sentences in a non-traditional order.

Invocation

An address to a deity or muse that often takes the form of a request for help in composing the poem at hand.

Irony

The effect of language in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated.

Dramatic Irony

Occurs when the audience of a play or the reader of a work of literature knows something that a character in the work itself does not know.

Situational Irony

A form of irony in which something takes place that is different or the opposite of what is expected to happen.

Verbal Irony

Occurs when a speaker speaks something contradictory to what they intend to say.

Lampoon

A type of satire in which a person or thing is attacked unjustly.

Litotes

An understatement in which a positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite.

Malapropism

Incorrect words used in place of correct words; these can be unintentional or intentional, but both cases have a comedic effect.

Meiosis

A figure of speech that when used minimizes the importance of something. This is done through the use of a euphemism.

Metaphysical (poets/poetry)

Made use of everyday speech, intellectual analysis, and unique imagery. They aimed to portray the ordinary conflicts and contradictions of life. Their poems often took the form of an argument, and many of them emphasize physical and religious love as well as the fleeting nature of life.

Mode

An unspecific critical term usually designating a broad but identifiable kind of literary method, mood, or manner that is not tied exclusively to a particular form or genre. Can be considered a categorization of a broader "genre."

Monologue

A speech given by a single character in a story. In drama, it is the vocalization of a character's thoughts; in literature, the verbalization.

Mood (atmosphere)

The prevailing emotions of a work or of the author in his or her creation of the work. It is not always what might be expected based on its subject matter.

Morality play

Also called "interludes," or plays with or without a moral - feature a protagonist who comes into contact with personified versions of moral and immoral attitudes. The character has to navigate these features in their life and decide the best way to live morally. The personified characters encourage them to change their way of life for the better.

Motif

A symbolic image or idea that appears frequently in a story; can be symbols, sounds, actions, ideas, or words. They strengthen a story by adding images and ideas to the theme present throughout the narrative.

Muse

A source of inspiration for the writer. This could be someone they know or a direct reference to the traditional Greek muses.

Naturalism

A nineteenth-century literary and arts genre that focuses on the realistic depiction of life and all its struggles, and the idea that one's environment determines one's characteristics.

Parable

A story intended to teach a moral lesson or answer an ethical question.

Parody

An imitation of a serious literary work or the signature style of a particular author in a ridiculous manner. Typically adopts the style of the original and applies it to an inappropriate subject for humorous effect. It is a form of satire and could be considered the literary equivalent of a caricature.

Pastoral

A literary composition on a rural theme. Characters and language of a courtly nature are often placed in a simple setting. The term is also used to classify dramas, elegies, and lyrics that exhibit the use of country settings and shepherd characters.

Persona

A Latin term meaning "mask." Generally functions as a mask through which the author tells a story in a voice other than his or her own, usually either a character in a story who acts as a narrator or an "implied author," a voice created by the author to act as the narrator for himself or herself.

Point of view

The narrative perspective from which a literary work is presented to the reader.

Precis

A brief summary of a book, article, speech, or other text, characterized by conciseness, clarity, completeness, unity, and coherence.

Proem

An introduction to a literary work. It is a preface to what's to come after.

Prologue

An introductory section of a literary work. It often contains information establishing the situation of the characters or presents information about the setting, time period, or action.

Prose

A literary medium that attempts to mirror the language of everyday speech. It is distinguished from poetry by its use of unmetered, unrhymed language consisting of logically related sentences. It is usually grouped into paragraphs that form a cohesive whole such as an essay or a novel.

Protagonist

The central character of a story who serves as a focus for its themes and incidents and as the principal rationale for its development. Also sometimes referred to as the hero or anti-hero.

Pun

A play on words that have similar sounds but different meanings.

Renaissance

A period of European history best defined by the emergence of a general philosophy that emphasized the importance of the intellect, the individual, and world affairs. It contrasts strongly with the medieval worldview, characterized by the dominant concerns of faith, the social collective, and spiritual salvation.

Rhetoric

The art of ethical persuasion. In its strictest sense, it adheres to various principles developed since classical times for arranging facts and ideas in a clear, persuasive, appealing manner. Often, it uses figures of speech and other literary devices.

Romanticism

A movement in art and literature in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in revolt against the Neoclassicism of the previous centuries. It is described by German poet Friedrich Schlegel as "literature depicting emotional matter in an imaginative form."

Sarcasm

A form of verbal irony that mocks, ridicules, or expresses contempt.

Satire

A work that uses ridicule, humor, and wit to criticize and provoke change in human nature and institutions.

Setting

The time, place, and culture in which the action of a narrative takes place.

Stream of consciousness

A narrative technique for rendering the inward experience of a character. This technique is designed to give the impression of an ever-changing series of thoughts, emotions, images, and memories in the spontaneous and seemingly illogical order that they occur in life.

Style

A writer's distinctive manner of arranging words to suit his or her ideas and purpose in writing. The unique imprint of the author's personality upon his or her writing style is the product of an author's way of arranging ideas and his or her use of diction, different sentence structures, rhythm, figures of speech, rhetorical principles, and other elements of composition.

Syllogism

A method of presenting a logical argument. In its most basic form, the it consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.

Syntax

The rules that govern language. It is concerned with various parts of speech and the way that words are used together.

Tetralogy

A series of four connected works (such as operas or novels)

Theater of the absurd

A post WWII designation for particular plays of absurdist fiction that focus largely on ideas of existentialism and express what happens when human existence lacks meaning or purpose and communication breaks down.

Tragedy

A drama in prose or poetry about a noble, courageous hero of excellent character who, because of some tragic character flaw or hamartia, brings ruin upon him- or herself.

Trilogy

A series of three dramas or literary or musical compositions.