Literary terms

Paradox

A statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true.

Eulogy

A speech or short writing dedicated to a recently deceased person.

Aphorism

A short sentence that expresses a general truth about life.

Imagery

Words used to trigger the readers to recall images that engage one or more of the five senses.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of each line.

Chiasmus

A literary device in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order.

Anecdote

A short story that explains a topic at hand, usually a funny story that happened.

Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration specifically for literary or rhetorical effect.

Allusion

An implied or indirect reference to something or someone from an unrelated context.

Motif

A symbolic image or idea that appears frequently in a story.

Satire

The art of ridiculing or criticizing a person, situation, or social belief through storytelling.

Propaganda

A way of sharing information to influence public opinion.

Ethos

The character or emotions of a speaker or writer expressed in the attempt to persuade an audience.

Connotation

The use of a word to suggest a different association than its literal meaning.

Allegory

A narrative that uses plot, setting, or character to stand for a message that has a larger moral or lesson.

Diction/Syntax

Linguistic choices an author uses to convey an idea or point of view.

Catharsis

The use of strong feelings in literature to engage the reader in a type of emotional purification.

Foil

A character who contrasts with another character.

Invective

A form of attack or insult using abusive language and tone.

Juxtaposition

Placing two concepts side by side to highlight their differences.