Literary Terms 2

Vocabulary flashcards covering key literary terms from the lecture notes.

Blank Verse

Non-rhyming poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter.

Cacophony

Language which seems harsh, rough, and unmusical, originating from Greek kakophonia 'bad sound'.

Carpe Diem

A common literary theme which emphasizes that life is fleeting and that one should make the most out of life, from Latin carpere 'to pluck/grab' and die 'day'.

Catastrophe

The scene in a tragedy which includes the death or moral destruction of the protagonist, indicating a 'turning downward' of the plot.

Characterization

An author
are the means of conveying to the reader a character
are the personality, life history, values, and physical attributes.

Cliché

An idea or expression that has become tired or trite from overuse.

Climax

The point in the story when the outcome of the conflict begins/becomes clear; this is the moment that will decide the conflict.

Comedy

A literary work which is amusing and ends happily, originating from Greek komos 'merry making'.

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of a story, categorized into internal (Person vs. Self) and external (Person vs. Person, Society, Nature, Technology).

Connotation

Associations and implications that go beyond the literal meaning of a word.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds with differing vowel sounds in words near each other.

Couplet

Two consecutive lines of poetry with the same end rhyme, similar meter, and similar length which often express a thought.

Denotation

The literal definition of a word apart from impressions or feelings it creates.