World Lit Semester 2 Exam

Vocabulary flashcards for literary terms, based on lecture notes.

Simile

An explicit comparison between two different things, actions, or feelings, using the words “as” or “like”.

Metaphor

One thing, idea, or action is referred to by a word or expression normally denoting another thing, idea, or action, so as to suggest some common quality shared by the two.

Alliteration

The repetition of the same sounds – usually consonants of words– in a sequence of neighboring words

Allusion

An indirect or passing reference to some event, person, place or artistic work. The writer relies on the reader’s familiarity with what is mentioned.

Assonance

The repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds in the stressed syllables of neighboring words (this is NOT rhyme)

Personification

Animals, abstract ideas, or inanimate things are referred to as if they were human.

Metonymy

Replacing the name of a thing with something else closely associated with it.

Synecdoche

A special kind of metonymy, in which something is referred to indirectly, either by naming the part that represents a whole, or a whole that represents a part.

Enjambment

The running from one line to the next without a punctuated pause

Paradox

A statement or expression so surprisingly self-contradictory as to provoke the audience into seeking another sense or context in which it would be true.

Oxymoron

A compressed paradox; combining two contradictory words

Antithesis

A contrast or opposition of ideas (words being chosen for their contrast)

Propoganda

information based on misleading or biased ideas, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Censorship

The suppression or prohibition of speech, public communication, or other information as a means of controlling content.

Doublespeak

language that deliberately obscures or distorts meaning, often used to manipulate or deceive.

Euphemism

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt.

Goobledygook

language that is meaningless or hard to understand, often filled with jargon or unnecessarily complicated terms.

inflated language

language that uses exaggerated or pretentious terms to impress or mislead readers

Bandwagon fallacy

a logical fallacy that suggests one should accept a belief or take action because it is popular or endorsed by a majority, rather than based on its merits.

oversimplification

the act of simplifying something to the point of distortion or misrepresentation, often overlooking important details or complexities.

internal contradiction

a situation in which a statement or belief contains conflicting elements, making it logically inconsistent.

Faulty cause and effect reasoning

a logical fallacy that mistakenly assumes that because one event follows another, the first event caused the second, without considering other possible explanations or factors.

red herring

a logical fallacy that introduces irrelevant information into an argument to distract from the main issue or to avoid addressing a topic.

circular reasoning

a logical fallacy where the conclusion of an argument is included in the premise, creating a circular argument that does not provide valid evidence.

false dichotomy

A logical fallacy that presents only two options as the possible solutions to a problem, disregarding other alternatives.

hasty generalization

A logical fallacy in which a conclusion is drawn from an insufficient or non-representative sample of data.

ad hominem

A logical fallacy that attacks the character or motive of a person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself.

straw man

A logical fallacy that misrepresents or oversimplifies an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack or refute.

plain folks

A rhetorical technique that attempts to persuade by presenting oneself as an average person to connect with the audience.

transfer

A persuasive technique that associates a trusted person or symbol with the argument to evoke positive feelings and acceptance.

card stacking

A propaganda technique that emphasizes one side of an argument while suppressing opposing viewpoints or information, often to create a biased impression.

testimonial

A persuasive technique in which a respected person endorses a product, idea, or candidate, aiming to influence the audience's perception.

appeal to fear

A rhetorical strategy that uses fear as a motivator for action, often by presenting a dire outcome if a certain action is not taken.