LiteraryTerms

allegory

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning.

alliteration

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words.

allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.

ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

antithesis

The opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite.

aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle.

apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction.

atmosphere

The emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting.

caricature

A verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort a person’s distinctive physical features or characteristics for comic effect.

clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.

colloquialism

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing, not generally acceptable for formal writing.

conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.

connotation

The non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning.

denotation

The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.

diction

The writer’s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.

didactic

Words that have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.

euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.

extended metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length throughout a work.

figurative language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning; meant to be imaginative and vivid.

figure of speech

A device used to produce figurative language, including apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, etc.

generic conventions

Traditions for each genre that help to define it and distinguish it from others.

genre

The major category into which a literary work fits.

homily

Informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.

imagery

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.

inference/infer

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

invective

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

irony/ironic

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant.

litotes

A form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite.

loose sentence

A type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units.

metaphor

A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things.

metonymy

A figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.

mood

The prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.

narrative

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.

onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.

oxymoron

A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.

paradox

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but contains some degree of truth or validity.

parallelism

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

anaphora

A sub-type of parallelism involving the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.

parody

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.

pedantic

Describes language that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.

periodic sentence

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.

personification

A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes.

point of view

The perspective from which a story is told.

prose

One of the major divisions of genre, referring to fiction and nonfiction.

repetition

The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language.

rhetoric

The principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

rhetorical modes

The variety, conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing.

sarcasm

Bitter, caustic language meant to hurt or ridicule.

satire

A work that targets human vices and follies for reform or ridicule.

semantics

The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words and their relations.

style

The consideration of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, and other literary devices.

subject complement

The word or clause that follows a linking verb and complements the subject of the sentence.

subordinate clause

A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence and depends on a main clause.

syllogism

A deductive system of formal logic presenting two premises that lead to a sound conclusion.

symbol/symbolism

Anything that represents itself and stands for something else, typically more abstract.

synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.

synesthesia

When one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.

syntax

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.

theme

The central idea or message of a work, offering insight into life.

thesis

The sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author’s opinion or position.

tone

The author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both.

transition

A word or phrase that links different ideas.

understatement

The ironic minimalizing of fact, presenting something as less significant than it is.

wit

Intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.