Lit Terms 5

paradox (def)

paradox (def)

a statement that seems to contradict itself but is, nevertheless, true

paradox (ex)

Nobody goes to Murphy’s Bar anymore — it’s too crowded.

parallelism (def)

the use of similar grammatical constructions to express ideas that are related or equal in importance

parallelism (ex)

The sun rises. The sun sets.

parody (def)

a literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author’s work for comic effect or ridicule

parody (ex)

Pride and Prejudice With Zombies

personification (def)

a figure of speech where animals, ideas or inanimate objects are given human characteristics

personification (ex)

The light danced on the surface of the water.

persuasion (def)

persuasive writing is meant to sway readers’ feelings, beliefs, or actions

persuasion (ex)

She convinced them to round up because the money would go towards a good cause.

plot (def)

the sequence of related events that make up a story

plot (ex)

The king died, and then the queen died of grief.

first person point of view (def)

the person telling the story is one of the characters in the story

first person point of view (ex)

I watched her eat the cake

second person point of view (def)

refers to the use of “you” in explanations or arguments

second person point of view (ex)

You ended up falling in a trap.

third person limited or third person objective (def)

the person telling the story is not one of the characters in the story. He or she is an outside observer.

third person limited or third person objective (ex)

She took a deep breath and dove into the water.

third person omniscient (def)

the narrator is not a character in the story, but the events in the story are seen through the eyes of more than one of the characters

third person omniscient (ex)

She plunged into the water and fear took over her mind.

prose (def)

the ordinary form of spoken and written language; that is, language that lacks the special features of poetry

prose (ex)

The Hunger Games

refrain (def)

repetition in literature of one or more lines at regular intervals; sometimes called the chorus

refrain (ex)

“Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night”

repetition (def)

a technique in which a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for effect or emphasis

repetition (ex)

Home, sweet home

rhyme (def)

repetition of an identical or similarly accented sound or sounds in a work

rhyme (ex)

Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater