Literary Terms

Synecdoche

Synecdoche

substitutes PART of the whole FOR the whole

Chiasmus

To switch position of words; concepts repeated in reverse order

Metonymy

using something CLOSELY ASSOCIATED with something to represent it

Antithesis

contrast of opposing ideas/elements

Syntax

Arrangement of words in a sentence, its structure

Clause

Has a subject and verb, unlike a phrase

Periodic Sentence

Type of complex sentence, when independent clause is near the end or near the "."

Compound Complex sentence

Sentence with 1 or more dependent clauses and 2 or more independent clauses

Complex sentence

Has 1 or more dependent clauses, but only 1 independent

Compound sentence

Sentence with 2 independent clauses

Foot

Basic unit of measurement in poetry

Meter

structured pattern in line of poetry; Number & types of stresses in line of poetry

Alliteration

repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely placed words

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds, overlaps with rhyme

Apostrophe

Speech directed to someone who's not there

Anaphora

repeating something at the beginning of successive clauses

tropes

artful diction

Schemes

artful syntax

Rhetorical Triangle

The relationship between the author, the audience, the text/message, and the context.

Cumulative Sentence

sentence that completes the main idea at the beginning of the sentence and then builds and adds on

Simple Sentence

A sentence consisting of one independent clause and no dependent clause

Dependent Clause

A clause in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence

Independent Clause

a clause that can stand alone as a sentence; it must have a noun and a verb (subject and predicate)

Consonance

Repetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.

Third-Person Omniscient

the narrator knows all of the thoughts and feelings of ALL of the characters in a work

First-Person Limited

When a story is told through the eyes of the narrator

First Person Omniscient

the narrator is a character in the story, but also knows the thoughts and feelings of all the other characters

Third-Person Limited

narrator is not a character in the story and refers to characters as 'he,' 'she,' or 'they,' but only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.

Third-Person Omniscient

A point of view where the narrator is not a character in the story and knows the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of all characters.

Third-Person Objective

A point of view where the narrator is not a character in the story and does not reveal any character's thoughts or feelings, only describing observable actions and dialogue.

Hyperbole

A deliberate and extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory or impossible but reveals a deeper truth.

Aphorism

A brief, concise statement that expresses a general truth or principle in a witty or memorable way. "Actions speak louder than words"

Trope

The generic name for a figure of speech such as image, symbol, simile, and metaphor. Ie: a "hero's journey" or "star-crossed lovers" are narrative tropes