L9 Literary terms

Allegory

a figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than the literal: Animal Farm, The Crucible, Plato's "Allegory of the Cave."

Allusion

A reference to something well known that exists outside the literary work.

Analogy

A comparison of two or more like objects suggesting if they are alike in certain respects, they will probably be alike in other ways as well.

Anecdote

A brief story used to illustrate a point or claim.

Aside

A dramatic device in which a character makes a short speech intended for the audience but not heard by the other characters on stage.

Connotation

A meaning or association of a word that goes beyond its literal or dictionary definition. For example, child~ish and youthful have essentially identical denotations, but child~ish implies irritating immaturity, while youthful implies vibrant energy.

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word

Deus ex machina (literally "god out of a machine")

Describes an unexpected, artificial, or improbable character, device, or event introduced suddenly in a work of fiction or drama to resolve a situation or untangle a plot (e.g. an angel suddenly appearing to solve problems).

Dialect

A form of language that is spoken in a particular place or by a particular group of people.

Diction

Word choice to create a specific effect

Epigraph

In literature, a phrase, quotation, or poem at the beginning of a work that establishes a theme or tone.

Epiphany

a sudden moment of understanding that causes a character to change or to act in a certain way.

figurative language

language that represents one thing in terms of something dissimilar (non-literal language). Includes simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, symbol.

Foil

A secondary character who contrasts with a major character and, in so doing, highlights various facets of the main character's personality. The author may use foil to set up situations in which the protagonist can show his of her character traits. The term refers to the practice of putting polished foil underneath a gemstone to make it shine more brightly.

Foreshadowing

An indication or suggestion of events to come.

Genre

type or category to which a literary work belongs

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration to add meaning: " When she swung that axe, I screamed so loudly my dead grandma hears me!" (its opposite is litote.)

Idiom

A commonly used phrase that signifies something very different than its literal meaning. (eg "that designer dress must have cost an arm and a leg")

Imagery

language that appeals to the five senses

In medias res

(Latin for "into the middle of things"): A literary and artistic technique where the narrative starts in the middle of the story instead from its beginning. The characters, setting, and conflict are often introduced through a series of flashbacks or through characters relating past events to each other

Irony

(three kinds):

1. Dramatic- When the reader knows something a character does not

2. Situational- When there is a disparity between what is expected and what actually occurs.

3- Verbal- when the speaker says one thing but means the opposite

Litote (Pronounced "LIE-toe-tee" or "LIT-oh-tee")

The opposite of hyperbole: "I was a bit distressed when the axe swung towards me."

Metaphor

an implied comparison between dissimilar objects: "His talents blossomed."

Metonymy

Using an object to embody a more general idea: CROWN for royalty; the PEN is mightier than the SWORD. ...

Mood

the feeling or atmosphere created by a text

Motif

A recurring theme, subject or idea

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

Oxymoron

conjoining contradictory terms (as in 'deafening silence')

Paradox

Using contradiction in a manner that oddly makes sense on a deeper level

persona

from greek, meaning "mask" - The speaker or narrator of a text

Personification

when non-human things are given human characteristics

Plot/story arc

the basic progress of a narrative; has 5 parts:

1. Exposition- essential background info

2. Rising action- the development of conflict and complications in a literary work

3. climax- the turning point

4. falling action- results or effects of the climax

5. resolution/denouement- end of a literary work, when loose ends are tied up and questions are answered.

point of view

the perspective from which a story is told

1. 1st person- the narrator is a character in the story (uses "I")

2. 3rd person- the narratr is outside of the story (uses "he," "she," "they")

purpose

the goal the speaker wants to achieve

satire

Satire is a medley, a collection of ideas, stories, characters, etc. that leads to a suggestion about how to improve society and/or humanity. Satire is suggestive rather than prescriptive- it leads readers to think about the problem in a new way.

Satire usually takes a familiar topic and twists it around, reversing our expectations and often makes use of parody and exageration.

Setting

The context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.

simile

A comparison of two unlike things using like or as

soliloquy

an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself, especially by a character in a play.

symbol

anything that stands for or represents something else

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole

syntax

word order

theme

Central idea of a work of literature- it involves a statement or opinion about the subject. It is a universal question, concept, or conflict explored by an author

tone

the author's attitude toward the subject of a work.