Lit terms

What is a motif in literature?

A motif is a conspicuous recurring element in a work of literature, such as an incident, device, reference, object, idea, or verbal formula.
Example: The emotion of jealousy is a common motif in Shakespeare’s Othello.

What is onomatopoeia?

Onomatopoeia is the use of words whose sounds reinforce their meaning.
Example: Pop, splash.

What is an oxymoron in literature?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech where apparently contradictory terms are grouped together.
Example: Cruel kindness, jumbo shrimp.

What is a periodic sentence?

A periodic sentence is a sentence in which the main or independent clause is at the end, with additional grammatical units leading up to it. The sentence doesn't make sense until the end.
Example: "In the light of the moon, on the desolate plains, howled the wolves."

What is a paradox in literature?

A paradox is a statement that appears contradictory but actually contains some truth.
Example: "He worked hard at being lazy." "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

What is polysyndeton?

Polysyndeton is the use of many conjunctions in close succession.
Example: "We have ships and men and money and stores of food."

What is slant rhyme in poetry?

Slant rhyme refers to a type of rhyme where two words at the end of a line of poetry have similar but not identical consonant sounds.
Examples: "Worm" and "swarm," "fate" and "save."

What is syllepsis?

Syllepsis is a grammatically correct construction where one word is placed in the same grammatical relationship to two words, but in different senses (one literal and one figurative).
Example: "I would rather stain my linen shirt than my honor."
"If we don’t hang together, we shall hang separately" (Benjamin Franklin).

What is synecdoche?

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something signifies the whole.
Example: "Hired hands" to signify workers, "mouths to feed" for hungry people.

What is synesthesia in literature?

Synesthesia is when one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.
Example: "Taste the pain" (Red Hot Chili Peppers song), "She painted her room in loud colors."