lanf terms

Allegory

A story where the characters/events have a deeper symbolic meaning in addition to the literal story.

Ambiguity

Something that has more than one possible meaning.

Analogy

A comparison between two different things to explain their similarities/relationship.

Anecdote

A short story or personal experience used to interest the reader or make a point.

Anticlimax

A buildup of excitement/intensity that suddenly ends with something trivial or disappointing.

Antithesis

Compares two things to explain an unfamiliar idea by showing how they are similar.

Antithetical Construction

Uses opposite or nearly opposite ideas to show complexity.

Aphorism

A short, memorable statement expressing wisdom or a general truth.

Apostrophe

Directly addressing a person or thing that is absent, dead, or unable to respond.

Colloquialism

Informal, everyday language.

Conceit

A clever, unusual extended metaphor/comparison between very different things.

Concession

Admitting that the opposing side has a valid point.

Concrete

Something physical and tangible.

Deduction

Goes from general → specific to reach a conclusion.

Didactic

Designed to teach or instruct, especially about morality or philosophy.

Discourse

An extended use of speech or writing; a formal discussion/exposition.

Dramatic Monologue

A poem/speech where one character speaks to a silent audience, revealing their personality and thoughts.

Epigram

A short, clever/witty statement.

Equivocation

Deliberately using misleading or confusing language to deceive.

Euphemism

A milder/softer expression used instead of something harsh or blunt.

Hasty Generalization

Making a conclusion from too little or unusual evidence.

Homily

A sermon or morally instructive lecture.

Idiomatic Structure

A phrase whose meaning cannot be understood literally from the individual words.

Induction

Goes from specific evidence → general conclusion.

Interior Monologue

Written representation of a character's thoughts, memories, or impressions.

Inverted Syntax

Unusual/reversed word order.

Juxtaposition

Placing two things with a sharp contrast next to each other.

Malapropism

Accidentally using a wrong, similar-sounding word, usually creating a funny result.

Metonymy

Replacing something with something closely associated with it.

Maxim

A short, memorable statement of a general principle.

Non Sequitur

A statement/conclusion that doesn't logically follow from what came before.

Ornate

Stylistically complicated or overly elaborate.

Oxymoron

A contradiction condensed into two words.

Overgeneralization

Making a broad/vague conclusion from limited evidence.

Paradox

A statement that seems self-contradictory but makes you look for a deeper meaning.

Parallel Syntax

Repeating a similar grammatical structure to create balance, rhythm, and clarity.

Pedantic

Overly concerned with narrow, technical, or bookish rules/knowledge.

Picaresque

A story in which a rogue/scoundrel tells their adventures in first person, often in episodes.

Platitude

A cliché/common statement presented as if it is especially meaningful or original.

Polemic

A strong, thorough written attack against an opinion or policy.

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

Assuming A caused B simply because A happened before B.

Prose

Ordinary written language; basically writing that isn't poetry or drama.

Syllogism

A logical argument where two premises lead to a conclusion.

Synecdoche

Referring to something by using a part of it to represent the whole.

Tongue-in-Cheek

Said in an ironic or joking way, rather than being completely serious.

Unifying Image

A recurring sensory image that connects ideas/meaning throughout a work.

Witticism

A clever, skillful, usually humorous remark.