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Abstract
typically complex, discusses intangible qualities like good and evil, and seldom uses examples to support its points
Academic
Dry and theoretical writing
Accent
the stressed portion of a word. Often a matter of opinion in poetry
Aesthetic
an adjective meaning "appealing to the senses" a noun meaning a coherent sense of taste a plural noun meaning the study of beauty
Allegory
each aspect of a story has a symbolic meaning outside the tale itself
Alliteration
Repetition of initial consonant sounds
Allusion
A reference to another work of literature, person, or event
Anachronism
something out of place in time
Analogy
A comparison between two pairs of symbols
anecdote
a short narrative
antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.
Anthropomorphism
When inanimate objects are given human characteristics. Often confused with personification.
anticlimax
when an action produces far smaller results than one had been led to expect
Antihero
A protagonist (main character) who is markedly unheroic: morally weak, cowardly, dishonest, or any number of other unsavory qualities.
Aphorism
A short and usually witty saying
Apostrophe
A figure of speech wherein the speaker talks directly to something that is nonhuman
Archaism
The use of deliberately old-fashioned language. Used to give feeling of antiquity
Aside
A speech (usually just a short comment) made by an actor to the audience
aspect
A trait or characteristic
Assonance
The repeated use of vowel sounds
Atmosphere
The emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene
Ballad
a long, narrative poem, usually in very regular meter and rhyme. Has a naive folksy quality which separates it from epic poetry
Pathos
evokes feelings of dignified pity and sympathy
Black Humor
The use of disturbing themes in comedy.
Bombast
This is pretentious, exaggeratedly learned language.
Burlesque
a broad parody, one that takes a style or a form such as tragic drama and exaggerates it into ridiculousness. Interchangeable with parody.
cacophony
deliberately harsh, awkward sounds
Cadence
the beat or rhythm of poetry in a general sense
Canto
A section division in a long work of poetry, divides poetry similar to how chapters divide a book.
caricature
A portrait (verbal or otherwise) that exaggerates a facet of personality.
Catharsis
A term used by Aristotle to describe some sort of emotional release experienced by the audience at the end of a successful tragedy
Chorus
the group of citizens who stand outside the main action on stage and comment on it
Classic
Typical, or an accepted masterpiece
coinage
A new word, usually one invented on the spot.
Colloquialism
A word or phrase used in everyday conversational English that isn't a part of accepted "school-book" English.
Complex/Dense
Suggesting that there is more than one possible meaning of words; multiple layers of interpretation; both explicit and implicit meaning
Conceit
Refers to a startling or unusual metaphor, or a metaphor developed and expanded over several lines
Denotation
Literal meaning of a word
Consonance
Repetition of a consonant sound within words.
couplet
A pair of lines that end in rhyme
Bathos
strains for grandeur it can't support and tries to jerk tears from every little hiccup
Controlling Image
A conceit that dominates and shapes the entire work
Connotation
Everything else a word implies
Note
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