vocab

allegory

A story, poem, picture that has a hidden meaning

alleg-allegedly something else

allusion

an indirect, brief reference to a famous person, place, event, or work of art

ambiguity

when a word, phrase, or situation can be understood in more than one way, causing uncertainty or a lack of clarity

analogy

a comparison between two different things to show how they are similar

anaphora

a literary and rhetorical device defined by the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of sentences, clauses, or lines ex i have a dream…i have a dream

antithesis

the exact opposite or a sharp contrast between two things

aphorism

a short, clever statement that shares a general truth or wise idea

horism-horse fast statemnt

apostrophe

When a speaker turns away to talk to someone who is not present, a dead person, an idea, or an object pos=past things (dead ppl)

archetype

an original model, a universal symbol, or a perfect example of a specific type of person or thing

character arch

ex; Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.

aside

to one side, a private remark, or a theatrical line meant only for the audience

asyndeton

a literary and rhetorical device where you leave out conjunctions (such as "and," "but," or "or") between words, phrases, or clauses

deton-delete conjunctions

bildungsroman

a literary genre (a coming-of-age story) that focuses on the moral, psychological, and intellectual growth of a protagonist from youth to adulthood

caesura

a dramatic pause or break in a line of poetry, a musical rhythm, or general speech

caes-cease/stop talking

caricature

a picture, description, or imitation of a person that exaggerates their prominent features or character traits for comic, satirical, or grotesque effect

catharsis

the release of very strong or hidden emotions

sis-strong emotions

chiasmus

a literary figure of speech where two or more clauses balance each other through the reversal of their grammatical structures or ideas in an A-B-B-A mirror pattern

ss=abba

conceit

metephor making a surprising comparison b/w two dif things

conceit-consider two different things

consonance

the repetition of identical or similar consonant sounds in nearby words, harmony in music, or general agreement between things

denouement

final outcome of a story, the resolution of a complex plot, or the untangling of loose ends after the climax

deus ex machina

god from the machine". It describes a plot twist where a hard problem in a story is solved suddenly by a new,

diction

word choice

doppelganger

double walker

dynamic character

a person in a story who experiences a major internal change, such as a shift in personality, beliefs, or worldview

dystopia

a very bad or unfair imaginary society where people live in great fear, suffering, and misery

elision

the omission of a sound, vowel, or syllable in speech or writing

lis-listen to sound

ellipsis

a punctuation mark of three dots (...) or a grammar rule used to leave out words

enjambment

a poetic term for when a sentence or thought runs over from one line to the next without a pause or punctuation mark

epiphany

a sudden realization, a divine appearance, or a Christian holiday

epistolary

written in the form of letters, carried on by written correspondence, or relating to letters

pistolary-postal mail

epithet

a descriptive word or phrase used in place of name to highlight key quality

Alex THE great

flat character

a simple, two-dimensional fictional person who has only one or two main personality traits, does not change or grow, and has no deep inner conflicts

round character

a lifelike, complex, and multi-faceted figure in a story who possesses depth, internal conflicts, and a realistic personality

foil

a character who contrasts with another character—usually the main character—to highlight their specific traits, values, or flaws

foreshadowing

a writing tool where an author gives early hints or clues about events that will happen later in a story

frame story

a literary technique featuring a story within a story, where an outer narrative sets up, encloses, or links one or more inner tale

hamartia

a tragic flaw or error in judgment that causes a character's downfall

hubris

a tragic flaw where a character oversteps natural or moral limits, leading directly to their downfall

hyperbole

a literary device that uses extreme, deliberate exaggeration to create strong feelings, add humor, or make a point

interior monologue

a literary technique that presents a character's unspoken thoughts and feelings directly to the reader

in medias res

a storytelling trick where a book, play, or poem starts right in the middle of an exciting action, conflict, or problem instead of at the very beginning

invocation of the muse

a formal prayer or address to a Greek goddess of art and literature asking for divine inspiration, skill, and guidance to tell a story

irony all kind

• Verbal Irony: When a speaker or character says one thing but means the exact opposite, often for humor or emphasis.

• Situational Irony: When the actual outcome of an event is totally different from what people reasonably expected to happen.

• Dramatic Irony: When the reader or audience knows a vital piece of information that the characters do not know yet.

• Cosmic Irony: When fate, destiny, or the universe tricks a character, making their hopes or efforts fail in a cruel way.

• Socratic Irony: When a clever character pretends to be stupid or ignorant to trick an opponent into exposing their own mistakes or false knowledge

litotes

a figure of speech and a form of understatement that expresses an affirmative idea by negating its opposite

local color

a writing style that highlights the unique speech, customs, history, and landscape of a specific region

magical realism

a style of storytelling that treats supernatural or magical events as normal, everyday occurrences within an otherwise realistic, mundane world

malapropism

a funny vocabulary mistake where a speaker accidentally uses a wrong word that sounds like the right one

meiosis

a figure of speech that intentionally understates something, making a major situation, wound, or problem seem much smaller or less important than it actually is

“its just a scratch”

metonymy

a figure of speech that replaces the name of an object or idea with a word closely related to it

met-meet with a word related

motif

a recurring element, image, object, or phrase that helps develop the central themes

tif-tempting to keep bringing up

oxymoron

a figure of speech that puts two opposite words together

paradox

a statement or situation that seems to go against common sense or contradict itself, yet reveals a hidden truth

polysyndeton

a literary device where writers use coordinating conjunctions like "and," "or," and "but" repeatedly in a row, even when they are not grammatically needed

soliloquy

a dramatic literary device where a character speaks their innermost thoughts aloud, usually while alone on stage, addressing the audience rather than other characters

static character

a literary figure who does not undergo any substantial internal changes, growth, or shifting values throughout a story

stream of consciousness

showing ones thoughts/feelings as they happen

symbolism

a creative device where writers use physical objects, colors, characters, or events to represent larger, abstract ideas

synesthesia

blends two or more different senses, such as describing a sound with a color or a sight with a temperature

loud dress,"yellow cocktail music," blending the sight of a color with the sound of music

synecdoche

a figure of speech where a part stands in for a whole, or a whole stands in for a part

doche-dont talk about whole thing

ex. wheel for a whole car

tragic flaw

a personality weakness, error in judgment, or internal defect that drives a main character toward their ultimate ruin or destruction

Alliteration

a literary device where two or more words in close succession share the same initial consonant sound

ll-two similar things next to eachother

connotation

the emotional, cultural, or secondary meaning that a word suggests beyond its strict literal dictionary definition

conn-continuing the meaning of a word

conceit

an elaborate, surprising, and extended metaphor that compares two very different, seemingly unrelated things

con-consider two dif things together

like the compass and legs

satire

a literary genre and device that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize human stupidity, vices, or societal shortcomings