English 20-1 Terms

**Allegory**

a story that is used to represent a more general message about real-life (historical) issues and/or events. It is typically an entire book, novel, play, etc.

**Alliteration**

a series of words or phrases that all (or almost all) start with the same sound. **These sounds are typically consonants to give more stress to that syllable.** You'll often come across this in poetry, titles of books and poems (__Jane Austen__ is a fan of this device, for example—just look at *Pride and Prejudice* and *Sense and Sensibility*), and tongue twisters.

**Allusion**

when an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from *outside* the text. Many make reference to previous works of literature or art.

**Anachronism**

occurs when there is an (intentional) error in the chronology or timeline of a text. This could be a character who appears in a different time period than when he actually lived, or a technology that appears before it was invented. Often used for **comedic effect.**

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**Anaphora**

when a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of multiple sentences throughout a piece of writing. It's used to emphasize the repeated phrase and evoke strong feelings in the audience.

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**Anthropomorphism**

occurs when something nonhuman, such as an animal, place, or inanimate object, behaves in a human-like way.

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**Antithesis**

A direct juxtaposition of structurally parallel words, phrases, or clauses for the purpose of contrast. 

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**Apostrophe**

A form of personification in which the dead or absent are spoken to directly, as if present and alive.

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**Asyndeton**

Asyndeton is when the writer leaves out conjunctions (such as "and," "or," "but," and "for") in a group of words or phrases so that the meaning of the phrase or sentence is emphasized. It is often used for speeches since sentences containing asyndeton can have a powerful, memorable rhythm.

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**Colloquialism**

Colloquialism is the use of informal language and slang. It's often used by authors to **lend a sense of realism to their characters and dialogue.** Forms of colloquialism include words, phrases, and contractions that aren't real words (such as "gonna" and "ain't").

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**Diction**

The author’s word choice. It always needs to be qualified. Ex: formal diction, informal diction, pretentious diction, humorous diction. 

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**Epigraph**

An epigraph is when an author inserts a famous quotation, poem, song, or other short passage or text at the beginning of a larger text (e.g., a book, chapter, etc.). **An epigraph is typically written by a different writer (with credit given) and used as a way to introduce overarching themes or messages in the work.** Some pieces of literature, such as Herman Melville's 1851 novel __*Moby-Dick*__, incorporate multiple epigraphs throughout.

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**Epistrophe**

Epistrophe is similar to anaphora, but in this case, the repeated word or phrase appears at the *end* of successive statements. Like anaphora, it is used to evoke an emotional response from the audience.

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**Euphemism**

A euphemism is when a more mild or indirect word or expression is used in place of another word or phrase that is considered harsh, blunt, vulgar, or unpleasant.

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**Flashback**

A flashback is an interruption in a narrative that depicts events that have already occurred, either before the present time or before the time at which the narration takes place. This device is often used to **give the reader more background information and details about specific characters, events, plot points, and so on.**

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**Foreshadowing**

Foreshadowing is when an author indirectly hints at—through things such as dialogue, description, or characters' actions—what's to come later on in the story. This device is **often used to introduce tension to a narrative.**

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**Hyperbole**

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for **comedic effect and/or emphasis.**

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**Imagery**

__Imagery__ is when an author describes a scene, thing, or idea so that it appeals to our senses (taste, smell, sight, touch, or hearing). This device is often used to help the reader **clearly visualize parts of the story by creating a strong mental picture.**

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**Irony**

Irony is when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. **Understatement** is a form of irony when something is presented as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is. There are three types of irony in literature:

\n **Verbal irony:** When someone says something but means the opposite (similar to sarcasm).

* **Situational irony:** When something happens that's the opposite of what was expected or intended to happen.


* **Dramatic irony:** When the audience is aware of the true intentions or outcomes, while the characters are *not*. As a result, certain actions and/or events take on different meanings for the audience than they do for the characters involved.

**Juxtaposition**

Juxtaposition is the comparing and contrasting of two or more different (usually opposite) ideas, characters, objects, etc. This literary device is often used to help **create a clearer picture of the characteristics of one object or idea by comparing it with those of another.**

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**Malapropism**

Malapropism happens when an incorrect word is used in place of a word that has a similar sound. This misuse of the word typically results in a statement that is both nonsensical and humorous; as a result, this device is commonly used in comedic writing.

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**Metaphor/Simile**

Metaphors are when ideas, actions, or objects are described in non-literal terms. In short, it's when an author compares one thing to another. The two things being described usually share something in common but are unalike in all other respects.

**A simile is a type of metaphor** in which an object, idea, character, action, etc., is compared to another thing using the words "as" or "like."

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**Metonym**

A metonym is when a related word or phrase is substituted for the actual thing to which it's referring. This device is usually used for poetic or __rhetorical effect__.

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**Mood**

Mood is the general feeling the writer wants the audience to have. The writer can achieve this through description, setting, dialogue, and __word choice__.

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**Motivation**

What is driving a character to take a particular course of action? This is especially significant in plays.

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**Narration**

The telling of a story in writing or speaking

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**Onomatopoeia**

Onomatopoeia is a word (or group of words) that represents a sound and **actually resembles or imitates the sound it stands for.** It is often used for dramatic, realistic, or poetic effect.

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**Oxymoron**

An oxymoron is a combination of two words that, together, express a contradictory meaning. This device is often used for emphasis, for humor, to create tension, or to illustrate a paradox (see next entry for more information on paradoxes).

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**Paradox**

A paradox is a statement that appears illogical or self-contradictory but, upon investigation, might actually be true or plausible.

Note that a paradox is different from an oxymoron: **a** **paradox is an entire phrase or sentence,** **whereas an oxymoron is a combination of just two words.**

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**Personification**

__Personification__ is when a nonhuman figure or other abstract concept or element is described as having human-like qualities or characteristics. (Unlike anthropomorphism where non-human figures *become* human-like characters, with personification, the object/figure is simply *described* as being human-like.) Personification is used to help the reader create a clearer mental picture of the scene or object being described.

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**Plot**

The events in a story. Traditional plots have exposition, initial incident, rising action, climax, and denouement.

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**Point of View**

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The perspective from which a narrative is told. First person = I; Second person = you; Third Person Objective - he/she/they; Third person Omniscient - he/she/they & the author knows everything, including thoughts.

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**Polysyndeton**

Repetition of coordinating conjunctions (often and) to create effect.

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**Pun**

A play on words that have the same sound but sharply diverse meanings

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**Protagonist/Antagonist**

The main character and the character (or force) who is directly opposed to them.

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**Repetition**

Repetition is when a word or phrase is written multiple times, usually for the purpose of emphasis. It is often used in poetry (for purposes of rhythm as well).

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**Rhyme**

The repetition of sounds in two or more words that are close to each other, especially in poetry. **End rhyme** is at the end of the line. **Slant rhyme** is close, but not quite perfect. **Internal rhyme** is found within a line. The **rhyme scheme** is how we label/identify the end patter rhymes in poems (ABAB).

**Rhythm**

A system of stressed and unstressed syllables in poem or verse. The number of beats in a line is measured in poetic feet and meter. The pattern of labelling rhythm is called **scansion**. For example, five beats of iambic (u /) is called iambic pentameter.

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**Sarcasm**

Saying the opposite of what you mean, verbal irony, but as a put down.

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**Satire**

Satire is genre of writing that **criticizes something**, such as a person, behavior, belief, government, or society. Satire often employs irony, humor, and hyperbole to make its point.

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**Setting**

Where and when a story takes place.

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**Shift**

A significant change in story, tone, or structure.

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**Soliloquy**

A type of monologue that's often used in dramas, a soliloquy is when a character speaks aloud to himself (and to the audience), thereby revealing his inner thoughts and feelings.

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**Structure**

The method of organization for a piece of writing. A poem could be stanzas, follow a prescribed format, or be free verse. A novel could be linear and in chapters, or switch between one main character’s POV to another.

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**Style**

The author’s characteristic manner of employing words. It’s what sets one author apart from another. 

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**Suspense**

The author drops hints and clues to create tension about what will happen next

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**Symbolism**

Symbolism refers to the use of an object, figure, event, situation, or other idea in a written work to represent something else—**typically a broader message or deeper meaning that differs from its literal meaning.**

The things used for symbolism are called "symbols," and they'll often appear multiple times throughout a text, sometimes changing in meaning as the plot progresses.

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**Synecdoche**

A synecdoche is a literary device in which part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. It's similar to a metonym (see above); however, **a metonym doesn't have to represent the whole—just something associated with the word used.**

**Syntax**

The grammatical order of words in a sentence. Syntax can be parallel, balanced, inverted, etc.

**Theme**

 the main idea that the author is trying to communicate. It is the central message of a literary work. It must be expressed in more than one word. The subject of a poem may be friendship, but it may be that sometimes friendship can involve sacrifice. Not to be confused with a moral (lesson), they are a statement about why people or life is the way it is, not what it should be. Most of them are implied. 

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**Thesis**

the point an author is arguing in an essay or piece of nonfiction. It is written out as a statement that the author will then go on to prove.

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**Tone**

It **is the writer or narrator's attitude towards a subject**. Tthe audience may not always agree with this, especially if the narrator is an unsympathetic character or has viewpoints that differ from those of the reader.

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