LIT Terms Test pt. 1

Allusion

a reference to a canonical work of literature, usually the Bible, Shakespeare, or mythology (not a magic trick, “illusion”). e.g. “I’m the Hermes of verses, I write my curses in cursive” (Kanye West, “Otis”).

Bildungsroman

a novel of coming-of-age, formation, growth, change. The story follows a young protagonist as they grow and develop. From German: bildung=education/growth (like “building”) and roman=novel (like romance novel). e.g. Jane Eyre, Harry Potter, Invisible Man, Catcher in the Rye, The Hobbit, Looking for Alaska.

Catharsis

Greek word translated as “a cleansing,” this is the emotional release of the audience by experiencing vicariously the suffering of the characters. First theorized by Aristotle in 335 BCE. e.g. The relief you feel after watching a scary movie that you’re still alive or the reason so many murderous shows are popular (Criminal Minds, CSI, Law & Order, etc)

Deus ex machina

Term that refers to a character or force that appears at the end of a story or play to help resolve conflict. Literally means “god out of the machine.” In ancient Greek drama, gods were lowered onto the stage by a mechanism to extricate characters from a seemingly hopeless situation. The phrase has come to mean any turn of events that solve the characters’ problems through an unexpected and unlikely intervention. e.g. The sword of Godric Gryffindor magically appearing to help save Harry in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets or the Great Eagles swooping down and saving the Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings.

Epic

An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. Not simply a misused adjective (“That was epic!”), but specifically a type of poem. e.g. The Odyssey, the Aeneid, Beowulf, the Divine Comedy.

Epistolary

Used to describe a novel that tells its story through letters written from one character to another. e.g. the first four “chapters” of Frankenstein.

Euphony

A succession of words which are pleasing to the ear. These words may be alliterative, utilize consonance, or assonance and are often used in poetry but also seen in prose. e.g. “Ode to Autumn” by John Keats or final lines in “Ulysses” by Alfred Tennyson. Also prominent in A Tribe Called Quest’s song “Can I Kick It?” e.g. “This rhythm really fits like a snug glove / Like a box of positives is a plus, love

Flat/Static character

A literary character whose personality can be defined by one or two traits and does not change over the course of the story. Flat characters are usually minor or insignificant characters. e.g. Bruce the shark in Finding Nemo. He doesn’t change, when he’s hungry, he eats. Reagan, Goneril, or Kent in King Lear.

Gothic novel

A genre of fiction characterized by mystery and supernatural horror, often set in a dark castle or other medieval setting. e.g. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, although technically a “Romantic” novel, Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is also an example.

Hamartia

a Greek word describing the “tragic flaws” of a character. Based on Aristotle’s Poetics, it literally means “to miss the mark” or “an error in judgment”. It’s all about a noble or good person who makes a mistake and fails because of their decision or choice. It is an internal character/personality trait that directly causes the downfall of a person. e.g. Macbeth decides to assassinate King Duncan, Brutus’ ambition is his hamartia in Julius Caesar. He believes himself worthy to be Caesar. Oedipus’ hamartia is his own figurative “blindness” to his murderous past and cursing the man who killed Laius.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or comic/dramatic effect. e.g. “That’s the greatest sandwich in the history of the world.” or from the Beatles: “I ain’t got nothing but love eight days a week.” There’s only seven. Or the Beatles also claim that “All you need is love,” but food and shelter would be nice too.

In medias res

A story that begins in the middle of things. Latin for “in the midst of things.” You don’t start at the birth of the character, a movie starts with a large explosion and we fill in the details later. e.g. Antigone, Oedipus, King Lear, The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, Dante’s Inferno, every action movie ever, the video games Gods of War or Final Fantasy X.

Motif

A dominant theme or central idea that occurs in the story. Larger and more predominant than leitmotif (which simply means “little” motif). e.g. blindess in Oedipus Rex or King Lear.

Oxymoron

A short, seemingly contradictory phrase, such as “bittersweet,” “the fire cooled down,” “deafening silence,” “awfully good,” etc. The difference between oxymoron and paradox is that an oxymoron is a simple phrase, typically just an adjective that contradicts a noun (e.g. “jumbo shrimp”).

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is referred to by the whole or the whole refers to a part. e.g. “Check out my new wheels” (wheels=car) or when or when Tupac says in his song “California Love”: “California knows how to party,” he is not referring to the entire state, its official representatives and government officials, or every single person, but rather as a generalization that all of California knows how to party. The part refers to the whole.