Creative Writing and Poetry Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering the fundamentals of creative writing, elements, figures of speech, diction styles, and various forms of poetry including lyric, narrative, and dramatic types.

What is the definition of Creative Writing?

A form of writing that uses imagination, originality, and artistic expression to tell a story or describe experiences, focusing on engaging the reader through creativity.

List the types of Creative Writing mentioned in the notes.

Short stories, Novels, Poetry, Drama & scripts, Personal essay, and Flash Fiction.

Identify the seven types of imagery and their associated senses or meanings.

1. Olfactory (Sense of smell), 2. Gustatory (Sense of taste), 3. Visual (Sense of sight), 4. Auditory (Sense of hearing), 5. Tactile (Sense of touch), 6. Thermal (Sense of Temperature / hot & cold), 7. Erotic (Sense of Emotion).

What are the six elements of creative writing?

Theme, Setting, POV, Characters, Plot, and Style.

What are the qualities of a good creative writer?

Imaginative, Observant, Creative, Expressive, and Persistent.

Define Simile and Metaphor with their provided examples.

Simile compares two things using 'like' or 'as' (ex: 'She is as brave as a lion'). Metaphor compares two things without using 'like' or 'as' (ex: 'She is a lion').

What are Personification and Apostrophe?

Personification gives human qualities to non-human things (ex: 'The wind whispered'). Apostrophe is speaking directly to someone absent or something not alive (ex: 'O moon guide me tonight').

Define Irony, Hyperbole, and Oxymoron.

Irony: when the opposite of what is expected happens. Hyperbole: an extreme exaggerated statement. Oxymoron: two opposite words placed together (ex: 'Deafening silence').

Explain Alliteration, Assonance, and Onomatopoeia.

Alliteration: repetition of the same beginning consonant sound. Assonance: repetition of vowel sounds. Onomatopoeia: words that imitate sounds (ex: 'Buzz, bang, splash').

Distinguish between Metonomy and Synecdoche.

Metonomy uses a related name to represent something (ex: 'The White House announced a new policy'). Synecdoche uses a part to represent the whole (ex: 'All hands on deck' where hands mean sailors).

Define Paradox and Euphemism.

Paradox: a statement that seems contradictory but contains truth (ex: 'Less is more'). Euphemism: a mild or polite expression used instead of a harsh one (ex: 'Passed away' instead of 'died').

What are the functions and importance of Diction?

The function is to convey meaning clearly, establish tone, and create imagery. Proper diction (proper choice of words) is important to get the message across.

Match specific movement words to their diction style/mood.

Walked (Generic), Tiptoed (Suspense), Glided (Gracefulness), Skipped (Happiness), Hurried (Haste/Urgency), Stomped (Anger), Limped (Sadness/Despair), Swaggered (Pride).

Describe the four main types of Diction related to social context.

1. Formal (proper/professional), 2. Informal (everyday/casual), 3. Colloquial (local/regional expressions), 4. Slang (trendy/popular words like 'piece of cake').

What is the difference between Concrete, Abstract, Poetic, and Neutral diction?

Concrete uses sense-based words; Abstract uses ideas/feelings; Poetic uses beautiful/imaginative language; Neutral uses simple/objective language without strong emotion.

What are the four forms of Lyric Poetry?

Ode (strong feeling and love), Elegy (for someone dead), Sonnet ($14$ lines that rhyme in a fixed pattern), and Song (creates a melody for a lyric poem).

Define a Sonnet's structure as per the notes.

A lyric poem consisting of $14$ lines that rhyme in a fixed pattern, often following Iambic Pentameter with $10$ syllables.

List and define the types of Narrative Poetry.

Epic (story about heroes or events), Ballad (meant to be sung, using abcb/abab), Metrical Tale (real story/everyday life with a moral lesson), and Metrical Romance (straightforward/realistic with a happy ending).

What are the common forms of Dramatic Poetry?

Dramatic Monologue (single speaker), Soliloquy (central to tragic storytelling), Verse play (full dramatic production), and Closet drama (intended mainly for reading rather than stage performance).