Glossary of Literary Terms 26-50

concrete details

details that relate to or describe actual specific things or events

connotation

the implied or associative meaning of a word

cumulative sentence

the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases

declarative sentence

a sentence that makes a statement or declaration

deductive reasoning

a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case

denotation

the literal meaning of a word

dialect

variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation

dialogue

conversation between two or more people

diction

the word choices made by a writer

didactic

having the primary purpose of teaching or instructing

dilemma

requires someone to decide between two equally attractive or unattractive alternatives

dissonance

harsh, inharmonious, or discordant sounds

elegy

a formal poem presenting a mediation on death or another solemn theme

ellipsis

omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deducted from the context

epic

a long narrative poem written in elevated style which presents the advantages of characters of high position and episodes that are important to the history of a race or nation

epigram

a brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying. witty

epigraph

a saying or statement on the title page of a work, or used as a heading for a chapter or other section of a work

epiphany

a moment of sudden revelation or insight

epitaph

an inscription on a tombstone or burial place

epithet

a term used to point out a characteristic of a person. can be offensive but are not so by definition.

eulogy

a formal speech praising a person who has died

euphemism

an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

exclamatory sentence

a sentence expressing strong feeling, usually punctuated with an exclamation mark

expletive

an interjection to lend emphasis; sometimes a profanity

fable

a brief story that leads to a moral, often using animals as characters