3rd Quarter (Cumulative) Lit Terms

ambiguity- purposeful

Open to more than one interpretation

Juxtaposition

two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

Assonance

Repetition of a vowel sound with two or more words in close proximity

Consonance

Repetition of a consonant sound withing two or more words in close proximity

Chiasmus

A figure of speech where the grammar/sentence structure of one part of the sentence is repeated in reverse order in the second part.

Colloquialism

Informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

Denotation

Dictionary definition of a word

Connotation

The emotional association a word has

Epithet

An adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of a person or thing ("That godlike man, Odysseus")

Euphemism

An expression used to substitute for a subject too unpleasant or embarrassing

Idiom

A phrase with a meaning different from its' literal appearance

Dramatic Irony

Irony understood by the audience but not the characters

Situational Irony

Difference between what the audience expects to happen vs. actually happens

Verbal irony

When words express something contrary to truth/what the character really means

Litotes

An ironic understatement in which the affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary

Simile

A comparison using like or as

Metaphor

A comparison not using like or as, or than

Motif

A recurring idea or object with symbolic significance

Oxymoron

The combination of two contradictory words

Theme

A message about life found in a literary piece

Sic

used in brackets after a copied or quoted word that appears odd or erroneous to show that the word was quoted exactly as in the original.

Id Est (i.e.)

Latin for "in other words"

et cetera (etc.)

Used at the list to indicate other similar items are included

exempli gratia (e.g.)

for the sake of example

Magnum Opus

An artist or writer's most important work

Euphony

The use of words having pleasant and harmonious effects (ususally vowels and soft sounds). Ex: "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness"

Antecedent

Things or events that existed before/logically precede one another

Classic hero

An ordinary person, but which displays greatness given the right set of circumstances, or possesses a great skill or talent which sets them apart from normal people. Ex: Harry Potter

Tragic Hero

A person who faces adversity, or demonstrates courage, in the face of danger, however ultimately experiences downfall. Ex: Romeo Montague

Anti-hero

A person with characteristics opposite those of a conventional hero. This character is often clumsy and exhibits both good and bad qualities.

Fallacy - ad hoc

When a person gives an explanation for an event and the explanation is said as an argument for the event. This untestable answer does not truly answer or explain anything.

Fallacy - ad hominem

When, in an argument, someone goes after personal qualities of an individual as opposed to the qualities of the idea being proposed.

Fallacy - appeal to authority

The claim that something must be true because it is believed by someone who is said to be an "authority" on the subject.

Fallacy - band wagon

An argument that just follows what others have said.

Fallacy - begging the question

When the writer assumes a conclusion to be true and builds his argument on top of that assumption. Avoids asking the rights question to verify the truth about the statement.

Fallacy - poisoning the well

When negative information that is irrelevant about a target is presented ahead of time to discredit the target's argument.

Fallacy - slippery slope

The concept that one simply insignificant action will snowball into a final, unacceptable step. Ex:

A leads to B.

B leads to C

C leads to D .....

Y leads to Z.

Z leads to BAD THINGS.

We don't want BAD THINGS.

So, don't take that first step

Fallacy - straw man

When someone refutes an argument that was not actually presented by the other party while presenting it as that argument.

Syllogism

An argument that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more propositions that are asserted or assumed to be true.

Meiosis

Making a major understatement to better highlight a point or create a dramatic tone.

Ethos (broad definition)

Establishing your authority to speak on the subject

Logos (broad definition)

Your logical argument for your point.

Pathos (broad definition)

Your attempt to sway and audience emotionally

Apostrophe (not the grammar mark)

Literary device in which someone directly addresses an inanimate object or someone who is either dead or simply not there.

A priori

It is reasoning which proceeds from theoretical deduction rather than observation or experience. (i.e. it is knowable without experience)

A posteriori

Relating to or derived by reasoning from observed facts

Ergo

Latin for "therefore" or "hence" (used as a conjunctive adverb)

Mens rea

the intention or knowledge of wrongdoing that constitutes part of a crime, as opposed to the action or conduct of the accused.

Quid pro quo

A favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something

Homily

A sermon or speech typically delivered by a member of the clergy whose purpose is to offer a moral change in direction

Early American Lit. Period

(1600-1765) Mostly practical, historical, and religious texts.

Neo-Classicism Lit. Period

(1765-1790) Return to classical thoughts about government and philosophy

Romanticism Lit. Period

(1790-1860) Emphasis on emotion, individualism, and return to nature. Uses apprehension, terror, euphoria

Transcendentalism Lit. Period

(1820-1840) Philosophical movement (part of Romanticism), focused on inherent goodness of people and nature. Guided by emotion and intuition over mere reason. "Trust your gut"

Realism Lit. Period

(1860-1900) Literature becomes more gritty and realistic, focus on urban environment ("The Jungle") and everyday activities.

Naturalism Lit. Period

(1900-1914) Enhanced focus on reality, scientific objectivism, determinism, warnings about the corrupting influence of emotion and social commentary.

Modernism Lit. Period

(1914-1939) Focus on new experimental forms in poetry and fiction, cultural issues such as racism and sexism (largely in response to WW1 and the Great Depression). Loss of self, confusion about society; hope for a new beginning.

Post-modernism Lit. Period

(1940-present) Focus on unreliable narration, metafiction, and the questioning of established forms and ideas. Money and technology corrupt. Absurdity of war and life in general.

Cacophony

A discordant mixture of words (usually consonants or hard sounds). Ex: "the jaws that bite and claws that catch"

Anecdote

A short story that appeals to readers and is usually exciting.

Allegory

A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning which is usually political or moral

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a clause.

Aphorism

A concise, memorable expression that states a general principle

Epigram

A short satirical statement that ends with an ingenious/surprise ending

Analogy

A comparison between two things, usually to determine their relationship and similarities

Coherence

The connection and flow of ideas in an argument in a fashion that makes sense to the reader

Discursive

Jumping from subject to subject without connection or lacking proper transitions

Declarative sentence

States a fact or opinion, always ends with a period

Exclamatory sentence

Makes a statement, but conveys emotion. End in an exclamation point.

Imperative sentence

Used to make a command. Usually end in a period or an exclamation point.

Interrogative sentence

Used to ask a question. Ends with a question mark.

Per se

Literally meaning, "by itself" or "in and of itself". Use to distinguish something's narrow sense and some larger thing that it represents.

De facto

Latin for "in fact"; "actually"; "in reality"

Farce

A comedy with horseplay, crude characterization, and ludicrously impossible situation

Parody

An imitation of styles usually to a dramatic exaggeration and comical effect

Satire

Use of exaggeration, irony, ridicule, or humor to criticize people's views, typically on political/topical issues.

Foil

A character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character; can also be used for any comparison that is drawn to portray a difference between two things.

Caricature

A device used in descriptive writing and visual arts in which particular aspects of a subject are exaggerated to create a silly/comic effect (can be an exaggeration of natural features, plastic illustration, derisive drawing)

Ad infinitum

A latin phrase meaning "to infinity" or "forever". Can be used to describe a non-terminating/repeating process

Ad nauseum

A latin term for argument or other discussion that has been repeated so often it becomes annoying or tiresome ("to the point of nausea")

Inference

A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

Implication

The conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated

Bona fide

Latin word for "genuine", "sincere"

Quasi

Latin word for "seemingly" or "almost", it is usually combined with another word (e.g. Quasi-war)

Loose sentences

A sentence where the main/independent clause is followed by one or more dependent clauses/phrases

Periodic sentences

A sentence where the phrases of the dependent clauses come first, followed by the main clause.

Metonymy

When two objects are closely related but distinct (they can be used interchangeably)

**Synecdoche**

When a word or phrase that refers to a part of something is substituted to stand in for the whole

Non-sequitur

A statement that holds little to no relevance to its predecessor and/or contains a logical fallacy

Rhetorical question

A question someone asks without expecting an answer. The question might not have an answer, or it might have an obvious answer.

Semantics

The branch of linguistics or logic concerned with meaning. Additionally, it is the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text.

Stream of Consciousness

A style of writing that tries to capture the natural flow of a character's thought process, often through the incorporation of sensory impressions, incomplete ideas, unusual syntax, and/or rough grammar

Digression

Used to create a temporary departure from the main subject of the narrative to focus on apparently unrelated topics, explaining background details.

Inverted order syntax

Change in the normal pattern of words in a sentence; verb comes before subject (noun); draws attention, creates emphasis, slows down reading speed.

Verbatim

"word-for-word", in the exact same words

Cautionary Tale

A story meant to warn its readers

Parable

A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson

Point of View (POV)

is the angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation.

1st person

point of view involves the use of either of the two pronouns “I” or “we.”

2nd person

point of view employs the pronoun “you.”