Modernism Key Terms

Epigraph

A short quotation or saying placed at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme

Occurs when a speaker says something contrary to what they mean, often for humorous or emphatic effect

Flashback

A literary device where an author interrupts the chronological sequence of a story to depict an event that occurred at an earlier time

Foreshadowing

A literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story

Protagonist

The main character or one of the main characters in a story, novel, drama, or other literary work

Allusion

A brief, indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.

The Jazz Age

Refers to the period in American history from the end of World War I to the beginning of the Great Depression, roughly the 1920s

Speaker

The voice or the persona that is speaking the lines, not necessarily the poet themselves

Similie

A figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually by employing the words “like” or “as”

Metaphor

A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using “like or “as,” suggesting that one thing is another

Figurative language

The use of words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation

Stream of consciousness

A narrative mode or technique that attempts to depict the multitudinous thoughts and feelings which pass through the mind of a narrator

Motif

A recurring element, such as an image, idea, or symbol, that appears repeatedly in a literary work

Symbolism

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities

The Lost Generation

Refers to a group of American writers, artists, and intellectuals who came of age during World War I and were disillusioned by the war’s devastation and the perceived moral decay of society

Modernism

A broad artistic and literary movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a deliberate break with traditional styles and values

Existentialism

A philosophical movement that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice

Imagery

The use of descriptive language that appeals to the reader’s senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch)

Catalog

A literary device featuring a long, structured list of people, objects, actions, or ideas included in poetry