English Lit Literary Terms

rhetorical question

a technique that an author or speaker uses to influence or persuade an audience

-makes reader think and feel urgency

irreverent tone

showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously

Tonal ambivalence

refers to a text having two or more conflicting or layered tones at the same time.

ex. a poem might sound calm on the surface but hold an undercurrent of bitterness

cacophony

harsh sounds

‘clash and clang of steel’

euphony

pleasant, harmonious sound

'silver stream softly shimmering'

didactic tone

intended to teach people a moral lesson

paradox

contradictory but makes sense after reflection which it initiates

hypaphora

raising a question then proceeding to answer it

-authority

-clear

-engages the reader by posing a question and leading them to a desired conclusion by answering the question.

assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds

'cool blue moon'

cohesion, emphasis

Polysyndeton

- more conjunctions

'we came, and we saw, and we conquered'

adds weight and intensity

slows down the rhythm of the text, overwhelm reader with detail

asyndeton

'I came, I saw, I conquered'

- lack of connectives

- speeds up, connection, emphasis, changes tone

antithesis

example: 'it was the best of times, it was the worst of times'

- highlight tension

juxtaposition/contrast

highlights important differences/inequalities

enhances clarity

anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, phrases, or clauses

-convey, emphasize and reinforce meaning, creates a sense of build-up progression,reinforcing a key idea in the reader’s mind

alliteration

use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse

• draw attention to a particular phrase and make descriptions more memorable

similie

a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as')

assonace

the repetition of similar vowels in the middle of the word.

‘fleet of sleeping geese’

metaphor

a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity

‘life is a journey’

personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

‘trees whisper in the dark’

symbolism

A device in literature where an object represents an idea.

- allows for deeper meaning, conveys complex and abstract ideas in a subtle and nuanced way.

sibilance

Repetition of the "S" sound

tone

the quality of something (an act or a piece of writing) that reveals the attitudes and presuppositions of the author,

-influences reader’s emotional response

word choice

careful use of words to express a specific idea

imagery

The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, thing, place, or experience

-creates vivid scenes to evoke emotions

pace

speed of delivery, effective speakers vary their pace such as building excitement by speaking quickly and adding dramatic pauses

emotive words

Words that are aimed at stirring an emotion such as anger or happiness

allusion

a reference to another work of literature, person, or event

-links past to present, builds cred

repitition

repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasizing key points

colloquialism

a word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing (y'all, ain't)

• creates authenticity and voice, shows social class or identity

ellipsis

a dramatic pause (...) that can create tension or suggest that there are some words that cannot be spoken

anecdote

Short, personal stories that help to illustrate a point.

connotation

Some words may have the same literal meaning but very different intention.

inclusive language

Using the words 'we' or 'us' - is often used to get a reader onside

enjambment

A line ending in which the syntax, rhythm and thought are continued into the next line.

punctuation

A way in which the poet is able to control the rhythm and pace of the poem. A good way to spot the effect of it is to read the poem out loud.

structure

How the poem appears on the page, how it is constructed and organized. E.g. ballad, acrostic, sonnet, blank verse, etc.

sensory description

A description which uses the five human senses - touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing. This sort of description is very effective in creating a vivid meaning.

ethos

refers to a trusted source, comes across as an expert,

-conveys author’s credbility and establish’s speaker’s authority by mkaing them seem trustworthy and an expert

metonymy

an object or concept is refferred not by its name but by something closely related with it.

-can express a positive or negative opinion

ex. refering to businessmen as ‘suits’

parallelism

use of similar grammatical structures to express related ideas.

• reinforce connections between ideas, create stong rhythm, build (emotional) momentum

pathos

emotional appeal, evoke emotions, appeal to the reader’s emotion in order to inspire/sympathy/anger/fear/hope

logos

logic or fact, employs credible evidence to support an opinion, arguement or conclusion.

-persuades reader through clear rewasoning, facts or logical arguements