Untitled Flashcards Set

What is abstraction in literature?

Language that describes intangible qualities, ideas, or concepts that cannot be perceived with the five senses.

Define allegory.

A writing that has a double meaning, suggesting moral, political, or spiritual concepts through interactions of multiple symbols.

What does alliteration refer to?

Repeating a consonant sound in close proximity or beginning several words with the same vowel sound.

What is an allusion?

A figure of speech that references a historical or literary figure, event, or object.

Explain ambiguity in literature.

Any wording or symbol that can be read in multiple ways, either intentionally by the author or through open interpretation.

What is anachronism?

Something that is out of place in time, such as a modern object appearing in a historical context.

Define analogy.

A relationship of similarity between two or more entities that serves as a basis for comparison.

What is anaphora?

The intentional repetition of beginning clauses for emphasis in writing.

What does anecdote mean?

A short narrative account of an interesting or amusing event, often supporting a specific point.

What is antanaclasis?

A rhetorical device where a word is repeated with changing meanings in each instance.

Define anthimeria.

A rhetorical device that uses a word in a new grammatical form, often replacing one part of speech with another.

What characterizes an antihero?

A protagonist who lacks traditional heroic qualities and might be incompetent or morally ambiguous.

What is an aphorism?

A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.

Explain what apostrophe means in literary terms.

The addressing of someone or something not present as though they are, often for dramatic effect.

What is aposiopesis?

A rhetorical device where the speaker breaks off abruptly, leaving the statement incomplete.

Define archetype.

An original model or pattern from which later copies are made, often representing common human experiences.

What is an aside in drama?

A dramatic device in which a character speaks directly to the audience, unheard by other characters.

Explain asyndeton.

A stylistic device used to eliminate conjunctions between phrases while maintaining grammatical accuracy.

What is ballad meter?

A four-line stanza structure where the first and third lines are in iambic tetrameter, and the second and fourth are in iambic trimeter.

Who is referred to as the Bard?

A historical poet, specifically referring to Shakespeare.

What is a Bildungsroman?

A coming-of-age story focusing on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist.

Define blank verse.

Unrhymed iambic pentameter, often used in dramatic poetry.

What is cacophony in literature?

A combination of words that creates a harsh, jarring, or unpleasant sound.

What is the literary canon?

Works traditionally considered suitable for admiration and study.

What does canto refer to in poetry?

A subdivision of an epic or narrative poem, comparable to a chapter in a novel.

What is caesura?

A natural pause in a line of poetry caused by speech rhythms, despite consistent meter.

Define caricature in literature.

An exaggeration or oversimplification of characteristics, often for comic or satirical effect.

Explain catalectic meter.

A metrically incomplete line of verse, lacking a syllable, that creates a sense of lack or yearning.

What is chiasmus?

A literary scheme where terms or concepts are introduced in a specific order, then repeated in reverse order.

Define cliché.

A phrase that has become lifeless through overuse.

What is colloquial language?

Informal expressions accepted by certain groups or regions, often not grammatically correct.

What is comedy in literature?

A genre aimed at promoting smiles, laughter, or culminating in happy resolutions.

What is the Comedy of Errors?

A dramatic work featuring humorous instances of mistaken identity, leading to a happy resolution.

What characterizes a conceit in literature?

An elaborate figure of speech involving extended comparisons between unlikely metaphors.

Define concrete language.

Descriptive language that can be perceived with the five senses, as opposed to abstract language.

What is concrete poetry?

Poetry in which the poet's intent is conveyed through graphic patterns rather than conventional arrangements.

What does conflict refer to in literature?

The opposition between characters or between a protagonist and a larger problem, driving the story forward.

Define connotation.

The extra tinge of meaning a word carries beyond its strict dictionary definition.

What is a couplet?

Two lines of the same metrical length that end in rhyme, forming a complete unit.

What is a crisis in a plot?

The turning point of tension and uncertainty resulting from earlier conflict.

Define denotation.

The minimal, strict definition of a word as found in a dictionary.

What is 'Deus Ex Machina'?

An unrealistic intervention in a story to resolve conflict or rescue characters.

What is a dialect?

The language of a specific district or group, encompassing sounds, spelling, grammar, and diction.

What does diction refer to?

The choice of particular words over others by an author.

What is didactic literature?

Writing that seeks to instruct or convince the reader of a particular point or lesson.

Define doppelgänger.

An individual’s look-alike or double that is not their twin, often seen in gothic literature.

What is double entendre?

A phrase or image that deliberately uses ambiguity, especially with sexual or humorous meanings.

Define drama in literature.

A composition in prose or verse presenting a narrative involving conflict between characters and forces.

What is dramatic monologue?

A poem where a speaker addresses the reader or an internal listener at length, revealing their inner thoughts.

Explain dramatic structure.

The common plot sequence for a play, following exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement.

What is a dynamic character?

A complex character who changes over the story, contrasting with static or flat characters.

What is ekphrasis?

Literature written about works of art, often examining their impact on the viewer.

Define elegy.

A poem expressing sorrow or lamentation, often for someone deceased.

What is elision in literature?

The removal of an unstressed syllable or letters for fluidity in meter.

What does ellipsis indicate in writing?

Material missing from a quotation, or trailing off in a thought.

What is enjambment?

A poetic technique where a line of verse continues into the next without pause or punctuation.

Define end-stopped line.

A line of poetry that ends with a punctuation mark, indicating a complete thought.

What is epic poetry?

A long narrative poem about serious subjects, featuring heroes and cultural values.

What is an epic simile?

A long comparison using 'like' or 'as' that may extend for fifty or more lines.

What is an epigraph?

A brief quotation placed at the beginning of a literary work to highlight a theme.

What is an epilogue?

A conclusion added to a literary work, typically summarizing or providing a moral.

Define epistolary.

A literary form consisting of letters written to another person.

What is epistrophe?

The repetition of the same words at the end of successive phrases or clauses.

What is an epitaph?

An inscription on a gravestone or a final statement spoken by a character before death.

What is an epithet?

A short, poetic nickname, often adjectival, attached to a character's name.

What is an eponym?

A name linked to a famous person that is associated with another person, object, or thing.

Define etymology.

The study of the origins and historical development of words.

What is euphemism?

Using mild language instead of direct, harsh phrases to express sensitive topics.

Define euphony in literature.

A series of words that create a pleasing sound when read or heard.

What is exposition in literature?

Authorial discussion used to explain or summarize background material within a story.

Define fable.

A short tale designed to illustrate a moral lesson, often featuring animals as characters.

What is farce?

A form of low comedy that employs exaggerated situations and characters for humorous effect.

What does figurative language mean?

Language that departs from the literal meaning to achieve special effects or meaning.

Define flashback.

A narrative method that interrupts the present to relate past events.

What is a foil character?

A character that contrasts with another, usually the protagonist, to highlight qualities.

Define foot in poetry.

The basic unit of meter consisting of a set number of stressed and unstressed syllables.

What is foreshadowing?

The technique of hinting at events that will occur later in a narrative.

What is 'The Fourth Wall' in drama?

An imaginary wall separating the audience from the events on stage.

What is frame narrative?

A structure where one or more smaller stories are within the context of a larger story.

Define free verse.

Poetry based on natural rhythms of speech rather than strict meter or rhyme.

What is gallows humor?

Humor about serious, painful circumstances, often treating grave topics lightly.

Define genre in literature.

A category of literary composition characterized by particular styles or conventions.

What characterizes gothic literature?

Works that incorporate supernatural elements, horror, and an atmosphere of terror.

What does hamartia mean?

The tragic flaw of a character that leads to their downfall in a tragedy.

Define heroic couplet.

A stanza composed of two rhymed lines in iambic pentameter.

What are humours in medieval physiology?

Four bodily fluids that were believed to affect human behavior and personality.

Define hyperbaton.

The inversion of word order to create emphasis or fit the poetic meter.

What is hyperbole?

Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

What is idiom?

A phrase that cannot be understood from the literal meaning of the individual words.

Define imagery in literature.

Descriptive language that engages the human senses.

What is innuendo?

An indirect remark suggesting something rude or disparaging.

Define invective.

Language that attacks or criticizes a person, topic, or institution.

What are the three types of irony?

Verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony.

What is juxtaposition in literature?

The arrangement of two or more ideas side-by-side for comparison or contrast.

What is a kenning?

A two-word metaphorical phrase used in place of a single noun.

What does laureate mean?

A poet appointed by a government or institution, often expected to compose for special occasions.

What is line break?

The intentional placement where one line of poetry ends and the next begins.

Define litotes.

An understatement where a positive fact is stated by denying its opposite.

What is malapropism?

The unintentional use of a similar-sounding inappropriate word, often humorously.

What is melodrama?

A dramatic work exaggerating plot and characters for emotional effect.