Interpretation vocab - English

Abstract ideas – Concepts that are not tangible or concrete, such as love, justice, or freedom.

Allegory – A story or work of art that has a hidden meaning, often moral or political.

Allusion – A reference to another work of literature, person, or historical event.

Concrete ideas – Specific, tangible concepts that can be observed with the senses.

Contrast – Highlighting differences between two or more ideas, characters, or things.

Compare – Identifying similarities between two or more things.

Deductive thinking – A logical process where conclusions follow from general premises.

Dramatic irony – When the audience knows something the characters do not.

Dualism – The concept of two opposing forces, such as good and evil.

Expressionism – A style in art and literature that emphasizes emotion and subjective experience.

Fact – A statement that can be proven true.

Figurative language – Language that uses figures of speech, such as metaphors and similes.

Generalization – A broad statement based on limited evidence.

Hyperbole – An extreme exaggeration for effect.

Inductive thinking – A logical process where specific observations lead to general conclusions.

Irony – A contrast between expectation and reality.

Logical fallacies – Errors in reasoning that weaken arguments.

Metonymy – A figure of speech where something is referred to by something closely associated with it (e.g., "the White House" for the U.S. government).

Parody – A humorous imitation of a serious work.

Purpose of literature – The reason an author writes, such as to entertain, inform, or persuade.

Personification – Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Extended metaphor – A metaphor that extends over several lines or throughout an entire work.

Synecdoche – A figure of speech where a part represents the whole (e.g., "wheels" for a car).

Metaphor – A direct comparison between two unrelated things (e.g., "time is a thief").

Motif – A recurring theme, symbol, or idea in a work of literature.

Opinion – A personal belief or judgment that is not based on proof.

Parallel – Similar structures or ideas placed side by side for effect.

Paradox – A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.

Personification – (Duplicate of #21) Giving human characteristics to non-human entities.

Purpose of the literature – (Duplicate of #20) The reason for writing a literary work.

Realism – A literary movement that aims to represent life as it truly is.

Simile – A comparison using "like" or "as" (e.g., "as brave as a lion").

Situational irony – When the opposite of what is expected occurs.

Surrealism – A movement that explores dream-like and irrational elements in art and literature.

Symbol – An object, character, or event that represents a deeper meaning.

Theme – The central idea or message of a literary work.

Tone (diction or syntax) – The author’s attitude toward the subject, shaped by word choice and sentence structure.

Universality – The quality of being relevant to all people, regardless of time or place.

Verbal irony – When a speaker says something but means the opposite.

Verisimilitude – The appearance of truth or realism in a work of literature.