America Literature
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30 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 oral tradition | pass down from one generation to another by word of mouth |
| archetype | an original model on which something is patterned |
| myth | a traditional story; in some cultures, a legend that explains people's beliefs |
| Plain Style | a type of writing in which uncomplicated sentences and ordinary words are used to make simple, direct statements. (Favored by puritans) |
| allusion | a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art |
| satire | Work written to ridicule the shortcomings of people or institutions in an attempt to bring about change--ranges in tone from simple mocking to harsh ridicule |
| historical narrative | the narrative account of an important historical event written by an eye witness |
| 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 |
| implied metaphor | metaphor that is not directly stated in the text |
| conceit | An elaborate metaphor or other figure of speech that compares two things that are extremely different from each other. Ex. God granting Grace to us as a housewife making homespun clothes--"Huswifery" by Edward Taylor |
| imagery | description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) |
| Persuasion | A form of speaking or writing meant to convince an audience to take a specific action. |
| Ethos | appeal to sense of ethics--notion of what is right |
| Pathos | appeal to emotions |
| Logos | appeal to logic |
| Style | The distinctive way that a writer uses language--largely determined by word choice, sentence structure, use of figurative language and imagery |
| Alliteration | use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse |
| Parallelism | phrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other |
| symbol | something that stands for something else |
| Autobiography | Story of a person's life written by that person |
| Editorial | an article giving opinions or perspectives |
| Almanack | Book that reveals calculations for the tides and moons and weather. |
| aphorism | A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life. |
| Rationalism | the doctrine that reason is the right basis for regulating conduct |
| Deism | The religion of the Enlightenment (1700s). Followers believed that God existed and had created the world, but that afterwards He left it to run by its own natural laws. Denied that God communicated to man or in any way influenced his life. |
| Argument | a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal |
| Pamphlet | A brief treatise or essay, usually on a subject of current interest. |
| Sermon | an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service) |
| Puritanism | beliefs and practices characteristic of Puritans, very strict code of conduct |
| audience | the part of the general public interested in a source of information or entertainment |
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