 | Term | Definition |
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ode |
a poem of varying line lengths and usually several stanzas, often addressed to someone; in classical literature, a poem to be sung, usually in praise of someone |
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pastoral |
pertaining to country life |
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metaphor |
a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” |
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simile |
a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared, as in “she is like a rose.” |
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personification |
a type of figurative language in which an object is given human qualities |
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symbolism |
use of an object, character, or event to stand by itself and represent something else |
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personal symbol |
symbols created by authors for use in particular works |
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traditional symbol |
uses symbols that are part of our cultural inheritances |
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assonance |
repition of vowel sounds in stressed syllables |
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consonance |
repition of a final consonant sound in words or accented syllables |
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onomanopoeia |
the formation of a word, as cuckoo or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent. |
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alliteration |
repition of initial consonant sounds |
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figurative language |
speech or writing that departs from literal meaning in order to achieve a special effect or meaning, speech or writing employing figures of speech |
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point of view |
first person (I), third person (he/she), objective (camera), omniscient (all knowing) |
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tone |
attitude that a writer has towards the subject and/or the reader |
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theme |
statement about life indirectly expressed in a piece of literature/work, to arrive at what a theme is, you have to consider the whole story |
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diction |
word choice, adds different connotations to the meaning of a passage |
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imagery |
use of words and phrases to create vivid sensations that appeal to any of the five senses |
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mood |
feeling created in the reader by a work or literary mood may be suggested by work choice, events, or physical setting |
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allusion |
a passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication: an allusion to Shakespeare. |
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satire |
the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc. |
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syntax |
The study of the rules whereby words or other elements of sentence structure are combined to form grammatical sentences. |
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irony |
discrepency between appearances and reality |
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verbal irony |
occurs when someone says one thing but means something else |
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situational irony |
takes place when there is discrepency between what is expected to happen, or what would be appropriate to happen, and what really does happen |
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dramatic irony |
often used on stage; character in the play or story thinks one thing is true, but the audience of reader knows better |
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paradox |
a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth. |
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ambiguity |
any story or element in a story that can be interpreted in different ways; fault that obstructs clear communication |
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pun |
play on words; may have two different meanings |
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denouement |
conclusion (or resolution of a story); at this point, everything is unraveled and conflicts are resolved |
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motivation |
reasons for a character's behavior. |
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pathos |
pity roused by the situation or the misfortunes of the characters in a story |
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foreshadowing |
the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot |
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flashback |
scene that interrupts the normal chronological sequence of events in a story to depict something that happened at an earlier time |
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climax |
outcome of the main action of a story |
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stereotype |
fixed idea or conception of a character or an idea that does not allow for any individuality, and is often based on religious, social, or racial prejudices |
