Literary Terms

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Literary Terms Round 2

• English 11 Devine

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ALLEGORY

• In allegories people, abstract ideas, or events
  are themselves, but also stand for something else
  on the symbolic level.
• Used in prose and poetry, an allegory tells a
  story which explains an idea or a principle or
  gives a moral lesson.

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Allusion

• A brief and indirect reference to a person,
  place, thing or idea of historical, cultural,
  literary or political significance that many
  people would recognize.
• Dont act like a Romeo in front of her.
• This place is like a Garden of Eden.

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ANECDOTE

• A short narrative account of an amusing, unusual,
  revealing, or interesting event. A good anecdote
  has a single, definite point, and the setting,
  dialogue, and characters are usually subordinate
  to that point. Writers may use anecdotes to
  clarify abstract points, to humanize individuals,
  or to create a memorable image in the reader's
  mind.

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Antithesis

• An antithesis (which literally means opposite),
  is a rhetorical device in which two opposite
  ideas are put together in a sentence or paragraph
  for achieving a contrasting effect.
• Phrases or clauses are often contrasted in a
  parallel structure. The structures are similar in
  order to draw a listeners or readers attention.
  
• Patience is bitter, but it has a sweet fruit.
• You are easy on the eyes, but hard on the heart.

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Aphorism

• An aphorism is a statement of truth or opinion
  expressed in a brief and witty manner. The term
  is often applied to philosophical, moral and
  literary principles.
• The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying
  away small stones. - William Faulkner
• Lifes Tragedy is that we get old too soon and
  wise too late.  - Benjamin Franklin
• Life is a comedy for those who think and a
  tragedy for those who feel. - Jean de La Bruyère

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Apostrophe

• A figure of speech by which the writer or speaker
  addresses, in the second person, some person or
  thing, absent or present. It is a rhetorical
  speech (not requiring a response) often sad or
  frustrated in tone.
• Oh Death, be not proud. John Donne
• Welcome, O life! I go to encounter for the
  millionth time the reality of experience and to
  forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated
  conscience of my race. James Joyce

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Caricature

• A grotesque or foolish image of a character (and
  this includes a written or described image),
  achieved through the exaggeration of personality
  traits.

http//www.dezineguide.com/inspiration/40-amazing-
examples-of-funny-caricatures/
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Catharsis

• Catharsis is a Greek word meaning cleansing or
  healing. A catharsis is an emotional discharge
  which yields a state of moral or spiritual
  renewal or a feeling of liberation from anxiety
  and stress. In literature it is used for the
  cleansing of the audiences emotions by
  witnessing characters expressing their own
  emotions. It is a vicarious process.

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Conflict

• In literature, a conflict involves a struggle
  between two opposing forces, usually a
  protagonist and an antagonist.
• Internal and External Conflicts An internal or
  psychological conflict arises as soon as a
  character experiences two opposite emotions or
  desires, usually virtue or vice or good and evil
  inside him. This disagreement causes a character
  to fall into mental agony.
• External conflict is where a character finds
  himself in struggle with outside forces that
  hamper his progress.

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CONNOTATION

• The extra implication or taint of meaning each
  word carries beyond the minimal, strict
  definition found in a dictionary.
• For instance, the terms civil war, revolution and
  rebellion have the same denotation they all
  refer to an attempt at social or political
  change. However, civil war carries historical
  connotations for Americans. Likewise, revolution
  is often applied more generally to scientific or
  theoretical changes, and it does not necessarily
  connote violence. Rebellion, for many English
  speakers, connotes an improper uprising against a
  legitimate authority (thus we speak about
  "rebellious teenagers" rather than "revolutionary
  teenagers"). (Contrast with denotation.)

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DENOTATION

• The minimal, strict definition of a word as found
  in a dictionary, disregarding any historical or
  emotional connotation. (Contrast with
  connotation.)

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Dialect

• The style and manner of speaking from one
  particular area, as related in writing.
• New Yorkers say New Yawk
• Southerners say Yall
• Brommies say Init?

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Epiphany

• An epiphany is that a moment in the story where a
  character achieves realization, awareness or
  feeling of knowledge after which events in the
  story are seen through the prism of this new
  light.

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Hubris

• Hubris is extreme negative pride or arrogance
  shown by a character that ultimately brings about
  his downfall.
• Hubris is a typical personality flaw of a
  character who enjoys a powerful position as a
  result of which he overestimates his capabilities
  to such an extent that he loses his contact with
  the reality.
• Pride goeth before destruction.

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Idiom

• An expression that is not interpreted literally,
  but has a culturally based meaning, quite
  different from what the individual words mean. It
  is interpreted in a figurative sense and is often
  humorous.
• Bought the farm, kicked the can died
• Tossed his cookies, blew chunks vomited
• Went postal, lost their marbles went crazy
• She stood me up ________________

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Parallelism

• Using components in a sentence that are
  grammatically the same or similar in their
  construction, sound, meaning or meter.
• This method adds balance and rhythm to sentences
  giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be
  persuasive because of the repetition it employs.
• Alice ran into the room, into the garden, and
  into our hearts.
• Whether in class, at work or at home, Shasta was
  always busy.
• Flying is fun, convenient and fast.

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Parody

• Parody is a direct imitation of a particular
  writer, artist or genre, exaggerating noticeable
  features deliberately to produce a comic effect.

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Satire

• In satire the writer uses humor, irony,
  exaggeration or ridicule, but NOT direct
  imitation, to expose and criticize foolishness
  and corruption of an individual or a society.
  Fictional characters stand for real people.

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Repetition

• Repetition is a literary device that repeats the
  same words or phrases a few times to make an idea
  clearer. It could be a word, a phrase, a full
  sentence or a poetical line repeated to emphasize
  its significance in the entire text.
• I looked upon the rotting sea,And drew my eyes
  awayI looked upon the rotting deck,And there
  the dead men lay.
• - From the Rime of the Ancient Mariner

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Synecdoche

• Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part
  of something represents the whole.
• The word bread refers to food or money as in
  sole breadwinner.
• The phrase gray beard refers to an old man.
• The word suits refers to businessmen.
• The word boots refers to soldiers, as in boots
  on the ground.