google terms
(http
//examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-metonymy.html)
( https
//examples.yourdictionary.com/periodic-sentence-examples.html )
( https
//literarydevices.net/antimetabole/ )
( https
//literarydevices.net/asyndeton/ )
( http
//www.literarydevices.com/apostrophe/ )
Dramatic
reader knows something the character/s do not
Allegory
Allegory is a figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures and events. It can be employed in prose and poetry to tell a story with a purpose of teaching an idea and a principle or explaining an idea or a principle. The objective of its use is to preach some kind of a moral lesson. (https://literarydevices.net/allegory/)
Inversion
Also called anastrophe, the syntactic reversal of the normal order of the words and phrases in a sentence
Plaint
Also known as as a complaint, a plaint is a poem that laments or protests unreturned love or tells of personal misfortune, misery and injustice.
Anadiplosis
Anadiplosis is a form of repetition in which a word or phrase at the end of a sentence is used again at the beginning of the next sentence. https://mcl.as.uky.edu/glossary-rhetorical-terms
Stream of consciousness
In literature, stream of consciousness is a method of narration that describes happenings in the flow of thoughts in the minds of the characters. e.g. The Sun Also Rises, Ulysses(https://literarydevices.net/stream-of-consciousness/)
Assonance
In poetry, assonance is the repetition of the sound of a vowel used with different consonants, also referred to as vowel rhyme. Example: Go slow over the road (repetition of the long o sound). https://literarydevices.net/assonance/
Prosaic
In the 1600s, any text that was not poetic was prosaic. Back then, "prosaic" carried no negative connotations; it simply indicated that a written work was made up of prose. That sense clearly owes much to the meaning of the world's Latin ancestor prosa, which meant "prose." By the end of the 17th century, though, poetry had come to be viewed as the more beautiful, imaginative, and emotional type of writing, and prose was relegated to the status of mundane. As a result, English speakers started using "prosaic" to refer to anything considered matter-of-fact or ordinary, and they gradually transformed it into a synonym for "colorless," "drab," "lifeless," and "lackluster." (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prosaic)
Consonance
consonance refers to the repetition of consonants within a sentence or phrase. For instance, the words chuckle, buckle and sick are consonant with one another https://literarydevices.net/consonance/
D
do/behavior
Round
dynamic/multidimensional character
Situational
irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was expected, can change tone/mood, final outcome is contradictory to what was expected
Farcical
laughably inept; absurd (source:https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/farcical Add on: Farce is a literary genre and type of comedy that makes use of highly exaggerated and funny situations aimed at entertaining the audience. Farce is also a subcategory of dramatic comedy.
Kinesthetic
movement Organic: the Earth/nature, sensory details that describe Earth
Flat
not dynamic, more minor characters
Ellipsis
omission of one or more words for conciseness and drama
O
others say
Deus ex machina
A Latin term literally meaning "a god from a machine". The phrase originated from Greek and Roman drama, the "machine" referring to the crane that held a god over a stage. The term is now used to describe a sudden plot device that resolves a seemingly hopeless problem in a story. Example: The Pacman extra life in Ready Player One.
Epanalepsis
A figure of emphasis in which the same word or words begins and ends a phrase, clause, or sentence. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/figures/epanalepsis.htm
Zeugma
A figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together different ideas (source: https://literarydevices.net/zeugma/ Add on: The word can also apply to two nouns but have different meaning, and in some cases the word can only apply properly to one noun.
Dynamic versus Flat Characters
A flat character has one central personality trait however a dynamic character changes over the course of the text. Flat characters are often one-dimensional and minor characters with less purpose than characters that are dynamic.
Foil
A foil is a character who greatly contrasts with another to highlight characteristics of said contrasted character. Examples: Eliza and Clara (Pygmalion), can even work with relationships (Mr. Bingley and Jane's relationship versus Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's relationship)
Tongue-in-cheek
A joke under the guise of a more serious statement. https://www.google.com/amp/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/us/amp/english/tongue-in-cheek
Limited Omniscient Narrator versus Omniscient Narrator
A limited omniscient narrator only relates his or her own thoughts, feelings, and knowledge of various situations and other characters. In a limited perspective, the narrator focuses their story on only one or few character. An omniscient narrator knows all the thoughts and feelings of all the characters in the story.
Paradox
A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true. Examples: "less is more", "". https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/paradox http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-paradox.html
Periodic Sentence
A sentence in which the writer builds suspense by beginning with subordinate elements and postponing the main clause
Aphorism
A statement of truth or opinion that is expressed in a witty manner. Ex: "All that glisters is not gold" https://literarydevices.net/aphorism/ Add on: To qualify as an aphorism, it is necessary for a statement to contain a truth revealed in a terse manner.
Stock Character
A stock character is a character who exemplifies cultural stereotypes. With things like speech, dress, behavior and relations to other characters, stock characters act as cultural touchstone characters whose characteristics a particular audience has come to know and expect. http://narrative.georgetown.edu/wiki/index.php/Stock_character
Frame narrative
A story which serves to introduce or contextualize another story (or stories) told by one (or more) of its characters, e.g. the story of the pilgrims in Canterbury Tales.
Doggerel
A technical term for bad poetry, which is usually characterized by irregular verse, forced rhyme and overly sentimental tones. It can also be used for comical effect. Here is an example of a doggerel poem by a hypothetical teenager:
Didacticism
A term that refers to a particular philosophy in art and literature that emphasizes the idea that different forms of art and literature ought to convey information and instructions, along with pleasure and entertainment. (https://literarydevices.net/didacticism/) Add on: Didacticism describes a type of literature that is written to inform or instruct the reader, especially in moral or political lessons (ex: think of Aesop's fables)
Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of the initial word or phrase in a series of clauses or phrases for rhythm. It was originally used in Biblical psalms, and is commonly used both in writing and everyday speech to emphasize ideas or as a means of self-affirmation. (Source: https://literarydevices.net/anaphora/ )
Bathetic
Bathetic is characterized by the term bathos meaning a sudden change of tone in writing. If done unintentionally it could create an overly sentimental effect that marks an amateur writer. If done intentionally it could be used for comedic effect. Bathos has risen in popularity as a comedic effect. http://www.literarydevices.com/bathos/ Add on: soap operas are known for being bathetic because characters cry and wail on screen
Bildungsroman
Bildungsroman is a "novel or formation" or a novel that portrays one's growth from childhood and maturity. Examples include Catcher in the Rye, the Harry Potter series, and most Dickens novels. https://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Terms/bildungsroman.html Add on: (Formative or spiritual journey through an individual. A way of finding, or understanding. Protagonist develops mentally, emotionally, and physically.) https://www.britannica.com/art/bildungsroman
Chiasmus
Chiasmus involves the reversal of grammatical elements for emphasis. It's a figure of speech displaying inverted parallelism, in which the first half of the sentence presents the elements in an "AB" structure, whereas the second half of the sentence repeats the elements as an inverted "BA" structure. (Source: http://www.literarydevices.com/chiasmus/ ) Add on: ex: never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you
Connotation and its Importance
Connotation is important to consider in analysis (close reading and poetry analysis) because it reveals what emotions an author wants to convey or associate with something else. Because words can have positive, negative, or neutral connotations, you can tell if an author wants to praise or criticize something by looking at the connotation. Changing the connotation of a word can drastically change the tone of a piece of writing. (https://www.csun.edu/~bashforth/098_PDF/06Sep15Connotation_Denotation.pdf)
Ennui
Ennui is a word of French origin meaning a feeling of annoyance, often stemming from a lack of excitement. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/ennui
Quixotic
Extremely idealistic; unrealistic and impractical. (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/quixotic)
Litotes
Ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary. Example: if you say "it's not the best weather today" during a hurricane, your implying through ironical understatement that the weather is horrible. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/litotes https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms/litotes
In Media Res
Latin translation speaks for itself, meaning "into the middle". In media res describes a way of storytelling where the narrative begins at the middle of the story, usually at a crucial point of action.
Malapropism
Malapropism is a comic device involving the use of the incorrect words in phrases in order to make a character appear unintelligent or confused. Often the word is very similar to a correct word, but with a completely different definition. http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_M.html
Petrarchan Sonnet
Named after the poet Petrarch and also known as the Italian sonnet, the Petrarchan sonnet is divided into two sections with each having different rhyming sounds. The first group is the octave it has eight lines and rhymes in abbaabba and the remaining six is the sestet and the rhyme scheme of the seset can be flexible. http://www.sonnets.org/basicforms.htm
Metaphysical Speculation
Of, or relating to, poetry (especially of the early 17th century) that is highly intellectual and philosophical and marked by unconventional figurative.language. (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphysical). Add on: (Also used to open question and relate to existence, life, and other aspects that are not apart of the physical world. (Could also be referring to god or religion)).
Asyndeton
Omission of conjunction before the last item in a series
Polysyndeton
Polysyndeton is a stylistic device in which several coordinating conjunctions are used in succession in order to achieve an artistic effect. Polysyndeton examples are found in literature and in day-to-day conversations. (https://literarydevices.net/polysyndeton/)
Puritanism
Puritanism originated from an attempt to reform of the Church of England in the late 1500s. Its followers were called Puritans, a group whose aim was to eradicate any Catholic influence in the national church. In the early 17th century, these Puritans arrived in America and brought their beliefs with them, which has had a profound impact on American society. They emphasized the importance of self reliance, little frivolous spending, and strong industry, concepts that are still apparent in our society today. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.668.1315&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Rationalism
Rationalism is the term used to describe writers and philosophers who privilege scientific reason and logical thought over and above everything else. The Rationalists in America were very much influenced by the Enlightenment that was happening in the 18th century in Europe. chrome-extension://bpmcpldpdmajfigpchkicefoigmkfalc/views/app.html
Antimetabole
Repeating words in reverse order for surprise and emphasis
Caustic
Sarcastic in a scathing and bitter (example: 'the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing') way.(https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/caustic)
Satirical
Satire is used throughout literary works as a means of critiquing and mocking a society or individual through the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule in order to bring about reform. Although satire is typically invoked through fiction or fictional characters, it is often based on real people, events, or trends. Satire is usually employed with the intent of pointing out a flaw in society, and typically points to a need for change or adaptation of a societal concept. (Source: https://literarydevices.net/satire/ ) Examples of satire include Pygmalion and Pride and Prejudice.
Pedantic
Someone who is concerned with precision, formalism, accuracy, and minute details in order to make an arrogant ostentatious show of learning ( source: https://literarydevices.net/pedantic/ ) Add on: Comes from the French word "pedant" which means to teach or to act as pedagogue
Synaesthesia
Synesthesia is a literary technique that consists of activating multiple senses in the reader simultaneously, especially when introducing characters or themes. https://literarydevices.net/synesthesia/
Difference between syntax and diction
Syntax is how words are put together to form clauses and sentences, and some examples are anaphora, epistrophe, and antithesis. While syntax focuses on grammar, diction focuses on word choice, with examples such as formal or informal word choice and denotation and connotation. It is useful to use substitution analysis with both syntax and diction. (http://pediaa.com/difference-between-diction-and-syntax/)
Denouement
The denouement is the resolution of a play or other work in which the loose ends of the story are tied up to resolve the plot. It can also refer to a the outcome situation outside of writing in which there is a resolution or a moment of clarity. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/denouement
Onomatopoeia
The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named. --oxford dictionary the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it. --Merriam-Webster
Extended Metaphor
The term "extended metaphor" refers to a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph, or lines in a poem. It is often comprised of more than one sentence, and sometimes consists of a full paragraph. (https://literarydevices.net/extended-metaphor/)
Tone
The way that the writer feels about the work (the attitude through the work). --Lucia Add on: (The tone is how the author expresses their feelings through their writing technique. Tone can be expressed through syntax, point of view, formality, diction, etc.) http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-tone-in-a-story.html
Mood
The way the author wants the audience to feel (part of the setting, atmosphere in relation to setting). --Lucia
Denotation and its Importance
Unlike a connotation, a denotation is the literal definition of a word. The denotation and context must be understood when trying to process a connotation of a word / phrase. <http://www.softschools.com/examples/grammar/denotation_examples/211/>
Euphemism
Using a more polite term in substitution of a coarse or unpleasant one
Alliteration
Using the same letter or sound at the beginning of closely connected words. Example: She sells seashells by the sea shore. (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alliteration)
Enjambment
When a sentence in a poem does not end at the end of a line, but continues over the line break to the next line.The technique is often used to separate the pause at the end of a sentence from the pause at the end of the line when the poem is read aloud.(ref) Add on: usually punctuation is not used (especially not at the end of the line), ex: "next to of course god america i" by e.e. cummings
Apostrophe
When a speaker breaks off from addressing one party and instead addresses a third party. This third party may be an individual, either present or absent in the scene.
Anachronism
a detail, or details, in a piece of literature that contains factual inaccuracies because of the time period that the literature was written in. Generally, these inconsistencies come as a result of the author regarding a period of time uneventful when in fact it is eventful (or vice versa), or when the author considers historical events as unrelated when in fact they are related (or vice versa). (https://muse.jhu.edu/article/22906)
Cumulative or loose sentence
a sentence in which the subordinate elements come at the end to call attention to them
Interrupted sentence
a sentence in which the subordinate elements comes in the middle often set off by dashes
Balanced sentence
a sentence in which two parallel elements are set off against each other like equal weights on a scale
Synecdoche
a type of literary trope or figure of speech. Synecdoches take on many forms, such as using a part of something to represent a whole, using the whole to represent a part, or using the components of an object to represent the object itself. (http://rhetoric.byu.edu/Figures/S/synecdoche.htm)
Double Entendre
a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent. (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20entendre)
Metonymy
a word or phrase that is used to stand in for another word. For example, in the common phrase, "the pen is mightier than the sword," the pen stands in for "written word" and the sword stands in for violence. Metonymy is the use of something closely related to the thing (the metonym) as a stand in for the actually intended thing. Metonymy also is commonly used to also mean a synecdoche, in which the author uses a part of a whole as a substitution to the whole. (Sound and Sense by Thomas Arp)
Social Commentary
act of using rhetorical means to provide commentary on issues in a society
Archetype
an archetype is a typical character, an action, or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature. This can be applied to an image, a theme, a symbol, an idea, a character type, or a plot pattern. It can be expressed through literature, myths, religion, and many more. Examples of this in characters is a hero. https://www.hccfl.edu/media/724354/archetypesforliteraryanalysis.pdf https://www.hccfl.edu/media/724354/archetypesforliteraryanalysis.pdf
Oxymoron
an oxymoron occurs when two opposing terms are adjacent to one another. For example, a deafening silence, Jumbo shrimp http://rhetoric.byu.edu/Figures/O/oxymoron.htm
A
appearance
Comic Relief
author's use of humor to give the reader/audience an emotional break from tension and a heavy mood
Selection of Detail
really anything that the author consciously includes in their writing, whether that be imagery, tone, or diction; you must DEFINE the specific selection of detail in your writing to assure you answer the prompt. One should analyze how these specific details used by the author help to build the scene and narrative and to develop the themes
Irony
rhetorical/literary device, what is being said is opposite of what is meant
S
say
Imagery
sensory details
Total Meaning
significance, social commentary, interpreting author's tone, what the author is trying to convey
Verbal
speaking, sometimes sarcasm, look at what character is saying
Gustatory
taste Visual: sight
Prose Meaning
the actual text; characterization, direct meaning, word choice, diction, etc
Antithesis
the juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas, sometimes in parallel structures. Ex: One small step for a man, and one giant leap for mankind. http://rhetoric.byu.edu/Figures/A/antithesis.htm
Extended parallelism
the repetition of words or grammatical elements to achieve cumulative force and rhythm
T
thoughts
Tactile
touch Auditory: sound
Satire
use of humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices
Characterization
what the character says/inner thoughts, what they do/say, how they look, traits, motives, motivation, antagonist/protagonist, direct/explicit, indirect/implicit, how does the author feel about the character?
Double Entendre
word or phrase open to two interpretations, one is usually risque or indecent
Subjective
your feelings/baggage Olfactory: smell