Lang Terms Quiz #2

Figure of Speech

A device used to produce figurate language. Many compare dissimilar things. ex: Figures of speech include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. They often have a comic effect, however a serious effect is also possible. ex: So first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. This stuff is used motor oil compared to the coffee you make, my love.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work. ex: "Bobby Holloway says my imagination is a three-hundred-ring circus. Currently I was in ring two hundred and ninety-nine, with elephants dancing and clowns cart wheeling and tigers leaping through rings of fire. The time had come to step back, leave the main tent, go buy some popcorn and a Coke, bliss out, cool down." Here, it can be seen that the "circus" has been compared to the author's "imagination."

Enumeratio

Figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details, and may include a listing of causes, effects, problems, solutions, conditions, and consequences; the listing or detailing of the parts of something. ex: I love her eyes, her hair, he nose, her cheeks, her lips. Who's gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It's chocolate; it's peppermint; it's delicious...It's very refreshing!

Expletive

Figure of emphasis in which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis to the words on either side of the expletive. ex: in fact, of course, to be sure, indeed, I suppose, I hope, you know, you see, clearly, in any event, in effect, certainly, remarkably

Hypophora

Figure of reasoning in which one or more questions is/are asked and then answered, often at length, by one and the same speaker; raising and responding to one's own question(s). A common usage is to ask the question at the beginning of a paragraph and then use the paragraph to answer it. ex: When the enemy struck on that June day of 1950, what did America do? It did what it always has done in all its times of peril. It appealed to the heroism of its youth.

Euphemism

From the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. The euphemism may be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement. ex: Saying "earthly remains" rather than "corpse" is an example of euphemism.

Didactic

From the Greek, didactic literally means "teaching." Didactic words have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles. ex: "Know then thyself, presume not God to scan The proper study of Mankind is Man." Every textbook and "how-to" book is an example of didacticism, as their explicit purpose is to instruct and educate. Books written for children also often have a didactic intent, as they are often created to teach children about moral values.

Exposition

In essays, one of the four chief types of composition, the others being argumentation, description, and narration. The purpose of exposition is to explain something. In drama, the exposition is the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict. ex: "Once upon a time, there were three bears. There was a Daddy Bear, who was very big, a Mama Bear, who was middle-sized, and a Baby Bear, who was very small. They all lived together in a little cottage in the middle of the woods."

Diction

Related to style, diction refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. ex: "Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the spring adieu." It is more formal to use "adieu" than to say "goodbye."

Genre

The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. ex: prose can be divided into fiction or non fiction; Drama can be divided into tragedy, comedy, melodrama, dance, etc.

Imagery

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, imagery uses terms related to five senses. On. a broader and deeper level, one image can represent more than one thing. ex: a rose may present visual imagery while also representing the color in a woman's cheeks or symbolizing some degree of perfection.

Denotation

The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color. ex: denotation of the word "blue" is the color blue, but its connotation is "sad"—read the following sentence: The blueberry is very blue. We understand this sentence by its denotative meaning—it describes the literal color of the fruit.

Generic Conventions

This term describes traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre; for example, they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing. ex: A fable will traditionally feature animals and convey a moral/lesson. Almost all Westerns use the Iconography of cowboy hats, six shooters, horses and spurs to place them in their genre.

Homily

This term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. ex: "He is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it. Sometimes an earthly prince meets with a great deal of difficulty to subdue a rebel that has found means to fortify himself ... So 'tis easy for us to cut or singe a slender thread that anything hangs by; thus easy is it for God, when he pleases, to cast his enemies down to hell. What are we, that we should think to stand before him, at whose rebuke the earth trembles, and before whom the rocks are thrown down." This is a popular American sermon in which Edwards has emphasized the idea of a Great Awakening. The underlying idea is that God has given a chance to humanity to rectify their sins, as the will of God has kept them away from the depths of hell.

Figurative Language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid. ex: This coffee shop is an ice box! (Metaphor) She's drowning in a sea of grief. (Metaphor) She's happy as a clam. (Simile)

Diacope

repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase: word/phrase X..., word/phrase X. ex: We will do it, I tell you; we will do it. We give thanks to Thee, O god, we give thanks.