Literary Terms English 3 AP
Analogy
A literary device that creates a relationship based on the parallels or connections between two ideas. "the kola nut" connected to one's ancestors and to ask them for life and health.(7)
Eulogy
A literary device that is a laudatory expression in a speech, or a written tribute to a person recently deceased "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Alliteration
A literary device where two or more in a phrase or line of poetry sharing the same as sound as the beginning sound "Okonkwo ruled his household with a heavy hand."(13)
Bathos
A literary term derived from a Greek word meaning ¨depth¨, It is the act of a writer or poet falling into inconsequential and absurd metaphors "Okonkwo was ruled by one passion- to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved."(203)
Motif
A motif can be almost anything: an idea, an object, a concept, a character archetype, the weather, a color, or even a statement. Motifs are used to establish a theme or a certain mood; they have a symbolic meaning.
Surrealism
A movement in art and literature that flourished in the early twentieth century. Surrealism aimed at expressing imaginative dreams and visions free from conscious rational control "They came to the tree which Okonkwo's body was dangling" (207)
Narrator
A person who tells a story; in literature, the voice that an author takes on to tell a story. This voice can have a personality quite different from the author's (3rd person omniscient narrator can give character's thoughts in the book.)
Pun
A pun is a play on words that produces a humorous effect by using a word that suggests two or more meanings, or by exploiting similar sounding words that have different meanings.
Hypothetical Question
A question based on assumptions rather than facts, directed to an expert witness intended to elicit an opinion There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Dialect
A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, "chi" one's personal god (27)
Ad hominem argument
A response to a person's argument by attacking the person's character rather then the logic or content of the argument "Nwoye overheard it and burst into tears, whereupon his father beat him heavily."(57)
Complex Sentence
A sentence that contains one main clause and at least one subordinate clause "when a playmate...another name for a women"(86)
Anecdote
A short or interesting story, or an amusing event, often proposed to support of demonstrate some point, and to make the audience laugh "We will all live...We will pray"(89)
Allegory
A story with a two level meaning,first there's is the surface of the story,second is the symbolic level, or deeper meaning that all the stuff on the surface represents Yams where one of these two level meanings "yam, the kings of crops, was a man's crop." (23)
Apostrophe
A term used when a speaker directly addresses an abstract concept like love, a person "We will all live...We will pray"(104)
Flat Character
A two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the case of a work "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Absolute
An absolute phrase is a group of words that modifies and independent clause as a whole "We will all live...We will pray"(101)
Adage
An adage is a short, and memorable saying that is based on facts, and which is considered a veritable truth by the majority of people "We will all live...We will pray"(69)
Cumulative Sentence
An independent clause followed by a series of subordinate constructions that gather details about a person, place, or idea
Epitaph
An inscription or written tribute in memory of a person on a tombstone or in a piece of literature There is not one in this book ?????
Hubris
Another word for pride, most tragic flaw of a heroine "it was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father" (13)
Cliché
Can be an idiom, a phrase that is figurative, not literal "when a playmate...another name for a women"(74
Diction
Can be defined as style of speaking or writing, determined by the choice of words by a speaker or writer "He worshiped... eight children"(14) He incorporates longer sentences in his writing followed by short breaks
Genre
Category of literary composition (Tragedy,Literary Fiction) "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Invective
Denotes speech or writing that attacks, insults, or denounces a person, topic or institution There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Allusion
Figure of speech that refers to a well known story, event, person, or object in order to make a comparison in the reader's mind joseph Conrad: Heart of Darkness - "from the beginning of things" (23)
Elegy
Form of literature that can be defined as a poem or song in the form of elegiac couplets, written in honor of someone deceased "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Epic
In literature, an epic is a long narrative poem, which is usually related to heroic deeds of a person of an unusual courage and unparalleled bravery "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Flashback
Interruption of the chronological sequence of an event of earlier occurrence "One day... Departed" (5-8)
Expletive
Is a crude or obscene expression, or an unnecessary word or phrase used to fill space in a sentence for grammar or rhythm purposes "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Litotes
Is a figure of speech that employs an understatement by using double negative or in other words, a positive statement by negation the opposite expressions There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Idiom
Is a figure of speech that means something different than a literal translation of the words would lead on to believe "A snake was never called... it was called string"(9)
Fantasy
Is a form of literary genre in which a plot cannot occur in the real world "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Conceit
Is a kind of metaphor that compare two very unlike things in a surprising and clever way "when a playmate...another name for a women"(146)
Aphorism
Is a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner "I have come for your help... I shall not fail you"(21)
Archetype
Is a typical character, an action, or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature "Nwoye overheard it and burst into tears, whereupon his father beat him heavily."(93)
Balanced Sentence
Is made up of two segments which are equal not only in length, but also in grammatical structure and meaning "Okonkwo was ruled by one passion- to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved."(56)
Epiphany
Is the point in a work of literature where a character has a sudden insight or realization that changes his or her understanding "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Colloquialism
Is the use of informal words, phrases, or even slang in a piece of writing "when a playmate...another name for a women"(135)
Concrete Details
It is your opinion, interpretation, insight, analysis, personal response, feelings evaluation, explication, and a reflection about a concrete detail in an essay "when a playmate...another name for a women"(167)
Antecedent
Literary device in which a word or pronoun in a line or sentence refers to an earlier word "Calling him our father. Nna ayi, he said" (19)
Foreshadowing
Literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story "the ill-fated lad was called Ikemefuna" (8)
Ellipses
Literary device that is used in narratives to omit some parts of the sentence or event, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while acting or reading it out "his three year-old sister . . . of course she would not be three now, but six"(59)
Inference
Literary device used in commonly in literature, where logical deductions are made based on premises assumed to be true There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Juxtapostion
Literary technique in which two or more ideas,places, character, and their actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Frame Device
Literary technique that sometimes serves as a companion piece to a story within a story, whereby an introductory or main narrative is presented "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Epithet
Literary term of the application of a word or phrase to someone that describes that person´s attributes or qualities "I am Evil Forest, I am Dry-meat-that-fills-the-mouth, I am Fire-that-burns-without-maggots." (93)
Jargon
Literary term that is defined as the use of specific phrases and words in a particular situation,trade There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Deductive Reasoning
Logical process in which a conclusion is based on the concordance of multiple premises that are generally assumed to be true "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Argument
Main statement of a poem, an essay, a short story, or a novel, which usually appears as an introduction, or a point on which the writer will develop his work in order to convince readers "Okonkwo was ruled by one passion- to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved."(13)
Homily
Major category into which a literary work fits, or any serious talk,speech, or lecture providing moral or spiritual advice "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Didactic
Often have morals to impart or are written to teach us something about religion, philosophy, history, or politics "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Limited Narrator
Only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character There is no example of this since the narrator of the book is an omniscient narrator. There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Paraphrase
Paraphrase is a Greek word, paraphrases, which means "to tell in other words." Simply, it is to restate a statement in different words than the original text, while keeping the meaning and sense of the original source the same. "There was a saying in Umuofia that as a man danced so the drums were beaten for him."(92)
Euphemism
Refers to polite, indirect expressions that replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite, or which suggest something unpleasant "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Denotation
Refers to the literal, dictionary definition of a word "Chi or personal god"(18)
Chiasmus
Rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect "Okonkwo was ruled by one passion- to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved."(125)
Epigram
Rhetorical device that is a memorable , brief, interesting, and surprising satirical statement "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Inductive Reasoning
Statement is derived using facts and instances which lead to the formation of a general opinion There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Metaphor
The comparison of one thing to another without the use of like or as "Okonkwo was...He was a flaming fire" (153)
Declarative sentence
This word can be used to describe any action or speech that makes a statement "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Implication
To resent an implication of dishonesty. There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Legend
Traditional story or group of stories told about a particular person or place There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Exclamatory Sentence
Type of main clause that expresses strong feelings by making exclamation "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Irony
Use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning "They came to the tree which Okonkwo's body was dangling" (207)
Antithesis
Used as a literary device to put two contrasting ideas together. This emphasizes the difference of the two ideas and adds interest to writing "Nwoye overheard it and burst into tears, whereupon his father beat him heavily."(89)
Imagery
Used for language and description that appeals to our five senses "The drums rose to a frenzy" (47)
Vernacular
Using a language or dialect native to a region or country rather than literary, cultured, or foreign language "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Asyndeton
Writing style where conjunctions are omitted in a series of words, phrases or clauses. It us used to shorten a sentence and focus on it meaning "He had sown 400... weeks and the yams were killed"(23)
Climax
a decisive moment that is of maximum intensity or is a major turning point in a plot "They had broken into tumult instead of taking action" (205) Igbo having meeting regarding the crimes of the christians
Syllogism
a deductive scheme of a formal argument consisting of a major and a minor premise "Nwoye overheard it and burst into tears, whereupon his father beat him heavily."(93)
Romantic
a narration of the extraordinary exploits of heroes, often in exotic or mysterious settings There is no story that is not true, [...] The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.(98)
Parable
a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson "When a man is at peace with his gods and ancestors, his harvest will be good or bad according to the strength of his arm" (184)
Thesis
a short statement, usually one sentence, that summarizes the main point or claim of an essay, research paper, etc., and is developed, supported, and explained in the text by means of examples and evidence "Okonkwo was ruled by one passion- to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved."(203)
Theme
a theme is the central topic a text treats "We will all live...We will pray"(101)
Myth
a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature For the first time in three nights,...bedroom and shut the door (75-76)
Pedantic
an adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or. bookish. periodic sentences - a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end "The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others."(198)
Trite
applies to a once effective phrase or idea spoiled from long familiarity
Round Character
are complex and undergo development, sometimes sufficiently to surprise the reader "A snake was never called... it was called string"(87)
Narrative
are works that provide an account of connected events. To put it simply, a narrative is a story "He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart"(103)
Symbol
can take many forms including: A figure of speech where an object, person, or situation has another meaning other than its literal meaning. "the kola nut" breaking it symbolized life and health (6)
Mood
element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions. Usually, mood is referred to as the atmosphere of a literary piece
Personification
is a form of figurative language in which something that is not human is given human characteristics "Evil forest then thrust the pointed end of his rattling staff into the earth" (89)
Sarcasm
is a literary and rhetorical device that is meant to mock, often with satirical or ironic remarks, with a purpose to amuse and hurt someone, or some section of society, simultaneously There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (146)
Understatement
is a literary device in which a writer or speaker attributes less importance or conveys less passion than the subject would seem to demand "There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Parallelism
is a literary device in which parts of the sentence are grammatically the same, or are similar in construction. It can be a word, a phrase, or an entire sentence repeated "Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching."(183)
Non Sequitur
is a literary device that includes statements, sayings, and conclusions that do not follow the fundamental principles of logic and reason.
Omniscient Narrator
is a literary technique of writing a narrative in third person, in which the narrator knows the feelings and thoughts of every character in the story. ( The way that Things Fall Apart is narrated)
Epigraph
is a phrase, quotation, or poem that is set at the beginning of a document or component "The second Coming" by W. B. Yeats
Onomatopoeia
is a poetic structure of words to convey how something sounds. An example of onomatopoeia is a poem about a stream written in a way to imitate the sound of a stream "Gome, gome, gome, gome went the gong, and a powerful flute blew a high-pitched blast" (88)
Maxim
is a simple and memorable line, quote, or rule for taking action and leading a good life "I am not afraid of work"(21)
Paradox
is a statement that contradicts itself and still seems true somehow. "When mother-cow is chewing grass its young ones watch it's mouth"(145)
Metonymy
is a word or phrase that is used to stand in for another word.
Tone
is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience "The drums rose to a frenzy" (47)
Parody
is an imitation of a particular writer, artist, or genre, exaggerating it deliberately to produce a comic effect "It always surprised him when he thought of it later that he did not sink under the load of despair."(125)
Resolution
is the part of a story's plot line in which the problem of the story is resolved or worked out "A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes. When we gather together in the moonlit village ground it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so."(201)
Anaphora
is the repetition of a certain word or phrase at the beginning of the successive lines of writing or speech "We will all live...We will pray"(19)
Malapropism
is the use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical, sometimes humorous utterance There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Syntax
is the way words and phrases are arranged to make a complete sentence. It is also the rules that govern how sentences are created "his three year-old sister . . . of course she would not be three now, but six"(59) was
Synecdoche
literary device in which a part of something represents the whole, or it may use a whole to represent a part "Okonkwo was...He was a flaming fire" (153)
Polysyndeton
literary technique in which conjunctions (e.g. and, but, or) are used repeatedly in quick succession, often with no commas "If you don't like my story. Write your own"(168)
Plot
literary term used to describe the events that make up a story, or the main part of a story "Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings."(63)
Oxymoron
occurs when two contradictory words are together in one phrase
Connotation
refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Hyperbole
simply the use of over-exaggeration for the purpose of creating emphasis or being humorous "There are so many people on it that if you threw up a grain of sand it would not find a way to fall to earth again." (113)
Satire
trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly "I have come for your help... I shall not fail you"(64)
Dissonance
use of impolite, harsh-sounding, and unusual words in poetry.The deliberate use of inharmonious words "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
Figurative Language
uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation "when a playmate...another name for a women"(13)
