Sandy Vocab
Phrase
A grammatical term which defines a group of words that functions as a meaningful part of a clause or sentence; a phrase may have a subject or a verb but not both; all of the types of clauses we have looked at could also be phrases; when a simple adjective or adverb is not sufficient, a writer often turn to a phrase E.g. Humans can be fairly ridiculous animals; To laugh is to live profoundly; The man stood laughing, his weapons at his hips
Ode
A lyric poem devoted to the praise of a person, animal, or thing. An ode is usually written in an elevated style and often expresses deep feeling. An example is "Ode on a Grecian Urn," by John Keats.
Theme
A major theme is an idea that a writer repeats in his literary work, making it jone the most significant ideas; it is the author's perspective on a particular topic; themes must be complete sentences; a motif on the other hand is the topic, such as love; the theme is what the author thinks about love; themes must be universal and could apply to other situations beyond that particular piece of literature E.g. Disney examples theme vs. motif
Pun
A pun is a joke based on the interplay of homophones — words with the same pronunciation but different meanings. It can also play with words that sound similar, but not exactly the same. The joke's humor comes from the confusion of the two meanings. Top 10 Puns E.g Why do amphibians take the bus? Because their cars are always getting toad. "Toad" vs. "towed"
Rhetorical Question
A rhetorical question is asked just for effect, or to lay emphasis on some point being discussed, when no real answer is expected; we avoid these in formal writing E.g. "Who knows?" E.g. #2 "Ode to the West Wind" (By Percy Bysshe Shelley) "...O Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?
Grotesques
Characters often found in gothic, especially Southern gothic literature; they are usually fantastical creatures who are unsettling but arouse sympathy as well; they sometimes combine human, animal, and/or vegetable forms E.g. Frankenstein, Gregor Samsa in "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka, paintings (see link), gargoyles, Flannery O'Connor's off-kilter characters, Hunchback of Notre Dame examples
Concrete Details
Concrete details: refer to objects or events that are available to the senses. This is directly opposite to abstract terms, which name things that are not available to the senses. E.g. spoon, table, velvet eye patch, nose; Because these terms refer to objects or events we can see or hear or feel or taste or smell, their meanings are pretty stable. I can't pick up a freedom and show it to you.
Consonance
Consonance: .repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase; this repetition often takes place in quick succession E.g. "Rap rejects my tape deck, ejects projectile Whether Jew or gentile, I rank top percentile Many styles, more powerful than gamma rays My grammar pays, like Carlos Santana plays."
Interior Monologue
In interior monologue, a character externalizes his thoughts, so that the audience can experience his internal thoughts. Often found in plays, movies, and novels, this technique is also called a stream of consciousness. E.g. Romeo and Juliet (By William Shakespeare) "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun!
Inciting Incident
It's an event or a point that arrives at the beginning of a play, storybook, or a film that disturbs the actions and life of a protagonist, and sets him or her to pursue the mission or quest; ex. "The Most Dangerous Game" occurs in the evening, when Rainsford and General Zaroff dine and discuss hunting. It starts off as a friendly conversation about their hunting adventure; however, it ends with a confession by General Zaroff that he kills people as a "game," and for fun while hunting.
Narrative poem
Narrative poetry always tells a story. It contains rhythm, rhyme, stress and repetition but differs from other types of poetry because it includes protagonists, antagonists, detailed settings, plot developments, conflicts and resolutions. Narrative poetry combines poetic language with short-story elements. Many narrative poems began as oral traditions. Some are short; the lengthy ones are often referred to as epic poems. E.g. Canterbury Tales Overview Narrative Poems
Argument
The main statement of a poem, an essay, a short story, or a novel that usually appears as an introduction; a point of view that the writer will develop his work in order to convince his readers to agree with him. E.g. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Antecedent
The noun that comes before a pronoun telling us who or what that pronoun refers to; pronouns should agree in number and gender; however this rule is changing especially as gender becomes less black and white; e.g. using "they" for transgender people
Narrator
The person or voice telling the story: there are several different types: First person: uses "I" Second person: uses "you" pretty uncommon Limited third person: uses "he or she" gives POV from only one character's perspective Omniscient third person: uses "he or she" gives POV from more than one character's perspective Unreliable narrator: could be first or third but we don't trust the POV Observer narrator: uses "he or she" like a fly on the wall only see events from the outside HOMEWORK:
Limerick
a bawdy, humorous, or nonsensical verse written in the form of five anapests, with an aabba rhyme scheme E.g. There was a small boy of Quebec (By Rudyard Kipling) "There was a small boy of Quebec Who was buried in snow to his neck When they said, 'Are you friz?' He replied, 'Yes, I is — But we don't call this cold in Quebec.'"
Allusion
a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing to which it refers. It is just a passing comment and the writer expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text.
Epitaph
a brief composition written to pay tribute to a deceased person or to remember a past event; can also be a remembrance on a tombstone E.g. Funny Epitaphs Sylvia Plath's husband, Ted Hughes, had chosen her epitaph, which is engraved on her gravestone. It reads: "Even amidst fierce flames, the golden lotus can be planted."
Antagonist
a character or a group of characters which stand in opposition to the protagonist or the main character.It is common to refer to an antagonist as a villain (the bad guy) against whom a hero (the good guy) fights in order to relieve himself or others
Dramatic Monologue
a character speaks to the silent listener; it is frequently used in poetry; the speaker reveals his thoughts to the audience or to any other character E.g. Romeo and Juliet (By William Shakespeare) "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun!
End Rhyme
a common type of rhyming pattern used in a poetic structure; end rhyme occurs when the last syllables or words in two or more lines rhyme with each other E.g. "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" (By Robert Frost) "Whose woods these are I think I know, His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow."
Lyric Poetry
a comparatively short, non-narrative poem in which a single speaker presents a state of mind or an emotional state; it retains some of the elements of song which is said to be its origin: lyric poems were usually accompanied by a lyre, a musical instrument resembling a harp; E.g. William Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" is also a lyric poem: I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils;
Extended Metaphor
a comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph, or lines in a poem e.g. Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune - without the words, And never stops at all, "And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm That could abash the little bird That kept so many warm. "I've heard it in the chilliest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me."
Analogy
a comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it to show similarities. Metaphors and similes are tools we use to draw an analogy.
Conceit
a comparison which is exceedingly unlikely but is, nonetheless, intellectually imaginative; the writer tries to make us admit a similarity between two things of whose unlikeness we are strongly conscious;, conceits are often surprising. E.g. We find a striking example of conceit in John Donne's poem, "The Flea" "Oh stay! three lives in one flea spare Where we almost, yea more than married are. This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage-bed and marriage-temple is"
Fable
a concise and brief story intended to provide a moral lesson at the end; a fable is described through plants, animals, forces, of nature, and inanimate objects by giving them human attributes through which hey demonstrate a moral lesson E.g Aesop's Fables: The Tortoise and the Hare, The Country Mouse and The City Mouse, The Ant and the Grasshopper
Climax
a decisive moment or a turning point in a storyline at which the rising action turns around into a falling action; a climax is the point at which a conflict or crisis reaches its peak that calls for a resolution E.g The climax of Richard Connell's story, "The Most Dangerous Game," occurs when Rainsford jumps off a cliff into the sea rather than be killed by Zaroff, the man who is hunting him. Even though the reader doesn't know Rainsford's fate, they understand that he refuses to submit to his antagonist.
Understatement
a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is; it is often used for ironic or comedic effect; it can also be used as sarcasm. E.g. "It is a bit nippy today." - Describing the temperature, which is 5 degrees below freezing In Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield says: "I have to have this operation. It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain."
Apostrophe
a figure of speech in which a writer addresses an imaginary character E.g. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky."
Oxymoron
a figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory ideas or terms are combined E.g. deafening silence, friendly fire, darkness visible, burning ice, virtual reality, jumbo shrimp, PRETTY UGLY
Irony
a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that ends up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between appearance and reality. . In situational irony, both the characters and the audience are fully unaware of the implications of the real situation. In dramatic irony, the characters are oblivious of the situation, but the audience is not. Verbal irony makes a statement that one does not mean. E.g. Verbal irony: He enjoyed his job about as much as a root canal. Situational irony: The Gift of the Magi (By O. Henry) The wife sells her most prized possession - her hair - to get her husband a Christmas present; and the husband sells his most dear possession - the gold watch - to get his wife a Christmas present.
Hyperbole
a figure of speech that involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis E.g. My grandmother is as old as the hills. Your suitcase weighs a ton! She is as heavy as an elephant!
Metaphor
a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated, but which share some common characteristics; metaphors will always link the things being compared by using a form of the verb "to be." E.g. My brother was boiling mad. The assignment was a breeze. It is going to be clear skies from now on.
Allegory
a figure of speech that uses characters, objects, or events to represent ideas; these characters are usually flat, and two-dimensional; they are there not to represent a believable person but rather to represent and idea
Iamb
a foot in a line of poetry containing unaccented and short syllables, followed by a long and accented syllable (unstressed/stressed syllables); Iambic pentameter is the most common Iambic dimeter (two iambs per line) Iambic trimeter (three iambs per line) Iambic tetrameter (four iambs per line) Iambic pentameter (five iambs per line)
Expletive
a grammatical construction that starts with words like it, here, and there; it usually interrupts normal speech and lays emphasis on certain words. E.g. "There passed a weary time. Each throat Was parched, and glazed each eye." from "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Pentameter
a line of poetry that has five feet or beats; iambic pentameter is the most common form E.g. Canterbury Tales (By Geoffrey Chaucer) "Whan that aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
Foreshadowing
a literary device that gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story; it often appears at the beginning of a story, or a chapter, and helps the reader develop expectations about the coming events in a story; it creates suspense E.g."The Highwayman" (By Alfred Noyes) "The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees..." Riding—riding— The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door." This first line creates a dreary, and dark mood. The first line of this poem sets a dark and dreary mood. It indicates danger to come.
Inference
a literary device used in literature, and in daily life, where logical deductions are made based on the given facts; we draw conclusions about what the facts might mean even though that meaning is not explicitly stated by the author; we see different or new interpretations and perspectives The Great Gatsby (By F. Scott Fitzgerald) "It was after we started with Gatsby toward the house that the gardener saw Wilson's body a little way off in the grass, and the holocaust was complete."
Exposition
a literary device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters to the audience; exposition usually comes at the beginning of the narrative E.g. 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. Their favorite breakfast was porridge.
Farce
a literary genre and type of comedy that makes use of highly exaggerated and funny situations aimed at entertaining; it aims mainly at making the audience laugh; it uses physical humor, deliberate absurdity, bawdy jokes, and drunkenness to make people laugh; it often uses one‑dimensional characters in ludicrous situations E.g. I Love Lucy Candy The Three Stooges
Naturalism
a literary genre that started as a movement in late nineteenth century in literature, film, theater, and art. It is a type of extreme realism. This movement suggested that the roles of family, social conditions, and environment shape human character; naturalism took its cue from Darwin's theory of evolution, which holds that life is like a struggle and only the fittest survive; naturalism concludes that natural forces predetermine a character's decisions, making him/her act in a particular way so that individuals have no control over their own lives E.g. Naturalistic writers: Jack London = "To Build a Fire," John Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath
Epic
a long narrative poem, which is usually related to heroic deeds of a person of unusual courage and unparalleled bravery; The main function of epic poetry was to elevate the status of the hero to the audience and to inspire them to be ready to perform heroic actions. Epics were the first form of poetry E.g. The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Iliad, The Odyssey
Connotation
a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly: words carry cultural and emotional associations or meanings in addition to their literal meanings or denotations. E.g. cheap vs. affordable; riot vs. protest; the denotative meaning is the same but the positive or negative connotation is different.:
Foot
a measuring unit in poetry, which is made up of stressed and unstressed syllables. The stressed syllable is generally indicated by a vertical line ( | ), whereas the unstressed syllable is represented by a cross ( X ). The combination of feet creates meter in poetry E.g. Twelfth Night (By William Shakespeare) iambic pentameter "If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, "The Destruction of Sennacherib" (By Lord Byron) anapestic tetrameter "The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold, And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold
Moral
a message conveyed by, or a lesson learned from, a story, a poem, or a dramatic piece; it can be left for the audiences or the learners to infer rather than be directly stated; it serves the purpose of instruction, information, and improvement of the audiences E.g. Aesop's fables, novels of Charles Dickens, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Stream of Conciousness
a method of narration that describes happenings in the flow of thoughts in the minds of the characters; the term was initially coined by psychologist William James; this narration style is generally associated with the modern novelist and short story writers of the 20th century such as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner. Is is often marked by lack of or unusual punctuation. E.g. William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying: Nonsense you look like a girl you are lots younger than Candace color in your cheeks like a girl A face reproachful tearful an odor of camphor and of tears a voice weeping steadily and softly beyond the twilit door the twilight-colored smell of honeysuckle. Bringing empty trunks down the attic stairs they sounded like coffins.
Anapest
a metrical foot in a line of a poem that contains three syllables wherein the first two syllables are short and unstressed followed by a third syllable that is long and stressed
Iambic Pentameter
a metrical foot in poetry in which an unstressed syllable is followed by an stressed syllable; a beat or foot that uses 10 syllables in each line; a rhythmic pattern composed of five iambs in each line, like five heartbeats; it is the most commonly used pattern E.g. Macbeth (By William Shakespeare) "Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland In such an honour named. What's more to do,
Nom De Plume
a name that a writer uses instead of his or her real name; a pen name; pseudonym; a writer might use a nom de plume if the content is controversial E.g. Dr. Seuss/ Theodore Geisel; Richard Bachmann/Steven King; Bronte sisters/Bell; George Eliot/ Mary Ann Evans; Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens
Unreliable narrator
a narrator, whether in literature, film, or theatre, whose credibility; the narrator had concealed or greatly misrepresented vital pieces of information; it forces readers to reconsider their point of view and experience of the story. In some cases the narrator's unreliability is never fully revealed but only hinted at, leaving readers to wonder how much the narrator should be trusted and how the story should be interpreted. Its truthfulness has been seriously compromised. E.g. Yan Martel's Life of Pi: After spending many days adrift at sea, he describes several fanciful events and tells his rescuers that his lifeboat was shared by a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena (which killed the zebra and orangutan) and a Bengal tiger (which killed the hyena).
Neologism
a new word or a new use for an old word, or the act of making up new words. An example of a neologism is the word webinar, for a seminar on the web or the Internet. An example of neologism is a comedian coining new terms on a TV show like Stephen Colbert's creation of the term "truthiness." smoke + fog = smog spoon + fork = spork breakfast + lunch = brunch
Sobriquet
a nickname, often given by another person, it usually is a familiar name used in place of a real name often becoming more familiar than the original name E.g. Big Apple for New York; The Great Bambino for (Babe) George Herman Ruth; Bono for Paul Hewson; The Boss for Bruce Springsteen; The Desert Fox for Erwin Rommel; Dubya for George W. Bush
Idiom
a phrase that conveys a figurative meaning different from the words used E.g. pull someone's leg; kick the bucket; having an Achilles heel Idioms in other languages/cultures Bring it... Oh, I already brought it! I brought it, set it down on the table, and opened it!
Elegy
a poem or song written in honor of someone deceased; laments or mourns the death of the individual; the poet invokes a muse and then references mythology, it's usually in the first person, it raises questions about destiny, justice, and fate; it draws comparisons between the dead person and the poet; it tries to provide comfort to ease the pain of loss (You only need to copy the first two lines.) E.g."O CAPTAIN! My Captain! our fearful trip is done; The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won; The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
Pathos
a quality of an experience in life, or a work of art, that stirs up emotions of pity, sympathy, and sorrow; according to Aristotle, it is also one of the three persuasive tools of rhetoric (appeal to emotion) E.g. In "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night," Dylan Thomas urges his dying father to cling to life and his love of it. Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. E.g. 2 ASPCA ads for abused animals
Hypothetical Question
a question that contains unproven assumptions or imaginary scenarios; may be used to explore future possibilities or stimulate creativity; hypothetical questions often start with phrases such as "what if" E.g. Common e.g. What would you do if you are given 24 hours to live? Literary e.g.: Dr. Faustus (By Christopher Marlowe)
Motivation
a reason behind a character's specific action or behavior; characterized by the character's own consent and willingness to do something.There are two types of motivation: one is intrinsic, while the other one is extrinsic; extrinsic motivation comes from some physical reward such as money, power, or lust; intrinsic motivation is inspired by some internal reward such as knowledge, pride, or spiritual or emotional peace or wellbeing E.g. "The Most Dangerous Game" = survival; R & J = love, TKM (Bob Ewell) = revenge
Motif
a recurrent image, idea, or symbol that the author often develops into a theme; motifs are topics that we can then expand into a theme; a motif will be a word or phrase, a theme must be a complete sentence indicating the author's position on that topic E.g. TKM and Huck Finn, childhood Hamlet, incest F451, technology, isolation
Narrative
a report of related events presented to listeners or readers, in words arranged in a logical sequence; a narrative, or story, is told by a narrator who may be a direct part of that experience, and he or she often shares the experience as a first-person narrator. Sometimes he or she may only observe the events as a third-person narrator, and gives his or her summation. E.g. Storytelling is an essential part of human nature. Man is the only creature that tells stories, and we have been telling stories and listening to them since the time we learned to speak. Storytelling began with oral traditions; these were told and retold, passed down from generation to generation, and they shared the knowledge and wisdom of early people.
Dilemma
a rhetorical device in which a conflicting situation arises for a person to choose between right and wrong, where both seem of equal worth. Often times, dilemma involves an ethically wrong decision that may produce desirable outcomes, but which could have moral consequences. E.g. We find a perfect example of moral dilemma in Christopher Marlowe's play, Dr. Faustus. His major moral dilemma is that he desires extensive knowledge but intends to use it to exploit others. For this, he sells his soul to the representative of Mephistopheles (a devil).
Antithesis
a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect E.g. Speech is silver, but silence is gold.
Epigram
a rhetorical device that is a memorable, brief, interesting, and surprisingly satirical statement E.g. "Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind." - John F. Kennedy "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." --Eleanor Roosevelt
Ethos
a rhetorical device that refers to the speaker's personal character that leads the audience to trust his or her credibility; it is one of Aristotle's three rhetorical devices--logos, pathos, and ethos--that gives a speaker a stronger argument E.g. "Doctors all over the world recommend this type of treatment." People tend to find doctors credible sources
Foil
a secondary character who contrasts with the major character to enhance the importance of the major character; this character shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character to highlight the traits of the other character E.g. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter and Voldemort, Batman and the Joker, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, Frodo and Sam
Declarative Sentence
a sentence that makes a statement or declares something E.g. HF is Mark Twain's masterpiece.
Homily
a sermon or speech that a religious person or priest delivers before a group of people to offer them moral correction for immoral behavior or thoughts E.g. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (By Jonathan Edwards) Just copy the first line. "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 ...
Anecdote
a short and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point. People use them to amuse, caution, reminisce, or inspire.
Epigraph
a short poem, quotation or sentence usually placed at the beginning of a document or a simple piece; can be used as a summary, introduction, an example, or an association with some famous literary works to draw a comparison or to provide context for the piece. E.g. Ernest Hemingway used Gertrude Stein's famous quotation, "You are all a lost generation" in the beginning of his book The Sun Also Rises to demonstrate the sense of loss and meaningless with which WWI had left an entire generation of young people.
Adage
a short, pointed, and memorable saying that is based on facts, and is considered a veritable truth by the majority of people.
Maxim
a simple and memorable line, quote, or rule for taking action and leading a good life: a thought with moralistic values that intends to motivate individuals E.g. It's better to be safe than sorry. You're never too old to learn. Opposites attract. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Animal Farm (By George Orwell)
Flat Character
a simple character, having just one or two qualities, which generally remain the same throughout the story, not undergoing significant growth or changes. The audience does not know much about these characters, because the writer does not provide detailed information about them; their role is to support the main character; they are often referred to as two-dimensional characters; they are the opposite of round characters E.g. Miss Maudie in TKM, Tybalt or Benvolio from R & J
Vignette
a small impressionistic scene, an illustration, a descriptive passage focusing on one particular moment; or giving an impression about an idea, character, setting, mood, aspect, or object. A vignette is neither a plot nor a full narrative description, but a carefully crafted verbal sketch E.g. An American Childhood (By Annie Dillard) (You only need to copy one sentence. Pick one) "Some boys taught me to play football. This was fine sport. You thought up a new strategy for every play and whispered it to the others. You went out for a pass, fooling everyone.
Bildungsroman
a special kind of novel that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of its main character from his or her youth to adulthood; During a journey, either actual or metaphorical, the protagonist gains maturity gradually and with difficulty. Usually, the plot depicts a conflict between the protagonist and the values of society. Such a type of novel is also known as a coming-of-age novel. E.g. Harry Potter, The Outsiders, The Giver, TKM, Huck Finn
Jargon
a specialized set of terms and language used in a particular context and setting. It is especially common to find jargon in an industry, such as in law, medicine, academia, or an art or sport. People who are not a part of this industry or group may not be able to understand the jargon as the words are either obscure terms or have different definitions than the regular usage of the word. E.x. 1. I need a script in order to pick up the medicine. (medical jargon for "prescription") 2. I need a nurse to room 12 stat. (medical jargon for "in a hurry") 3. Your objection is overruled. (legal jargon)
Dialogue
a spoken or written exchange of conversation in a group or between two individuals; there is inner dialogue--generally called interior monologue--in which a character has a conversation in his or her own mind and outer dialogue which is a conversation between characters E.g. Dialogue Discussion
Thesis
a statement in a non-fiction or a fiction work that a writer intends to support and prove. These thesis statements are of utmost importance, as they provide clear indicators as to which direction the writer will follow in their work. A thesis statement is carefully crafted by a writer, and is marked by vigilant selection of words. Generally, such a statement shows up in the first paragraph i.e. introduction. E.g. Anna Karenina (By Leo Tolstoy) "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." The Catcher in the Rye (By J. D. Salinger)
Aphorism
a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty way. They often express philosophical, moral and literary principles. E.g. Life's Tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late. [Benjamin Franklin] Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream. [Khalil Gibran
Paradox
a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly, but which may include a latent truth. It is used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted traditional ideas. A paradox is often used to make a reader think over an idea in innovative way E.g Everything I say is a lie.
Frame Device
a story set within a story, narrative, or movie, told by the main or the supporting character A character starts telling a story to other characters, or he sits down to write a story, telling the details to the audience. This technique is also called a "frame narrative." E.g. Frankenstein--a narrator, Robert Walton (ship captain) tells Victor Frankenstein's story in letters to his sister; movie Inception, movie Titanic--Rose tells her story to the ship's crew; movie Forrest Gump; The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer; Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Titanic clip
Legend
a story that lies somewhere between myth and historical fact and which, as a rule, is about a particular figure or person; focuses on a historically or geographically specific figure, and describes his exploits E.g. Robin Hood, King Arthur, the legend of Atlantis (a legendary "lost" island subcontinent often idealized as an advanced, utopian society holding wisdom that could bring world peace)
Parable
a story uses symbolism, simile, and metaphor, to demonstrate the moral lesson; we find parables in verse and prose, specifically in religious texts, such as The Upanishad or the Bible E.g. Bible stories like "The Prodigal Son" & "The Good Samaritan"; "The Boy Who Cried Wolf," "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Anderson
Fairytale
a story, often intended for children, that features fanciful and wondrous characters such as elves, goblins, wizards, or fairies. There are often fantastic and magical settings or magical influences; they are often traditional; many have been passed down along orally; see slide three E.g. Brothers Grimm early 1800s ( "Hansel & Gretel," "Cinderella"); Hans Christian Anderson ("The Little Mermaid," "The Princess and the Pea") See slide 3 and copy this as well. Feel free to shorten as you see fit.
Meter
a stressed and unstressed syllabic pattern in a verse, or within the lines of a poem. Stressed syllables tend to be longer, and unstressed shorter; it gives poetry a rhythmical and melodious sound. The study of different types of versification and meters is known as "prosody." E.g. "Trees" (By Joyce Kilmer) iambic tetrameter "I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree.
Conflict
a struggle between two opposing forces usually a protagonist and an antagonist; conflicts may be internal or external E.g In William Golding's novel The Lord of the Flies Ralph,the leader of the "good guys," steadily comes into conflict with Jack, a bully who later forms a "tribe" of hunters; in Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, honest lawyer Atticus Finch goes up against the racist society in which he lives
Gothic Literature
a style of writing that describes strange or frightening events that take place in mysterious places." Gothic literature started with with Horace Walpole's novel Castle of Oronto in 1765, and the tradition was continued by writers such as Ann Radcliffe, and in classic horror stories like Frankenstein and Dracula. The genre was named after the architecture that inspired it: the medieval castles and ruins in which much of Gothic literature takes place, and which often play a vital role in the narrative's plot.
Alliteration
a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series
Satire
a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society, by using humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule. It intends to improve humanity by criticizing its follies and foibles E.g. Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal"
Rhetoric
a technique of using language effectively and persuasively in spoken or written form. It is an art of discourse, which studies and employs various methods to convince, influence, or please an audience. According to Aristotle there are three main devices of persuasion, logos, ethos, and pathos. E.g. #1 "The data is perfectly clear: this investment has consistently turned a profit year-over-year, even in spite of market declines in other areas." E.g #2 "As a doctor, I am qualified to tell you that this course of treatment will likely generate the best results." E.g. #3 "You'll make the right decision because you have something that not many people do: you have heart."
Genre
a type of art, literature, or music characterized by a specific form, content, and style; literature has four main genres: poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction Genres E.g mystery, historical fiction, autobiography, essays, plays
Tragedy
a type of drama that presents a serious subject matter about human suffering and corresponding terrible events in a dignified manner; The term is Greek in origin, dating back to the 5th century BC; The subject matter of Greek tragedies was derived chiefly from Homer's Iliad, and Odyssey E.g. Shakespeare Hamlet Othello King Lear Macbeth Antony and Cleopatra Troilus and Cressida
Ballad
a type of poetry or verse which was used in dance songs in the ancient France, during the late 16th and 17th century, it spread over the majority of Europe; they use easy to understand language and they tend to be stories about hardships, tragedies, love and romance; their most lasting legacy is in music; these songs tend to be sentimental love songs E.g.Love Ballads
Novella
a type of prose fiction, which is shorter than full length novels and longer than short stories. It originates from an Italian word "novella", which means "new." It is a well-structured yet short narrative; often satiric or realistic in tone. It usually focuses on one incident, or issue with one or two main characters and takes place at a single location. E.g. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, Billy Budd by Herman
Quatrain
a verse with four lines, or even a full poem containing four lines, having an independent and separate theme; quatrains can have a variety of rhyme schemes E.g. Stopping by Woods On a Snowy Evening (By Robert Frost) iambic tetrameter; aaba "He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there's some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake."
Onomatopoeia
a word that imitates the sound of the object or action with which it is associated E.g. buzz, chickadee, hiss, woof Batman Fight Scene
Literary License
also known as poetic license; the departure of facts or even rules for language in order to create a different effect, usually dramatic, for a piece of work or speech E.g. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and other police procedural programs typically omit completely the more mundane aspects of the occupation such as paperwork, reports, administrative duties and other daily "business-oriented" aspects which in reality often constitute the majority of police work.
Biography
an account that gives an account or detailed description about the life of a person. It entails basic facts such as childhood, education, career, relationships, family and death. Biography is a literary genre that portrays the experiences of all these events occurred in the life of a person mostly in a chronological order E.g. famous biographies: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, Walden by Henry David Thoreau, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Voice
an author's individual writing style; the author imparts his or her personality into the piece E.g. Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a very good example of a character's voice, in which the character Scout narrates the whole story. Though she is an adult, she tells her story from her childhood's point of view. When she grows older, her language becomes more sophisticated.
Catharsis
an emotional release or purging of emotions through which the audience can achieve a state of moral or spiritual renewal or achieve a state of liberation from anxiety and stress E.g. ...a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing" Macbeth
Anachronism
an error of chronology or timeline in a literary piece. In other words, anything that is out of time and out of place is an anachronism ex. movie scenes with futuristic items
Cliche
an expression that has been overused to the extent that it loses its original meaning or novelty. E.g They all lived happily ever after. Read between the lines Fall head over heals Waking up on the wrong side of the bed
Parody
an imitation of a particular writer, artist, or genre, exaggerating it deliberately to produce a comic effect; the humorous effect in parody is achieved by imitating and overstressing noticeable features of a famous piece of literature E.g. The movie Vampire Sucks parodies and pokes fun at the blockbuster Twilight series
Cumulative sentence
an independent clause followed by a series of subordinate constructions (phrases or clauses) that gather details about a person, place, event, or idea. E.g."He dipped his hands in the bichloride solution and shook them--a quick shake, fingers down, like the fingers of a pianist above the keys." (Sinclair Lewis, Arrowsmith, 1925)
Novel
an invented prose narrative of considerable length and a certain complexity that deals imaginatively with human experience, usually through a connected sequence of events involving a group of persons in a specific setting.; the novel has encompassed an extensive range of types and styles such as picaresque, epistolary, Gothic, romantic, realist, and historical
Symbolism
an object representing another, to give an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant. Sometimes, however, an action, an event or a word spoken by someone may have a symbolic value. For instance, "smile" is a symbol of friendship; Symbols do shift their meanings depending on the context they are used in. "A chain," for example, may stand for "union" as well as "imprisonment" E.g. The dove is a symbol of peace. A red rose, or the color red, stands for love or romance. Black is a symbol that represents evil or death. A ladder may stand as a symbol for a connection between heaven and earth. A broken mirror may symbolize separation.
Didactic
art and literature that conveys information and instructions along with pleasure and entertainment. E.g. George Orwell's Animal Farm is an allegory or a moral and didactic tale that uses animals on a farm to describe the overthrow of the last of the Russian Tsars, Nicholas-II and exposes the evil of the Communist Revolution of Russia before WWII. "All animals are equal but a few are more equal than others." Parables in the Bible are also didactic.
Bathos
bathos:an abrupt turn from the serious and poetic to the regular and silly; it's a play on the rhetorical device of pathos or an appeal to the emotions but bathos makes it over the top and silly E.g. He spent his final hour of life doing what he loved most: arguing with his wife. Airplane and Naked Gun Movies
Essay
derived from the French word essayer, which means "to attempt," or "to try" ;a short form of literary composition based on a single subject matter, and gives the personal opinion of the author; giving an opinion does not mean that you need to use "I." There are two types: literary and non-literary. Most of what you write will be literary and there are four types of these: expository (explanation), narrative, descriptive, and persuasive. E.g. The Sacred Grove of Oshogbo (By Jeffrey Tayler) descriptive essay: you only need to copy the first two sentences. "As I passed through the gates I heard a squeaky voice. A diminutive middle-aged man came out from behind the trees — the caretaker.
Soliloquy
device often used in drama to reveal the innermost thoughts of a character; used to convey the progress of action of the play, by means of expressing a character's thoughts about a certain character or past, present, or upcoming event, while talking to himself without acknowledging the presence of any other person. David Tennant's Hamlet Examples E.g. Hamlet (By William Shakespeare) Hamlet (By William Shakespeare) "To be, or not to be? That is the question— Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune...
Atmosphere
emotions or feelings an author conveys to his readers through description of objects and settings; atmosphere may vary throughout a literary piece. E.g. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore - While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door - "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe
Hubris
extreme pride and arrogance shown by a character that ultimately brings about his downfall; hubris is a typical flaw in the personality of a character who enjoys a powerful position; as a result of which, he overestimates his capabilities to such an extent that he loses contact with reality. A character suffering from hubris tries to cross normal human limits and violates moral codes. Examples of hubris are found in major characters of tragic plays. Aristotle claimed that hubris was often the tragic flaw that brought about the downfall of the tragic hero. E.g. Satan (Paradise Lost), Victor Frankenstein, Oedipus (Oedipus Rex), Macbeth
Picaresque Novel
fiction that follows the adventures of a rogue character, a picaro who rambles along, relating the shady details of his everyday experiences in autobiographical form;the picaro's tales often come across with humor, although tragedy of circumstances usually travels with the storytelling. Although he's a rascal, the picaresque hero can be quite likable in the realism he portrays. E.g. Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Tom Jones by Henry Fielding; Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes; Thomas Nash is credited with writing the first picaresque novel in English (1594): The Unfortunate Traveller, or the Life of Jack Wilton.
Drama
fictional representation through dialogue and performance; it is an imitation of some action; it usually comes in the form of a play written for theater, television, radio, or film E.g.R & J by Shakespeare (tragedy), Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare (comedy), other forms include farce, melodrama, and musical drama
Folktale
generally part of the oral tradition; are passed down from one generation to another; take on the characteristics of the time and place in which they are told; take on the personality of the storyteller; use universal and timeless themes; try to make sense of our existence, help humans cope with the world in which they live, or explain the origin of something; are often about the common person; may contain supernatural elements; tall tales are a type of folktale E.g .The Jersey Devil stories, Davy Crockett stories, Daniel Boone stories, Hitchhiker stories, Johnny Appleseed, Sasquatch stories
Personification
giving non-human things human characteristics; the non-human objects are portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like human beings. E.g. The Waste Land (By T. S. ELIOT) "April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain."
Dissonance
harsh-sounding, and unusual words in poetry; a deliberate use of inharmonious words, phrases, or syllables intended to create harsh sounding effects E.g Wind (by Ted Hughes) "At noon I scaled along the house-side as far as The coal-house door. Once I looked up - Through the brunt wind that dented the balls of my eyes The tent of the hills drummed and strained its guyrope... The wind flung a magpie away and a black- Back gull bent like an iron bar slowly.
Literal language
he denotative meaning of literature: it means exactly what it says E.g. The grass is green versus The grass looks like spiky green hair.
Impressionism
he depiction of scene, emotion, or character by details intended to achieve a vividness or effectiveness more by evoking subjective and sensory impressions than by recreating an objective reality; it has also been used to describe the novelist's technique of concentrating on the inner life of the main character rather than on external reality. E.g. Marlow's story in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is an example of impressionism. He describes the events in that "in the moment" approach, as though they are happening right then
Tragic hero
hero is a person who faces adversity, or demonstrates courage, in the face of danger; he usually dies in the process due to fate, or by his own mistake, or any other social reason. A tragic hero's downfall evokes feelings of pity and fear among the audience E.g. Hamlet, Macbeth, Javert (Les Mis), Jay Gatsby Oedipus;
Monologue
the speech or verbal presentation given by a single character in order to express his or her collection of thoughts and ideas aloud. Often such a character speaks directly to audience, or to another character. Monologues are found in dramatic medium like films and plays, and also in non-dramatic medium like poetry. E.g. #1: The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (By T. S. Eliot) "And indeed there will be time To wonder, 'Do I dare?' and, 'Do I dare?'
Flashback
interruptions that writers do to insert past events in order to provide background or context to the current events of a narrative. By using flashbacks, writers allow their readers to gain insight into a character's motivation and provide a background to a current conflict. Dream sequences and memories are methods used to present flashbacks (You don't have to write the whole e.g. Just write the author, title, and the direct quotes from the poem.) E.g. Robert Frost, in his poem "Birches", employs flashback. In this poem, a character sees swaying birch trees and says, "So was I once myself a swinger of birches. And so I dream of going back to be." He goes back to the days of his childhood, and then returns to the present and says, "I'd like to get away from earth awhile, and then come back to it and begin over." The narrator remembers and desires for the freedom and joy he experienced as a child swinging on birch trees and wishes to return to that moment of his childhood.
Denouement
is derived from a French word called "denoue" that means "to untie"; a literary device which can be defined as the resolution of the issue of a complicated plot in fiction. E.g. Denouement occurs when the Capulets and Montagues see their children committing suicide at the tomb. The families realize that their bitter rivalry must end. Lord Capulet and Lord Montague agree to end their dispute to avoid further tragedy
Dialect
language used by the people of a specific area, class, district; dialect involves the spelling, sounds, grammar and pronunciation E.g. Walter: Reckon I have. Almost died first year I come to school and et them pecans — folks say he pizened 'em and put 'em over on the school side of the fence. (To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)
Verisimilitude
likeness to the truth, such as resemblance of a fictitious work to a real event, even if it is a far-fetched one. Verisimilitude ensures that even a fantasy must be rooted in reality, which means that events should be plausible to the extent that readers consider them credible enough to be able to relate them somehow to their experiences of real life. E.g. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (By Mark Twain) Mark Twain in his popular Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain used Black American vernacular to show realistically how the "negroes" [Black Americans] talked in real life
Denotation
literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings video example E.g. Example #1: Mending Wall (By Robert Frost) "And on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us once again. We keep the wall between us as we go. To each the boulders that have fallen to each."
Synecdote
literary device in which a part of something represents the whole. or it may use a whole to represent a part e.g. the word suit represents a businessman
Epithet
literary device that describes a place, a thing or a person in such a way that it helps in making the characteristics of a person, thing or place more prominent than they actually are E.g. "I've come, As you surmise, with comrades on a ship, Sailing across the wine-dark sea to men Whose style of speech is very different..."
Couplet
literary device which having two successive rhyming lines in a verse and has the same meter to form a complete thought. It can be an independent poem or can be a part of other poems such as sonnets in Shakespearean poetry. E.g Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimm'd; But thy eternal summer shall not fade Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st; Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st; So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
Fantasy
literary genre whose plot usually involves witchcraft or magic, taking place on an undiscovered planet of an unknown world; its theme and setting involve a combination of technology, architecture, and language, which sometimes resemble European medieval ages. E.g. Harry Potter books, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, The Chronicles of Narnia, Twilight
Figurative Language
metaphors, similes, and allusions that go beyond the literal meanings of the words to give readers new insights; alliterations, imageries, or onomatopoeias are figurative devices that appeal to the senses of the readers; they paint a picture for the readers to help them envision a scene or character E.g. "She Sweeps with Many-Colored Brooms" (By Emily Dickinson) Personification She sweeps with many-colored Brooms And leaves the Shreds behind Oh Housewife in the Evening West Come back, and dust the Pond!
Assonance
when two or more words, close to one another repeat the same vowel sound but start with different consonant sounds. E.g. "Poetry is old, ancient, goes back far. It is among the oldest of living things. So old it is that no man knows how and why the first poems came." Carl Sandburg "Early Moon"
Pastoral
music, art, poetry, or prose that often depicts shepherds herding livestock according to seasons and the changing seasons; it depicts such life in an idealized manner, typically for urban audiences it compares the artificiality and corruption of city life to the clean, honest, and simple country life; also known as bucolic literature E.g. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George Come live with me and be my love, And we will all the pleasures prove That valleys, groves, hills, and fields, Woods, or steepy mountain yields.
Falling action
occurs right after the climax, when the narrative has reached its highest emotional peak; after so much time has been devoted in the rising action to building up the story's central conflict, it's important in the wake of the climax to dispel some of the built-up tension; we see the characters relax a little with the end of their struggle now in sight. Pick one of the following examples. E.g. The Fault in Our Stars: Augustus' health worsens, and he sees very few chances of his survival. The falling action follows with their return to Indianapolis, where Hazel decides to be with him to take good care of him.
Sonnet
poem with 14 lines, and is written in iambic pentameter. Each line has 10 syllables. It has a specific rhyme scheme, and a volta, or a specific turn; sonnets are divided into different groups based on the rhyme scheme they follow. The rhymes of a sonnet are arranged according to a certain rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme in English is usually abab-cdcd-efef-gg, and in Italian abba-abba-cde-cde; Sonnets can be categorized into six major types: Italian Sonnet Shakespearean Sonnet Spenserian Sonnet Miltonic Sonnet Terza Rima Sonnet Curtal Sonnet
Free Verse
poetry that is free from limitations of regular meter or rhythm, and does not rhyme with fixed forms; these poems do not follow regular rhyme scheme rules; Walt Whitman is considered the father of free verse E.g." The Garden" by Ezra Pound "Like a skein of loose silk blown against a wall She walks by the railing of a path in Kensington Gardens, And she is dying piece-meal of a sort of emotional anemia." " A Noiseless Patient Spider" by Walt Whitman "A noiseless patient spider, I mark'd where on a little promontory it stood isolated,
Euphemism
polite, indirect expressions which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite or which suggest something unpleasant E.g. to be let go, economically depressed, temporary negative cash flow, powder room, collateral damage, pre-owned vehicle, genuine imitation leather
Epiphany
that moment in the story where a character achieves realization, awareness or a feeling of knowledge after which he sees events through the prism of this new light provided by the story E.g. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout has an epiphany near the end of the novel, as she stands on Boo Radley's porch and realizes what Atticus has been trying to teach her throughout the story: "I turned to go home. Street lights winked down the street all the way to town. I had never seen our neighborhood from this angle...
Tone
the attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is generally conveyed through the choice of words, or the viewpoint; The manner in which a writer approaches a theme is the tone. The tone can be formal, informal, serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, or cheerful. E.g. A River Runs Through It (By Norman Maclean) "This was the last fish we were ever to see Paul catch. My father and I talked about this moment several times later, and whatever our other feelings, we always felt it fitting that, when we saw him catch his last fish, we never saw the fish but only the artistry of the fisherman." "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" (By Ernest Hemingway)
Mood
the overall atmosphere of a literary piece that creates an emotional setting; it is developed through various methods, including setting, theme, tone, and diction E.g. from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (setting) "There was no moon, and everything beneath lay in misty darkness: not a light gleamed from any house, far or near all had been extinguished long ago: and those at Wuthering Heights were never visible..." E.g. #2 "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost (tone)
Syntax
the study of how words are arranged in a sentence; a set of rules in a language; it dictates how words from different parts of speech are put together in order to convey a complete thought; the usual order in English is subject + verb + object; we often see poets use unusual syntax E.g. "What light from yonder window breaks?" (R & J) "Thee, Shepherd, thee the woods and desert caves, (Lycidas by John Milton) With wild thyme and the gadding vine o'ergrown, And all their echoes mourn"
Regionalism
the theory or practice of emphasizing the regional characteristics of locale or setting, by stressing local speech E.g. spendy, fit to be tied, grinders Regionalisms Mental Floss
Resolution
the unfolding or solution of a complicated issue in a story. Technically, resolution is also known as a "denouement." Most of the instances of resolution are presented in the final parts or chapters of a story. It mostly follows the climax. E.g. Final dialogue between Lord Montague and Lord Capulet in R & J See slide three for dialogue
Malapropism
the use of an incorrect word in place of a similar-sounding word, which results in a nonsensical and humorous expression E.g.. #3 "Be sure and put some of those neutrons on it." Mike Smith, ordering a salad at a restaurant
Parallelism
the use of 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 construction and thus persuasiveness, because of the repetition E.g. He came, he saw, and he conquered. Presidential Inauguration Speech (By Barack Obama)
Imagery
the use of figurative language to represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses; imagery makes use of particular words that create visual representation of ideas in our minds E.g. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (You may use a couple of lines) see slide 3 for more examples "It was a rimy morning, and very damp. I had seen the damp lying on the outside of my little window... Now, I saw the damp lying on the bare hedges and spare grass, ...
Characterization
the writer introduces the character with noticeable emergence and then following the introduction of the character, the writer often talks about his behavior; then as the story progresses, the thought-process of the character. The next stage involves the character expressing his opinions and ideas and getting into conversations with the rest of the characters. The final part shows how others in the story respond to the character's personality; there are two types--direct = the author tells us and indirect = we must infer E.g In To Kill a Mockingbird, we learn that Scout is smart and perceptive for her age, but also sensitive when she goes to school able to read but the teacher is unhappy with her abilities and scolds her.
Juxtaposition
to place two concepts, characters, ideas, or places near or next to each other so that the reader will compare and contrast them E.g." Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." (Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy) E.g. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,..." A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Paraphrase
to restate in different words than the original text, while keeping the meaning and sense of the original source the same; Paraphrasing and summarizing are extremely similar actions and involve many of the same processes. The difference between the two is what their objectives are. The purpose of a summary is to condense source material into a shorter form. Paraphrasing, however, is not centrally concerned with length. Rather, paraphrasing is concerned primarily with the restatement of source material in a form that is different than the original. E.g. Pride & Prejudice (By Jane Austen)
Volta
turn, a rhetorical shift or dramatic change in thought and/or emotion -Shakespeare Sonnet 130 My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
Blank Verse
un-rhyming verse written in iambic pentameter; it has 10 syllables in each line (pentameter); where, unstressed syllables are followed by stressed ones E.g. Something there is that doesn't love a wall. That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the sun "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost
Ellipsis
used to omit some parts of a sentence or event, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps; it is usually written between the sentences as "..."; writers may also use it to omit a period of time--hours, days, weeks, months, or years.The book involves two parts, one before the World War I was fought and won and the later one accounts for the events occurring afterwards.The events in between are left out. Using ... to indicate a time difference works as well.
Diction
word choice; perhaps the most important tool of writing literature other than developing plot E.g. "The School" by Donald Barthelme: "And the trees all died. They were orange trees. I don't know why they died, they just died. Something wrong with the soil possibly or maybe the stuff we got from the nursery wasn't the best. We complained about it. So we've got thirty kids there, each kid had his or her own little tree to plant and we've got these thirty dead trees. All these kids looking at these little brown sticks, it was depressing."
Transition
words and phrases that provide a connection between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. Transitions help to make ideas in a piece of writing connect better. They can turn disconnected pieces of ideas into a unified whole, and prevent a reader from getting lost in the storyline; transitions help provide a logical connection between one or more sections of a piece of writing. Review handout E.g. Disjointed Sentence: "We will be here for a few more days so we can finish up some leftover work. We are staying longer because we do not want to miss the Tech Info conference taking place next week." Revised with Transition: