Literary Terms

Tone

the writer's attitude toward the material and/or readers. Tone may be playful, formal, intimate, angry, serious, ironic, outraged, baffled, tender, serene, depressed, etc. : suggests an attitude toward the subject which is communicated by the words the author chooses. Part of the range of tone includes playful, somber, serious, casual, formal, ironic. Important because it designates the mood and effect of a work.

Understatement- transitive verb

to represent as less than is the case <understate taxable income> 2 : to state or present with restraint especially for effect un·der·state·ment \-mənt\ noun First use: 1824 Understatement is a figure of speech in which there is a contrast between the description and reality. As such, understatement can be used to reflect modesty, sarcasm, derogatory or complimentary tone. Understatement literally refers to what is not being said. In short, the gravity of the statement is undervalued. Consider this example. In David Edding's 'The Tamuli', Emperor Sarabian refers to a hurricane as "a light breeze", the loss of half his fleet as "a minor inconvenience", the imminent collapse of his empire as "some civil unrest." The Tamulis, according to the novel, have a tendency towards extreme politeness, which makes them understate every serious thing so as not to offend. The meaning of the understatement changes according to the context. Understatement is an important rhetorical device that is just the opposite of hyperbole. In hyperbole, everything is overblown, while in understatement the strength of the statement is considerably lessened. The examples given below will help you to understand understatement in its proper context.

Litotes

understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary (as in "not a bad singer" or "not unhappy") Origin of LITOTES Greek litotēs, from litos simple, perhaps from lit-, lis linen cloth First Known Use: 1589 This is no small problem.

Realism Rhetoric

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Sarcasm

1 : a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain 2 a : a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual b : the use or language of sarcasm See sarcasm defined for English-language learners » See sarcasm defined for kids » Examples of SARCASM a voice full of sarcasm <I know you're not happy, but there's no need to resort to petty sarcasms to make your point.> "That was my favorite show yet this tour," Banks says. "I love audiences that are ambivalent." For a second, I think he's laying on the sarcasm, until he continues. "I really like the chance to win people over." —David Peisner, Spin, August 2007

Epilogue- noun

1 : a concluding section that rounds out the design of a literary work 2 a : a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the end of a play; also : the actor speaking such an epilogue b : the final scene of a play that comments on or summarizes the main action 3 : the concluding section of a musical composition : coda Variants: also ep·i·log \ˈe-pə-ˌlȯg, -ˌläg\ Origin: Middle English epiloge, from Middle French epilogue, from Latin epilogus, from Greek epilogos, from epilegein to say in addition, from epi- + legein to say — more at legend. First use: 15th century

Metaphor- noun

1 : a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money); broadly : figurative language — compare simile 2 : an object, activity, or idea treated as a metaphor : symbol 2 met·a·phor·ic \ˌme-tə-ˈfȯr-ik, -ˈfär-\ or met·a·phor·i·cal \-i-kəl\ adjective met·a·phor·i·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb Examples "it's raining cats and dogs" is just a colorful metaphor and not a meteorological announcement Origin: Middle English methaphor, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French metaphore, from Latin metaphora, from Greek, from metapherein to transfer, from meta- + pherein to bear — more at bear. First use: 15th century Synonyms: conceit

Parody- noun

1 : a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule 2 : a feeble or ridiculous imitation synonyms see caricature Other forms: plural par·o·dies pa·rod·ic \pə-ˈrä-dik, pa-\ adjective par·o·dis·tic \ˌper-ə-ˈdis-tik, ˈpa-rə-\ adjective Origin: Latin parodia, from Greek parōidia, from para- + aidein to sing — more at ode. First use: 1598 Synonyms: burlesque, caricature, put-on, rib, send-up, spoof, takeoff, travesty 2 parody transitive verb 1 : to compose a parody on <parody a poem> 2 : to imitate in the manner of a parody Other forms: parodied; parody·ing Examples It was easy to parody the book's fancy language. She parodied her brother's poetry. First use: circa 1745

Epic- noun

1 : a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero <the Iliad and the Odyssey are epics> 2 : a work of art (as a novel or drama) that resembles or suggests an epic 3 : a series of events or body of legend or tradition thought to form the proper subject of an epic <the epic of the winning of the West> Examples an epic poem an epic film/novel The football game was an epic battle between two great teams. First use: 1706

Exposition- noun

1 : a setting forth of the meaning or purpose (as of a writing) 2 a : discourse or an example of it designed to convey information or explain what is difficult to understand b (1) : the first part of a musical composition in sonata form in which the thematic material of the movement is presented (2) : the opening section of a fugue 3 : a public exhibition or show ex·po·si·tion·al \-ˈzish-nəl, -ˈzi-shə-nəl\ adjective Examples an exposition of flying machines from the early days of aviation the nonstop exposition of the ceremonies by the TV newscasters was both unnecessary and irritating the astronomer's exposition of white dwarfs was a little helpful Origin: (see exposit ). First use: 14th century Synonyms: display, exhibit, expo, exhibition, fair, show

Subplot-noun

1 : a subordinate plot in fiction or drama First use: 1830 A secondary plot, as in a novel. [1915-20] Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a subordinate or auxiliary plot in a novel, play, film, etc.

Paradox- noun

1 : a tenet contrary to received opinion 2 a : a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true b : a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true c : an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises 3 : one (as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases Examples the paradox of fighting a war for peace Origin: Latin paradoxum, from Greek paradoxon, from neuter of paradoxos contrary to expectation, from para- + dokein to think, seem — more at decent. First use: 1540 Synonyms: dichotomy, incongruity, contradiction

Episode- noun

1 : a usually brief unit of action in a dramatic or literary work: as a : the part of an ancient Greek tragedy between two choric songs b : a developed situation that is integral to but separable from a continuous narrative : incident c : one of a series of loosely connected stories or scenes d : the part of a serial presented at one performance 2 : an event that is distinctive and separate although part of a larger series 3 : a digressive subdivision in a musical composition synonyms see occurrence Examples the episode in which the Native American Samoset walked into Plymouth Plantation and surprised the Pilgrims with the greeting, "Welcome, Englishman" Origin: Greek epeisodion, from neuter of epeisodios coming in besides, from epi- + eisodios coming in, from eis into (akin to Greek en in) + hodos road, journey — more at in. First use: 1678 Synonyms: affair, circumstance, event, hap, happening, incident, occasion, occurrence, thing

Dialogue - noun

1 : a written composition in which two or more characters are represented as conversing 2 a : a conversation between two or more persons; also : a similar exchange between a person and something else (as a computer) b : an exchange of ideas and opinions <organized a series of dialogues on human rights> c : a discussion between representatives of parties to a conflict that is aimed at resolution <a constructive dialogue between loggers and environmentalists> 3 : the conversational element of literary or dramatic composition <very little dialogue in this film> 4 : a musical composition for two or more parts suggestive of a conversation Variants: also di·a·log \ˈdī-ə-ˌlȯg, -ˌläg\ Origin: Middle English dialoge, from Anglo-French dialogue, from Latin dialogus, from Greek dialogos, from dialegesthai to converse, from dia- + legein to speak — more at legend. First use: 13th century Synonyms: argument, argumentation, argy-bargy [chiefly British], back-and-forth, colloquy, confab, confabulation, conference, consult, consultation, council, counsel, debate, deliberation, discussion (also dialog), give-and-take, palaver, parley, talk 2 dialogue transitive verb : to express in dialogueintransitive verb : to take part in a dialogue <managers dialoguing with employees> Other forms: dialogued; dialogu·ing First use: 1566

Denotation- noun

1 : an act or process of denoting 2 : meaning; especially : a direct specific meaning as distinct from an implied or associated idea 3 a : a denoting term : name b : sign, indication <visible denotations of divine wrath> 4 : the totality of things to which a term is applicable especially in logic — compare connotation Examples "soul" is the common denotation for that mysterious force within the human body that gives it life and yet is separate from it although most people exercise for fitness, the denotation of the term "fitness" varies from exerciser to exerciser First use: circa 1532 Synonyms: appellation, appellative, cognomen, compellation, denomination, name, designation, handle, moniker (also monicker), nomenclature, title

Symbol-noun

1 : an authoritative summary of faith or doctrine : creed 2 : something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance; especially : a visible sign of something invisible <the lion is a symbol of courage> 3 : an arbitrary or conventional sign used in writing or printing relating to a particular field to represent operations, quantities, elements, relations, or qualities 4 : an object or act representing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed <phallic symbols> 5 : an act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to excite or objectify a response Origin: in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil. First use: 15th century Synonyms: ensign, hallmark, impresa, logo, emblem, totem, trademark 2 symbol verb : symbolize Other forms: symboled or symbolled; symbol·ing or symbol·ling First use: 1832

Epigraph- noun

1 : an engraved inscription 2 : a quotation set at the beginning of a literary work or one of its divisions to suggest its theme Origin: Greek epigraphē, from epigraphein. First use: 1624

Allusion- noun

1 : an implied or indirect reference especially in literature; also : the use of such references 2 : the act of making an indirect reference to something : the act of alluding to something al·lu·sive \-ˈlü-siv, -ziv\ adjective al·lu·sive·ly adverb al·lu·sive·ness noun Origin: Late Latin allusion-, allusio, from Latin alludere (see allude ). First use: 1548

Aside- noun

1 : an utterance meant to be inaudible to someone; especially : an actor's speech heard by the audience but supposedly not by other characters 2 : a straying from the theme : digression First use: circa 1751 Synonyms: tangent, digression, divagation, excursion

Ad Hominem- adjective

1 : appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect 2 : marked by or being an attack on an opponent's character rather than by an answer to the contentions made Origin: New Latin, literally, to the person. First use: 1598

Personification-noun

1 : attribution of personal qualities; especially : representation of a thing or abstraction as a person or by the human form 2 : a divinity or imaginary being representing a thing or abstraction 3 : embodiment, incarnation Examples he's the personification of kindness First use: circa 1755 Synonyms: abstract, avatar, embodier, epitome, externalization, genius, icon (also ikon), image, incarnation, incorporation, instantiation, manifestation, objectification, embodiment, personifier personification noun 1. the attribution of human nature or character to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract notions, especially as a rhetorical figure. 2. the representation of a thing or abstraction in the form of a person, as in art. 3. the person or thing embodying a quality or the like; an embodiment or incarnation: He is the personification of tact. 4. an imaginary person or creature conceived or figured to represent a thing or abstraction. 5. the act of attributing human qualities to an animal, object, or abstraction; the act of personifying: The author's personification of the farm animals made for an enchanting children's book.

Conflict- noun

1 : fight, battle, war <an armed conflict> 2 a : competitive or opposing action of incompatibles : antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons) b : mental struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands 3 : the opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to the dramatic action in a drama or fiction synonyms see discord con·flict·ful \ˈkän-ˌflikt-fəl\ adjective con·flic·tu·al \kän-ˈflik-chə-wəl, kən-, -chəl, -shwəl, -chü-əl\ adjective Origin: Middle English, from Latin conflictus act of striking together, from confligere to strike together, from com- + fligere to strike — more at profligate. First use: 15th century Synonyms: discord, disaccord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, dissonance, disunion, disunity, division, friction, infighting, inharmony, schism, strife, variance, war, warfare Antonyms: accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, peace 2 con·flict\kən-ˈflikt, ˈkän-ˌ\ intransitive verb 1 archaic : to contend in warfare 2 : to be different, opposed, or contradictory : to fail to be in agreement or accord <his statement conflicts with the facts> con·flic·tion \kən-ˈflik-shən, kän-\ noun con·flic·tive \kən-ˈflik-tiv, ˈkän-ˌ\ adjective Origin: (see 1conflict ). First use: 15th century

Consonance-noun

1 : harmony or agreement among components 2 a : correspondence or recurrence of sounds especially in words; specifically : recurrence or repetition of consonants especially at the end of stressed syllables without the similar correspondence of vowels (as in the final sounds of "stroke" and "luck") b : concord 1b c : sympathetic vibration, resonance Examples at present, the living room lacks consonance because all of the furniture is on one side in good writing there is always consonance of thought and expression, as the use of simple words for simple thoughts First use: 15th century Synonyms: balance, coherence, concinnity, harmony, consonancy, orchestration, proportion, symmetry, symphony, unity Antonyms: asymmetry, discordance, disproportion, disunity, imbalance, incoherence, violence

Analogy- noun

1 : inference that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects they will probably agree in others 2 a : resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike : similarity b : comparison based on such resemblance 3 : correspondence between the members of pairs or sets of linguistic forms that serves as a basis for the creation of another form 4 : correspondence in function between anatomical parts of different structure and origin — compare homology synonyms see likeness Other forms: plural anal·o·gies Origin: (see analogous ). First use: 15th century

Pedantic-adjective

1 : of, relating to, or being a pedant(see pedant ) 2 : narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned 3 : unimaginative, pedestrian pe·dan·ti·cal·ly \-ˈdan-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb Origin: (see pedant ). First use: circa 1600 1. pedantic - marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspectspedantic - marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects pe·dan·tic (p-dntk) adj. Characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules: a pedantic attention to details. pe·danti·cal·ly adv. Synonyms: pedantic, academic, bookish, donnish, scholastic These adjectives mean marked by a narrow, often tiresome focus on or display of learning and especially its trivial aspects: a pedantic writing style; an academic insistence on precision; a bookish vocabulary; donnish refinement of speech; scholastic and excessively subtle reasoning. . ostentatious in one's learning. 2. overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in teaching.

Antagonist- noun

1 : one that contends with or opposes another : adversary, opponent 2 : an agent of physiological antagonism: as Examples please name the novel's hero and his antagonist his antagonist in the boxing match Origin: (see antagonize ). First use: 1575 Synonyms: adversary, enemy, foe, hostile, opponent Antonyms: amigo, friend

Allegory- noun

1 : the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; also : an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression 2 : a symbolic representation : emblem 2 Other forms: plural al·le·go·ries Examples Dr. Seuss's story "The Sneetches" is a telling allegory about tolerance for people's differences Origin: Middle English allegorie, from Latin allegoria, from Greek allēgoria, from allēgorein to speak figuratively, from allos other + -ēgorein to speak publicly, from agora assembly — more at else, agora. First use: 14th century Synonyms: apologue, fable, parable

Denouement- noun

1 : the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work 2 : the outcome of a complex sequence of events Variants: also dé·noue·ment \ˌdā-ˌnü-ˈmäⁿ, dā-ˈnü-ˌ\ Origin: French dénouement, literally, untying, from Middle French desnouement, from desnouer to untie, from Old French desnoer, from des- de- + noer to tie, from Latin nodare, from nodus knot — more at node. First use: 1705

Setting- noun

1 : the manner, position, or direction in which something is set 2 : the frame or bed in which a gem is set; also : style of mounting 3 a : the time, place, and circumstances in which something occurs or develops b : the time and place of the action of a literary, dramatic, or cinematic work c : the scenery used in a theatrical or film production 4 : the music composed for a text (as a poem) 5 : the articles of tableware for setting a place at table <two settings of sterling silver> 6 : a batch of eggs for incubation synonyms see background Examples the novice camper felt lost outside of his familiar urban setting the setting for the novel is Victorian England First use: 14th century Synonyms: ambient, atmosphere, climate, clime, context, contexture, environs, medium, milieu, mise-en-scène, environment, surround, surroundings, terrain

Onomatopoeia-noun

1 : the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (as buzz, hiss) 2 : the use of words whose sound suggests the sense on·o·mato·poe·ic \-ˈpē-ik\ or on·o·mato·po·et·ic \-pō-ˈe-tik\ adjective on·o·mato·poe·i·cal·ly \-ˈpē-ə-k(ə-)lē\ or on·o·mato·po·et·i·cal·ly \-pō-ˈe-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb Origin: Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, from onomat-, onoma name + poiein to make — more at poet. First use: circa 1577 An onomatopoeia (sometimes written as onomatopœia) (About this sound pronunciation (US) (help·info), from the Greek ὀνοματοποιία;[1] ὄνομα for "name"[2] and ποιέω for "I make",[3]adjectival form: "onomatopoeic" or "onomatopoetic") is a word that phonetically imitates or suggests the source of the sound that it describes. Onomatopoeia (as an uncountable noun) refers to the property of such words. Common occurrences of onomatopoeias include animal noises such as "oink", "meow", "roar" or "chirp". Onomatopoeias are not the same across all languages; they conform to some extent to the broader linguistic system they are part of;[clarification needed] hence the sound of a clock may be tick tock in English, dī dā in Mandarin, or katchin katchin in Japanese. Although in the English language the term onomatopoeia means the imitation of a sound, in the Greek language the compound word onomatopoeia (ονοματοποιία) means "making or creating names". For words that imitate sounds the term Ηχομιμητικό (echomimetico or echomimetic) is used. Ηχομιμητικό (echomimetico) from Ηχώ meaning "echo or sound" and μιμητικό meaning "mimetic or imitation".

Archetype- noun

1 : the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies : prototype; also : a perfect example 2 : idea 1a 3 : an inherited idea or mode of thought in the psychology of C. G. Jung that is derived from the experience of the race and is present in the unconscious of the individual ar·che·typ·al \ˌär-ki-ˈtī-pəl\ also ar·che·typ·i·cal \-ˈti-pi-kəl\ adjective ar·che·typ·al·ly \-pə-lē\ also ar·che·typ·i·cal·ly \-ˈti-pi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb Examples the abacus is sometimes cited as the archetype of the modern digital calculator Beowulf is considered by some scholars to be the archetype for medieval British heroic tales Origin: Latin archetypum, from Greek archetypon, from neuter of archetypos archetypal, from archein + typos type. First use: 1545 Synonyms: antecedent, ancestor, daddy, foregoer, forerunner, granddaddy (also grandaddy), precursor, predecessor, prototype Antonyms: descendant (also descendent)

Antithesis - noun

1 a (1) : the rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences (as in "action, not words" or "they promised freedom and provided slavery") (2) : opposition, contrast <the antithesis of prose and verse> b (1) : the second of two opposing words, clauses, or sentences that are being rhetorically contrasted (2) : the direct opposite <her temperament is the very antithesis of mine> 2 : the second stage of a dialectic process Other forms: plural an·tith·e·ses \-ˌsēz\ Examples true love for another is the antithesis of the desire to control that person's life Origin: Late Latin, from Greek, literally, opposition, from antitithenai to oppose, from anti- + tithenai to set — more at do. First use: 1529 Synonyms: antipode, opposite, contrary, counter, negative, obverse, reverse

Colloquialism-noun

1 a : a colloquial expression b : a local or regional dialect expression 2 : colloquial style First use: 1810

Canon- noun

1 a : a regulation or dogma decreed by a church council b : a provision of canon law 2 [Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin, from Latin, model] : the most solemn and unvarying part of the Mass including the consecration of the bread and wine 3 [Middle English, from Late Latin, from Latin, standard] a : an authoritative list of books accepted as Holy Scripture b : the authentic works of a writer c : a sanctioned or accepted group or body of related works <the canon of great literature> 4 a : an accepted principle or rule b : a criterion or standard of judgment c : a body of principles, rules, standards, or norms 5 [Late Greek kanōn, from Greek, model] : a contrapuntal musical composition in which each successively entering voice presents the initial theme usually transformed in a strictly consistent way synonyms see law Origin: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Latin, ruler, rule, model, standard, from Greek kanōn. First use: before 12th century

Rhythm - noun

1 a : an ordered recurrent alternation of strong and weak elements in the flow of sound and silence in speech b : a particular example or form of rhythm <iambic rhythm> 2 a : the aspect of music comprising all the elements (as accent, meter, and tempo) that relate to forward movement b : a characteristic rhythmic pattern <rumba rhythm>; also : 1meter 2 c : the group of instruments in a band supplying the rhythm —called also rhythm section 3 a : movement, fluctuation, or variation marked by the regular recurrence or natural flow of related elements <the rhythms of country life> b : the repetition in a literary work of phrase, incident, character type, or symbol 4 : a regularly recurrent quantitative change in a variable biological process <a circadian rhythm> — compare biorhythm 5 : the effect created by the elements in a play, movie, or novel that relate to the temporal development of the action 6 : rhythm method Examples The music has a fast/slow/steady rhythm. African/Caribbean rhythms the rhythm of the poetry Origin: Middle French & Latin; Middle French rhythme, from Latin rhythmus, from Greek rhythmos, probably from rhein to flow — more at stream. First use: 1560 Synonyms: beat, cadence, measure, meter A measured pattern of words and phrases arranged by sound, time, or events. These patterns are [created] in verse or prose by use of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Didactic- adjective

1 a : designed or intended to teach b : intended to convey instruction and information as well as pleasure and entertainment <didactic poetry> 2 : making moral observations di·dac·ti·cal \-ti-kəl\ adjective di·dac·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb di·dac·ti·cism \-tə-ˌsi-zəm\ noun Examples the poet's works became increasingly didactic after his religious conversion Origin: Greek didaktikos, from didaskein to teach. First use: 1658 Synonyms: sermonic, homiletic (or homiletical), moralistic, moralizing, preachy, sententious

Dissonance- noun

1 a : lack of agreement; especially : inconsistency between the beliefs one holds or between one's actions and one's beliefs — compare cognitive dissonance b : an instance of such inconsistency or disagreement 2 : a mingling of discordant sounds; especially : a clashing or unresolved musical interval or chord Examples the dissonance between what we are told and what we see with our own eyes First use: 15th century Synonyms: conflict, disaccord, discordance, discordancy, disharmony, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, discord, disunion, disunity, division, friction, infighting, inharmony, schism, strife, variance, war, warfare Antonyms: accord, agreement, concord, concordance, harmony, peace

Protagonist- noun

1 a : the principal character in a literary work (as a drama or story) b : a leading actor, character, or participant in a literary work or real event 2 : a leader, proponent, or supporter of a cause : champion Examples Milton Friedman is usually cited as the leading American protagonist of monetarism Origin: Greek prōtagōnistēs, from prōt- prot- + agōnistēs competitor at games, actor, from agōnizesthai to compete, from agōn contest, competition at games — more at agony. First use: 1671 Synonyms: advocate, advocator, apostle, backer, booster, champion, expounder, espouser, friend, gospeler (or gospeller), herald, hierophant, high priest, paladin, promoter, proponent, exponent, supporter, true believer, tub-thumper, white knight Antonyms: adversary, antagonist, opponent

Connotation- noun

1 a : the suggesting of a meaning by a word apart from the thing it explicitly names or describes b : something suggested by a word or thing : implication <the connotations of comfort that surrounded that old chair> 2 : the signification of something <that abuse of logic which consists in moving counters about as if they were known entities with a fixed connotation — W. R. Inge> 3 : an essential property or group of properties of a thing named by a term in logic — compare denotation con·no·ta·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-nəl\ adjective Origin: (see connote ). First use: 1532

Crisis-noun

1 a : the turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever b : a paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function c : an emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a person's life <a midlife crisis> 2 : the decisive moment (as in a literary plot) 3 a : an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending; especially : one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome <a financial crisis> b : a situation that has reached a critical phase <the environmental crisis> synonyms see juncture Other forms: plural cri·ses \ˈkrī-ˌsēz\ Examples the governor responded swiftly and surely to the crisis Origin: Middle English, from Latin, from Greek krisis, literally, decision, from krinein to decide — more at certain. First use: 15th century Synonyms: boiling point, breaking point, clutch, conjuncture, emergency, crossroad(s), crunch, crunch time, Dunkirk, exigency, extremity, flash point, head, juncture, tinderbox, zero hour

Epiphany- noun

1 capitalized : January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ 2 : an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being 3 a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure b : a revealing scene or moment Other forms: plural epiph·a·nies Origin: Middle English epiphanie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin epiphania, from Late Greek, plural, probably alteration of Greek epiphaneia appearance, manifestation, from epiphainein to manifest, from epi- + phainein to show — more at fancy. First use: 14th century

Cynicism- noun

1 capitalized : the doctrine of the Cynics 2 : cynical attitude or quality; also : a cynical comment or act First use: 1663 Cynical adjective 1 : captious, peevish 2 : having or showing the attitude or temper of a cynic: as a : contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives <those cynical men who say that democracy cannot be honest and efficient — F. D. Roosevelt> b : based on or reflecting a belief that human conduct is motivated primarily by self-interest <a cynical ploy to win votes> cyn·i·cal·ly \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb Examples so cynical that he can't understand why anyone would volunteer to help out at a homeless shelter Origin: (see cynic ). First use: 1542 Synonyms: misanthropic, pessimistic Antonyms: uncynical Synonym discussion: cynical misanthropic pessimistic mean deeply distrustful. cynical implies having a sneering disbelief in sincerity or integrity <cynical about politicians' motives>. misanthropic suggests a rooted distrust and dislike of human beings and their society <a solitary and misanthropic artist>. pessimistic implies having a gloomy, distrustful view of life <pessimistic about the future>.

Diction: noun

1 obsolete : verbal description 2 : choice of words especially with regard to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness 3 a : vocal expression : enunciation b : pronunciation and enunciation of words in singing dic·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-nəl\ adjective dic·tion·al·ly \-ē\ adverb Examples Shakespearean actors with very good diction the spare diction that is the hallmark of the poetry of Robert Frost Origin: Latin diction-, dictio speaking, style, from dicere to say; akin to Old English tēon to accuse, Latin dicare to proclaim, dedicate, Greek deiknynai to show, dikē judgment, right. First use: 1581 Synonyms: articulation, enunciation

Farce-noun

2 : a light dramatic composition marked by broadly satirical comedy and improbable plot 3 : the broad humor characteristic of farce 4 : an empty or patently ridiculous act, proceeding, or situation <the trial became a farce> Origin: Middle English farse, from Middle French farce, from Vulgar Latin *farsa, from Latin, feminine of farsus, past participle of farcire. First use: 14th century Synonyms: caricature, cartoon, mockery, joke, parody, sham, travesty In theatre, a farce is a comedy that aims at entertaining the audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, and thus improbable.[1] Farces are often highly incomprehensible plot-wise (due to the large number of plot twists and random events that often occur), but viewers are encouraged not to try to follow the plot in order to avoid becoming confused and overwhelmed. Farce is also characterized by physical humor, the use of deliberate absurdity or nonsense, and broadly stylized performances. Farces have been written for the stage and film. Furthermore, a farce is also often set in one particular location, where all events occur. Japan has a centuries-old tradition of farce plays called Kyōgen. These plays are performed as comic relief during the long, serious Noh plays

Imagery- noun

2 : figurative language 3 : mental images; especially : the products of imagination Other forms: plural im·ag·er·ies First use: 14th century . pl. im·age·ries 1. A set of mental pictures or images. 2. a. The use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas. b. The use of expressive or evocative images in art, literature, or music. c. A group or body of related images, as in a painting or poem. 3. a. Representative images, particularly statues or icons. b. The art of making such images. 4. Psychology A technique in behavior therapy in which the patient uses pleasant fantasies to relax and counteract anxiety. imagery [ˈɪmɪdʒrɪ -dʒərɪ] n pl -ries 1. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) figurative or descriptive language in a literary work 2. images collectively 3. (Psychology) Psychol a. the materials or general processes of the imagination b. the characteristic kind of mental images formed by a particular individual See also image [7] imagination [1]

Parable-noun

: example; specifically : a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle Examples the parable in which the repentant sinner is compared to the returning prodigal son who is welcomed home Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin parabola, from Greek parabolē comparison, from paraballein to compare, from para- + ballein to throw — more at devil. First use: 14th century Synonyms: apologue, fable, allegory

Hyperbole- noun

: extravagant exaggeration (as "mile-high ice-cream cones") hy·per·bo·list \-list\ noun Examples "enough food to feed a whole army" is a common example of hyperbole Origin: Latin, from Greek hyperbolē excess, hyperbole, hyperbola, from hyperballein to exceed, from hyper- + ballein to throw — more at devil. First use: 15th century Synonyms: caricature, coloring, elaboration, embellishment, embroidering, embroidery, exaggeration, magnification, overstatement, padding, stretching Antonyms: meiosis, understatement

Polysyndeton- noun

: repetition of conjunctions in close succession (as in we have ships and men and money) Origin: New Latin, from Late Greek, neuter of polysyndetos using many conjunctions, from Greek poly- + syndetos bound together, conjunctive — more at asyndeton. First use: circa 1577 Polysyndeton is the use of several conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted (as in "he ran and jumped and laughed for joy"). It is a stylistic scheme used to achieve a variety of effects: it can increase the rhythm of prose, speed or slow its pace, convey solemnity or even ecstasy and childlike exuberance. Another common use of polysyndeton is to create a sense of being overwhelmed, or in fact directly overwhelm the audience by using conjunctions, rather than commas, leaving little room for a reader to breathe.[1][2] In grammar, a polysyndetic coordination is a coordination in which all conjuncts are linked by coordinating conjunctions (usually and, but, or, nor in English).

Euphemism - noun

: the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant; also : the expression so substituted eu·phe·mist \-mist\ noun eu·phe·mis·tic \ˌyü-fə-ˈmis-tik\ adjective eu·phe·mis·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb Origin: Greek euphēmismos, from euphēmos auspicious, sounding good, from eu- + phēmē speech, from phanai to speak — more at ban. First use: circa 1681

Understatement

: to represent as less than is the case <understate taxable income> 2 : to state or present with restraint especially for effect — un·der·state·ment noun Examples of UNDERSTATE He understated his taxable income. She's trying to understate the issue. First Known Use of UNDERSTATE 1824

Foreshadowing - transitive verb

: to represent, indicate, or typify beforehand : prefigure fore·shad·ow·er \-də-wər\ noun Examples a series of small tremors that foreshadowed the massive earthquake the next day First use: 1577 the act of providing vague advance indications; representing beforehand Synonyms: adumbration, prefiguration Type of: anticipation, prediction, prevision the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future) adj indistinctly prophetic Synonyms: adumbrative, prefigurative prophetic, prophetical foretelling events as if by supernatural intervention Foreshadowing is an advance sign or warning of what is to come in the future. The author of a mystery novel might use foreshadowing in the early chapter of his book to give readers an inkling of an impending murder.

Logical Fallacy

A logical fallacy is, roughly speaking, an error of reasoning. When someone adopts a position, or tries to persuade someone else to adopt a position, based on a bad piece of reasoning, they commit a fallacy. I say "roughly speaking" because this definition has a few problems, the most important of which are outlined below. Some logical fallacies are more common than others, and so have been named and defined. When people speak of logical fallacies they often mean to refer to this collection of well-known errors of reasoning, rather than to fallacies in the broader, more technical sense given above. http://www.logicalfallacies.info/

Narrative-noun

A narrative (or story) is any account of connected events, presented to a reader or listener in a sequence of written or spoken words, or in a sequence of (moving) pictures.[1] -Narratives can be organized in a number of thematic and/or formal/stylistic categories: non-fiction (e.g. New Journalism, creative non-fiction, biographies, and historiography); fictionalized accounts of historical events (e.g. anecdotes, myths, and legends); and fiction proper (i.e. literature in prose, such as short stories and novels, and sometimes in poetry and drama, although in drama the events are primarily being shown instead of told). Narrative is found in all forms of human creativity and art, including speech, writing, songs, film, television, video games, photography, theatre, and visual arts such as painting (with the modern art movements refusing the narrative in favour of the abstract and conceptual) that describes a sequence of events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to tell", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled".[2] The word "story" may be used as a synonym of "narrative". It can also be used to refer to the sequence of events described in a narrative. Narratives may also be nested within other narratives, such as narratives told by unreliable narrator (a character) typically found in noir fiction genre. An important part of narration is the narrative mode, the set of methods used to communicate the narrative through a process narration (see also "Narrative Aesthetics" below). Along with exposition, argumentation, and description, narration, broadly defined, is one of four rhetorical modes of discourse. More narrowly defined, it is the fiction-writing mode whereby the narrator communicates directly to the reader.

Periodic sentence- noun

A sentence in which the main clause or its predicate is withheld until the end; for example, Despite heavy winds and nearly impenetrable ground fog, the plane landed safely. Literature / Rhetoric) Rhetoric a sentence in which the completion of the main clause is left to the end, thus creating an effect of suspense a sentence that, by leaving the completion of its main clause to the end, produces an effect of suspense, as in All alone in the world, without any money, he died.

Stock character

A stock character is a fictional character based on a common literary or social stereotype. Stock characters rely heavily on cultural types or names for their personality, manner of speech, and other characteristics. In their most general form, stock characters are related to literary archetypes, but they are often more narrowly defined. Stock characters are a key component of genre fiction, providing relationships and interactions that people familiar with the genre will recognize immediately. Stock characters make easy targets for parody, which will likely exaggerate any stereotypes associated with these characters. Stock characters draw from widely known cultural types for their characteristics and mannerisms, and are often used in parody. Every culture has its own set of stock characters. In Italian commedia dell'arte, for example, Scaramouche epitomized the unscrupulous and unreliable servant. In modern American culture, Thurber's Walter Mitty created the mold for the hen-pecked husband and dreamer. Writers should be aware that racially based stock characters present a number of risks unless the writer is intimately familiar with the culture. It's easy to get the details wrong, and incorrect stereotypes may offend the reader. Either way, the reader is taken out of the fictional dream and left in doubt of the writer's authority.

Theme

A theme is the central idea or ideas explored by a literary work. John Gardner puts it this way: "By theme here we mean not a message -- a word no good writer likes applied to his work -- but the general subject, as the theme of an evening of debates may be World Wide Inflation." A work of literature may have more than one theme. Hamlet, for instance, deals with the themes of death, revenge, and action, to name a few. King Lear's themes include justice, reconciliation, madness, and betrayal. While you might start with an issue or theme in mind, themes will also develop or emerge as you write. It may not be until the editing stage that you even begin to recognize your themes. Having recognized them, your themes will help you determine what to cut from your story or novel and what to highlight.

Unreliable Narrator

An unreliable narrator is a narrator, whether in literature, film, or theatre, whose credibility has been seriously compromised.[1] The term was coined in 1961 by Wayne C. Booth in The Rhetoric of Fiction.[2] This narrative mode is one that can be developed by an author for a number of reasons, usually to deceive the reader or audience.[1] Most often unreliable narrators are first-person narrators, but sometimes third-person narrators can also be unreliable. The nature of the narrator is sometimes immediately clear. For instance, a story may open with the narrator making a plainly false or delusional claim or admitting to being severely mentally ill, or the story itself may have a frame in which the narrator appears as a character, with clues to his or her unreliability. A more dramatic use of the device delays the revelation until near the story's end. This twist ending 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. An exception is an event that did not or could not happen, told within the fictionalized historical novels, speculative fiction, or clearly delineated dream sequences. Narrators describing them are not considered unreliable.

Cliché- noun

Cliché- noun 1 : a trite phrase or expression; also : the idea expressed by it 2 : a hackneyed theme, characterization, or situation 3 : something (as a menu item) that has become overly familiar or commonplace cliché adjective Variants: also cli·che \klē-ˈshā, ˈklē-ˌ, kli-ˈ\ Origin: French, literally, printer's stereotype, from past participle of clicher to stereotype, of imitative origin. First use: 1892 Synonyms: banality, bromide, chestnut, commonplace (also cliche), groaner, homily, platitude, shibboleth, trope, truism

Climax-noun

Climax-noun 1 : a figure of speech in which a series of phrases or sentences is arranged in ascending order of rhetorical forcefulness 2 a : the highest point : culmination <the climax of a distinguished career> b : the point of highest dramatic tension or a major turning point in the action (as of a play) c : orgasm d : menopause 3 : a relatively stable ecological stage or community especially of plants that is achieved through successful adaptation to an environment; especially : the final stage in ecological succession synonyms see summit cli·max·less adjective Origin: Late Latin, from Greek klimax, literally, ladder, from klinein to lean. First use: circa 1550 Synonyms: climacteric, turning point, corner, landmark, milepost, milestone, watershed Antonyms: bottom, nadir, rock bottom 2 climax transitive verb : to bring to a climax <climaxed his boxing career with a knockout> intransitive verb : to come to a climax <a riot climaxing in the destruction of several houses> Examples The movie climaxes with a fantastic chase scene. The May protest climaxed a series of demonstrations in the nation's capital. able/unable to climax First use: 1835 Synonyms: cap (off), crown, culminate

Figurative language

Figurative language- figurative language refers to words, and groups of words, that exaggerate or alter the usual meanings of the component words. Figurative use of language is the use of words or phrases in a manner where the literal meaning of the words is not true or does not make sense, but "implies a non-literal meaning which does make sense or that could be true".

Genre- noun

Genre- noun 1 : a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content 2 : kind, sort 3 : painting that depicts scenes or events from everyday life usually realistically Examples a literary/film/musical genre This book is a classic of the mystery genre. Origin: French, from Middle French, kind, gender — more at gender. First use: 1770 Synonyms: breed, class, description, feather, sort, ilk, kidney, kind, like, manner, nature, order, species, strain, stripe, type, variety

Stream of consciousness

Stream of consciousness is a narrative device used in literature "to depict the multitudinous thoughts and feelings which pass through the mind. Another phrase for it is 'interior monologue'.

Rising action

The events of a dramatic or narrative plot preceding the climax.

Poetic license

The liberty taken by an artist or a writer in deviating from conventional form or fact to achieve a desired effect. license or liberty, esp. as taken by a poet or other writer, in deviating from conventional form, logic, fact, etc., to produce a desired effect. license used by a writer or artist to heighten the effect of their work

Situational Irony- noun

This is a relatively modern use of the term, and describes a sharp discrepancy between the expected result and actual results in a certain situation. Lars Elleström writes: Situational irony, ... is most broadly defined as a situation where the outcome is incongruous with what was expected, but it is also more generally understood as a situation that includes contradictions or sharp contrasts,[25] Situational irony is a relationship of contrast between what an audience is led to expect during a particular situation within the unfolding of a story's plot and a situation that ends up actually resulting later on. It is thus the result of a special sort of discrepancy in perspective that is not "moment-bound," in that it involves the contrast between what we knew in one moment with what we have come to know in another. Of course, like dramatic irony, situational irony can range from the tragic to the comic. In comedy, for example, the surprising reversal in circumstances making for situational irony portends can be for the better. A classic instance is the climactic moment in Molière's Tartuffe, in which the villain Tartuffe, having conned his benefactor Orgon into putting the title to his property into Tartuffe's name, brings an Officer to Orgon's house to execute an order of eviction upon the family -- but ends up (to the surprise not only of everyone present but of the audience as well) being arrested and dragged off to jail as a crook whom the King, in reviewing the cases coming before the royal courts, has recognized from his past record of criminal activity. But some of the most famous and powerful uses of situational irony are associated with tragedy, where it serves to emphasize how uncertain human prosperity, and how fragile human happiness, can be.

Dialect- noun

Usage: often attributive 1 a : a regional variety of language distinguished by features of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation from other regional varieties and constituting together with them a single language <the Doric dialect of ancient Greek> b : one of two or more cognate languages <French and Italian are Romance dialects> c : a variety of a language used by the members of a group <such dialects as politics and advertising — Philip Howard> d : a variety of language whose identity is fixed by a factor other than geography (as social class) <spoke a rough peasant dialect> e : register 4c f : a version of a computer programming language 2 : manner or means of expressing oneself : phraseology di·a·lec·tal \ˌdī-ə-ˈlek-təl\ adjective di·a·lec·tal·ly \-tə-lē\ adverb Examples the promotional team for the new computer used a dialect full of acronyms that the press found difficult to follow Origin: Middle French dialecte, from Latin dialectus, from Greek dialektos conversation, dialect, from dialegesthai to converse — more at dialogue. First use: 1577 Synonyms: argot, cant, terminology, jargon, jive, language, lingo, patois, patter, shop, shoptalk, slang, vocabulary

Style

manner of expression; how a speaker or writer says what he says

Syntax- noun

a : the way in which linguistic elements (as words) are put together to form constituents (as phrases or clauses) b : the part of grammar dealing with this 2 : a connected or orderly system : harmonious arrangement of parts or elements <the syntax of classical architecture> 3 : syntactics especially as dealing with the formal properties of languages or calculi Origin: Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French sintaxe, from Late Latin syntaxis, from Greek, from syntassein to arrange together, from syn- + tassein to arrange. First use: 1574 Syntax in literature refers to the actual way in which words and sentences are placed together in the writing. Usually in the English language the syntax should follow a pattern of subject-verb-object agreement but sometimes authors play around with this to achieve a lyrical, rhythmic, rhetoric or questioning effect. It is not related to the act of choosing specific words or even the meaning of each word or the overall meanings conveyed by the sentences. Example: The sentence "The man drives the car" would follow normal syntax in the English language. By changing the syntax to "The car drives the man", the sentence becomes awkward.

Oxymoron-noun

a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (as cruel kindness); broadly : something (as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements Other forms: plural ox·y·mo·ra \-ˈmȯr-ə\ ox·y·mo·ron·ic \-mə-ˈrä-nik, -mȯ-\ adjective ox·y·mo·ron·i·cal·ly \-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb Origin: Late Greek oxymōron, from neuter of oxymōros pointedly foolish, from Greek oxys sharp, keen + mōros foolish. First use: 1657 An oxymoron (plural oxymora or oxymorons) (from Greek ὀξύμωρον, "sharp dull") is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. Oxymora appear in a variety of contexts, including inadvertent errors such as ground pilot and literary oxymorons crafted to reveal a paradox.

Syllogism- noun

a deductive scheme of a formal argument consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion (as in "every virtue is laudable; kindness is a virtue; therefore kindness is laudable") 2 : a subtle, specious, or crafty argument 3 : deductive reasoning syl·lo·gis·tic \ˌsi-lə-ˈjis-tik\ adjective syl·lo·gis·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb Origin: Middle English silogisme, from Anglo-French sillogisme, from Latin syllogismus, from Greek syllogismos, from syllogizesthai to syllogize, from syn- + logizesthai to calculate, from logos reckoning, word — more at legend. First use: 14th century . Logic A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion; for example, All humans are mortal, the major premise, I am a human, the minor premise, therefore, I am mortal, the conclusion. 2. Reasoning from the general to the specific; deduction. 3. A subtle or specious piece of reasoning.

Synecdoche- noun

a figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole (as fifty sail for fifty ships), the whole for a part (as society for high society), the species for the genus (as cutthroat for assassin), the genus for the species (as a creature for a man), or the name of the material for the thing made (as boards for stage) syn·ec·doch·ic \ˌsi-ˌnek-ˈdä-kik\ adjective syn·ec·doch·i·cal \-ˈdä-ki-kəl\ adjective syn·ec·doch·i·cal·ly \-ki-k(ə-)lē\ adverb Origin: Latin, from Greek synekdochē, from syn- + ekdochē sense, interpretation, from ekdechesthai to receive, understand, from ex from + dechesthai to receive; akin to Greek dokein to seem good — more at ex-, decent. First use: 15th century Synecdoche: The rhetorical figure of allusion to the part instead of the whole, as the use of 'the wave' in the sense of 'the sea', 'keel' for 'ship', 'a hand' or 'a head' for 'a man', etc. synecdoche, figure of speech in which a part represents the whole, as in the expression "hired hands" for workmen or, less commonly, the whole represents a part, as in the use of the word "society" to mean high society. Closely related to metonymy—the replacement of a word by one closely related to the original—synecdoche is an important poetic device for creating vivid imagery. An example is Samuel Taylor Coleridge's line in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," "The western wave was all aflame," in which "wave" substitutes for "sea." See also metonymy.

Simile- noun

a figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as (as in cheeks like roses) — compare metaphor Origin: Middle English, from Latin, comparison, from neuter of similis. First use: 14th century

Static character- noun

a literary or dramatic character who undergoes little or no inner change; a character who does not grow or develop. Compare dynamic character.

Point of view

a position or perspective from which something is considered or evaluated : standpoint First use: 1720 point of view n. pl. points of view 1. A manner of viewing things; an attitude. 2. a. A position from which something is observed or considered; a standpoint. b. The attitude or outlook of a narrator or character in a piece of literature, a movie, or another art form. n pl points of view 1. a position from which someone or something is observed 2. a mental viewpoint or attitude 3. the mental position from which a story is observed or narrated the omniscient point of view n. 1. a specified or stated manner of consideration or appraisal; standpoint. 2. an opinion, attitude, or judgment. 3. (in a literary work) the position of the narrator in relation to the story.

Dramatic Irony-noun

dramatic irony, in literature, a plot device in which the audience's or reader's knowledge of events or individuals surpasses that of the characters. The words and actions of the characters therefore take on a different meaning for the audience or reader than they have for the play's characters. This may happen when, for example, a character reacts in an inappropriate or foolish way or when a character lacks self-awareness and thus acts under false assumptions. The device abounds in works of tragedy. In the Oedipus cycle, for example, the audience knows that Oedipus's acts are tragic mistakes long before he recognizes his own errors. Later writers who mastered dramatic irony include William Shakespeare (as in Othello's trust of the treacherous Iago), Voltaire, Jonathan Swift, Henry Fielding, Thomas Hardy, and Henry James. Dramatic irony can also be seen in such works as O. Henry's short story "The Gift of the Magi." In Anton Chekhov's story "Lady with the Dog," an accomplished Don Juan engages in a routine flirtation only to find himself seduced into a passionate lifelong commitment to a woman who is no different from all the other number of women with whom he has flirted.

Hyperbole

extravagant exaggeration (as "mile-high ice-cream cones") — hy·per·bo·list noun See hyperbole defined for English-language learners » See hyperbole defined for kids » Examples of HYPERBOLE <"enough food to feed a whole army" is a common example of hyperbole> Four decades later we're all blabbermouths, adrift on a sea of hyperbole, shouting to be heard. —Steve Rushin, Sports Illustrated, 1 Apr. 2002 [+]more Origin of HYPERBOLE Latin, from Greek hyperbolē excess, hyperbole, hyperbola, from hyperballein to exceed, from hyper- + ballein to throw — more at devil First Known Use: 15th century

Structure

framework of a work of literature; the organization or over-all design of a work. The structure of a play may fall into logical divisions and also a mechanical division of acts and scenes. Groups of stories may be set in a larger structure or frame, like The Canterbury Tales, The Decameron, or The Arabian Tales.

In medias res-adverb

in or into the middle of a narrative or plot Origin: Latin, literally, into the midst of things. First use: 1786 In medias res or medias in res (into the middle of things) is a Latin phrase for the literary and artistic narrative technique where the relating of a story begins at the midpoint, rather than at the beginning (cf. ab ovo, ab initio), establishing setting, character, and conflict via flashback or expository conversations relating the pertinent past. The main advantage of in medias res is to open the story with dramatic action rather than exposition which sets up the characters and situation. Because it is a feature of the style in which a story is structured and is independent of the story's content, it can be employed in any narrative genre, epic poetry, novels, plays, or film.[1] In medias res often, though not always, entails subsequent uses of flashbacks and nonlinear narrative for exposition of earlier events in order to fill in the backstory. For example, in Homer's Odyssey, we first learn about Odysseus' journey when he is held captive on Calypso's island. We then find out in Books IX through XII, that the greater part of Odysseus' journey precedes that moment in the narrative. On the other hand, Homer's Iliad has relatively few flashbacks, although it opens in the thick of the Trojan War.

Schadenfreude

is pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.[1] This word is a loanword from German, the direct English translation is 'Damage-Joy' or 'Fail-Joy', it is the feeling of joy when one sees another fail, and is also borrowed in some other languages. It has been calqued[citation needed] in Danish and Norwegian as skadefryd, in Swedish as skadeglädje, in Finnish as vahingonilo, in Dutch as leedvermaak and in Ukrainian, Russian and Bulgarian as 'злорадство' (zlo'radstvo). noun Usage: often capitalized : enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others Origin: German, from Schaden damage + Freude joy. First use: 1895

Apostrophe- noun

the addressing of a usually absent person or a usually personified thing rhetorically <Carlyle's"O Liberty, what things are done in thy name!"is an example of apostrophe> ap·os·troph·ic \ˌa-pə-ˈsträ-fik\ adjective Origin: Latin, from Greek apostrophē, literally, act of turning away, from apostrephein to turn away, from apo- + strephein to turn. First use: 1533

Scansion- noun

the analysis of verse to show its meter Origin: Late Latin scansion-, scansio, from Latin, act of climbing, from scandere. First use: 1671 scansion, the analysis and visual representation of a poem's metrical pattern. Adapted from the classical method of analyzing ancient Greek and Roman quantitative verse, scansion in English prosody employs a system of symbols to reveal the mechanics of a poem—i.e., the predominant type of foot (the smallest metrical unit of stressed and unstressed syllables); the number of feet per line; and the rhyme scheme. The purpose of scansion is to enhance the reader's sensitivity to the ways in which rhythmic elements in a poem convey meaning. Deviations in a poem's metrical pattern are often significant to its meaning. There are three major types of English scansion: the graphic, the musical, and the acoustic. The primary symbols used in graphic scansion, the most common type of scansion, are: (— or ´) to represent a syllable that is stressed in context; (˘) to represent a syllable that is unstressed in context; a vertical line (|) to indicate a division between feet; and a double vertical line (‖) to show a caesura, a pause within a line of verse. Using these symbols, graphic scansion begins by marking the accented, then the unaccented syllables according to the natural rhythm of speech. It cannot, however, record the subtle variations of language, and is, therefore, a highly simplified analysis. Because few poems are absolutely regular, metre is usually determined by the type of foot that appears most frequently, as iambic pentameter or trochaic tetrameter. Following are the last two lines from Tennyson's "Ulysses," which are written in iambic pentameter; the lines are scanned in the graphic method. The spondaic foot (two stressed syllables) in the first line is a common variation in iambic rhythm. Both musical and acoustic scansion, highly complex systems, are more sensitive than graphic scansion to the tonal and accentual variety of speech. Musical symbols (e.g., eighth notes for unstressed syllables, quarter or half notes for stressed syllables, and musical rests for pauses) record accentual differences. Machines such as the oscillograph are used by modern acoustic linguists to catch even slightly varying degrees of stress. o

Overstatement-noun

the meaning that ordinarily attaches to what is said is an exaggeration of what the speaker uses it to mean. (overstate: verb- to state in too strong terms : exaggerate)

Falling action-noun

the part of a literary plot that occurs after the climax has been reached and the conflict has been resolved.

Resolution

the point in a literary work at which the chief dramatic complication is worked out

Direct characterization- noun

the process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed by the use of descriptive adjectives, phrases, or epithets; in literature and drama, the method of character development in which the author simply tells what the character is like

Indirect characterization-noun

the process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance, etc.

Alliteration- noun

the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables (as wild and woolly, threatening throngs) —called also head rhyme, initial rhyme Origin: ad- + Latin littera letter. First use: circa 1624

Verbal irony

verbal- Verbal irony is a statement in which the meaning that a speaker employs is sharply different from the meaning that is ostensibly expressed. The ironic statement usually involves the explicit expression of one attitude or evaluation, but with indications in the overall speech-situation that the speaker intends a very different, and often opposite, attitude or evaluation.[12] Verbal irony is a figure of speech. The speaker intends to be understood as meaning something that contrasts with the literal or usual meaning of what he says. The different sorts of discrepancy between the meaning of what is said and what is in fact on the particular occasion meant with it give rise to different kinds of verbal irony:

Speaker-

voice in a poem; the person or thing that is speaking