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lit terms
definitions of`lierary terms
48
English
Not Applicable
12/21/2004

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Term
ambiguity
Definition
the quality or state of being uncertain especially in meaning
Term
allusion
Definition
a short informal reference to a famous person or evet
Term
analogy
Definition
compares two things, which are alike in several respects, for the purpose of explaining or clarifying some unfamiliar or difficult idea or object by showing how he idea or object is similar to some familiar one
Term
anaphora
Definition
is the repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences commonly in conjunction with climax and with parallellism.
Term
antithesis
Definition
establishes a clear, contrasting relationship between two ideas by joining them together or juxtaposing them, often in parallel structure
Term
apostrophe
Definition
interrupts the discussion or discourse and addresses directly a person or personified thing, either present or absent
Term
attitude
Definition
a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state
Term
detail
Definition
extended treatment of or attention to particular items
Term
Diction
Definition
choice of words especially with regard to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness
Term
ethos
Definition
the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or insitution
Term
euphemism
Definition
the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasent
Term
figurative language
Definition
a type of language that varies from the normas of literal language, in which words mean exactly what they say
Term
figures of speech
Definition
an example of figurative language that states something that is not literally true in order to create an effect
Term
hyperbole
Definition
the counterpart of understatement, deliberately exaggerates conditions for emphasis or effect
Term
imagery
Definition
figurative language, mental images
Term
logos
Definition
of or relating to logic
Term
metaphor
Definition
compares two different things by speaking of one in terms of the other. Unlike a simile or analogy, metaphor asserts that one thing is another thing, not that one is like another
Term
mood
Definition
the atmosphere or feeling created by a literary work, partly by a description of the objects or by the style of the descriptions
Term
narrative structure
Definition
the order in which basic narrative plot elements are arranged
Term
organization
Definition
an administrative and functional structure
Term
oxymoron
Definition
is a paradox reduced to two words, usually in an adjetive-noun or adverb-adjective relationship, and is used for effect, complexity, emphasis, or wit.
Term
paradox
Definition
a situation or a statement that seems to contradict itself, but on closer inspection, does not
Term
pathos
Definition
an element in experience or in artistic representation evoking pity or compassion
Term
perspective
Definition
the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed
Term
point of view
Definition
a way the events of a story are conveyed to the reader, it is the "vantage point" from which the narrative is passed from author to the reader
Term
repitition
Definition
the act or an instance or repeating or being repeated
Term
rhetorical question
Definition
differes from hypophora in that it is not answerwed by the writer, because its answer is obvious or obviously desired, and usually just a yes or no. It is used for effect, emphasis, or porvocation, or for drawing a conclusionary statement from the facts at hand.
Term
sentence structure
Definition
the overall effect of how words and phrases are placed
Term
simile
Definition
a comparision between two different things that resemble each other in at least one way
Term
syntax
Definition
the way in which linguistic element (as words) are put together to form constituents (as phrases or clauses)
Term
tone
Definition
expresses the author's attitude toward his or her subject
Term
understatement
Definition
a statement which lessens or minimizes the importance or what is meant
Term
irony
Definition
a literary term referring to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually seem. Many times it is the exact opposite or what it appears to be.
Term
omniscient point of view
Definition
a narrator who knows everything about all the characters is all knowing
Term
limited omniscient point of view
Definition
a narrator whose knowledge is limited to one character, either major or minor
Term
first-person point of view
Definition
the author tells the story from their personal perspective using "I"
Term
rhetorical techniques
Definition
figures of speech employed for rhetorical effect
Term
satire
Definition
a piece of literature designed to ridicule the subject of the work
Term
allegory
Definition
a narrative that serves as an extended metaphor
Term
connotation
Definition
an association that comes along with a particular word
Term
denotation
Definition
the exact meaning of a word, without the feelings or suggestions that the word may imply
Term
epigram
Definition
a short poem or verse that seeks to ridicule a thought or event, usually with witticism or sarcasm
Term
literal
Definition
characterized by a concern mainly with facts
Term
parable
Definition
a brief and often simple narrative that illustrates a moral or religous lesson
Term
parody
Definition
a literary work that imitates the style of another literary work
Term
personification
Definition
metaphorically represents an animal or inanimate object as having human attricutes-attributes of form, character, feelings, behavior, and so on
Term
stereotype
Definition
a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents on oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgement
Term
thesis
Definition
a position of proposisiton that a person advances and offers to maintain by arguement
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