Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Literary and Rhetoric Terms
A list of literary and rhetoric terms goos to know for an AP english test or any high level english class
85
English
11th Grade
04/10/2011

Additional English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Symbolism
Definition
the use of symbols or anything that is meant to taken both literally and as representative of a higher and more complex significance
Term
Theme
Definition
the central idea or "message" of a literary work
Term
Style
Definition
an author's characteristic manner of expression
Term
Euphony
Definition
a succession of harmonious sounds used in poetry or prose; the opposite of cacophony
Term
Allegory
Definition
an extended narrative in prose of verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface story
Term
Classicism
Definition
the principles admired in the classics of Greek and Roman literatures; objectivity, sensibility, restraint, and formality
Term
Voice
Definition
the way a written work conveys an author's attitude
Term
Synecdoche
Definition
a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent a whole; ex. "wheels" to mean a car
Term
Romanticism
Definition
a literary, artistic, and philosophical movement, a reaction to neoclassicism; focal points: imagination, emotion, freedom; stresses subjectivity, individuality, the love and worship of nature, and a fascination with the past
Term
Parallelism
Definition
the technique of arranging words, phrases, clauses, or larger structures by placing them side by side and making them similar in form
Term
Epigram
Definition
a concise, witty saying in poetry or prose that either stands alone of is part of a larger work; it may also refer to a short poem of this type
Term
Regionalism
Definition
an element in literature that conveys a realistic portrayal of a specific geographical locale, using the locale and its influences as a major part of the plot
Term
Mood
Definition
similar to tone; the primary emotional attitude of a work
Term
Argumentation
Definition
writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by presenting reasonable arguments
Term
Aphorism
Definition
a short, often witty statement of a principle of a truth about life
Term
Metonymy
Definition
a figure of speeech that uses the name of an object, person, or idea to represent something with which it is associated; ex. "the crown" refers to a monarch
Term
Consonance
Definition
the repitition of identical consonant sounds before and after different vowel sounds
Term
Naturalism
Definition
a literary movement that grew out of realism; portrays humans as having no free will, by being driven by the natural forces of heredity, environment, and animalistic urges which they cannot control
Term
Narration
Definition
the telling of a story in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama
Term
Mode
Definition
the method or form of a literary work; the manner in which a work of literature is written
Term
Loose Sentence
Definition
a sentence that is grammatically correct before it ends
Term
Irony
Definition
a situation or statement in which the actual outcome or meaning is opposite to what was expected
Term
Motif
Definition
main theme or subject of a work that is elaborated on in the development of the piece; a repeated pattern or idea
Term
Dissonance
Definition
harsh or grating sounds that do not go together
Term
Personification
Definition
the attribution of human qualities to a nonhuman or an inanimate object
Term
Simile
Definition
a figure of speech that uses like, as, or as if to make a direct comparison between two essentially different objects, actions, or qualities
Term
Genre
Definition
a type of literary work, such as a novel or poem; there are also subgenres, like science fiction or a sonnet, within the larger genres
Term
Sarcasm
Definition
harsh, caustic personal remarks to or about someone; less subtle than irony
Term
Caricature
Definition
descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person's appearance or a facet of personality
Term
Protagonist
Definition
the main character of a literary work
Term
Diction
Definition
word choice; an element of style; also called syntax
Term
Rhetorical Modes
Definition
exposition, description, narration, and argumentation
Term
Figurative Language
Definition
language that contains figure of speech in order to create associations that are imaginative rather than literal
Term
Imagery
Definition
words or phrases that use a collection of images to appeal to one or more of the five senses in order to create a mental picture
Term
Cacophony
Definition
harsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of euphony
Term
Anaphora
Definition
specific type of repetition; word, phrase, or clause repeated at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row; ex. "I have a dream..... I have a dream.... I have a dream..."
Term
Foreshadowing
Definition
the use of a hint or clue to suggest a larger event that occurs later in the work
Term
Apostrophe
Definition
usually in poetry but sometimes in prose; the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction
Term
Metaphor
Definition
a figure of speech in which one thing is referred to as another
Term
Folklore
Definition
traditional stories, songs, dances, and customs that are preserved among a people; precedes literature; passes down orally from generation to generation til recorded by scholars
Term
Hubris
Definition
the excessive pride of ambition that leads a tragic hero to disregard warnings of impending doom, eventually causing his or her downfall
Term
Assonance
Definition
the repetition of vowel sounds between different consonants; ex. neigh or fade
Term
Persuasion
Definition
a form of argumentation; one of the four modes of discourse; launguage intended to convince through appeals to reason or emotion
Term
Persona
Definition
a fictional voice that a writer adopts to tell a story; determined by subject matter and audience
Term
Connotation
Definition
the implied or suggested meaning of a word because of its association in the reader's mind
Term
Denotation
Definition
literal meaning of a word as defined
Term
Conceit
Definition
an elaborate figure of speech in which two seemingly dissimilar things or situations are compared
Term
Suspension of Disbelief
Definition
the demand made that the reader accept the incidents recounted in the literary work
Term
Obectivity
Definition
an impersonal presentation of events and characters
Term
Inversion
Definition
reversing the customary orders of elements in a sentence or phrase
Term
Point of View
Definition
the perspectivve from which a story is presented; first-person narrative, stream of consciousness narrator, omniscient narrator, limited omniscient narrator, and objective narrator
Term
Description
Definition
the picturing in words of something or someone through detailed observation of color, motion, sound, taste, smell, and touch
Term
Alliteration
Definition
the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close to one another
Term
Hyperbole
Definition
deliberate exaggeration in order to create humor or emphasis
Term
Anachronism
Definition
an event, object, custom, person, or thing that is out of order in time
Term
Anecdote
Definition
a short, simple narrative of an incident; often used for numerous effect of to make a point
Term
Exposition
Definition
the immediate revelation to the audience of the setting and other background information necessary for understanding the plot
Term
Periodic Sentence
Definition
a sentence that s not grammatically complete until its last phrase
Term
Humor
Definition
anything that causes laughter or amusement
Term
Figures of Speech
Definition
expressions, such as similes, metaphors, and personifications, that make imaginative, rather than literal, comparisons or assiciations
Term
Stereotype
Definition
a character who represents a trait that is usually attributed to a particular social or racial group and who lacks individuality
Term
Unity
Definition
quality of a piece of writing
Term
Conundrum
Definition
a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun; may also be a paradox or difficult problem
Term
Colloquialism
Definition
a word or phrase in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing
Term
Realism
Definition
literary movement that stresses accuracy in the portrayal of life; a direct contrast with romanticism
Term
Parody
Definition
a work that ridicules the style of another work by imitating and exaggerating its elements
Term
Exemplum
Definition
a brief tale used in medieval times to illustrate a sermon or to teach a lesson
Term
Rhetoric
Definition
the art of using language effectively; 1. writer's purpose 2. consideration of audience 3. exploration of subject 4. arrangement and organization of ideas 5. style and tone of expression 6. form
Term
Syntax
Definition
word choice; also known as diction
Term
Oxymoron
Definition
a figure of speech composed of contradictory words or phrases; ex. "wise fool"
Term
Paradox
Definition
a statement that seems to contradict itself but that turns out to have a rational meaning
Term
Coherence
Definition
quality of a piece of writing in which all the parts contribute to the development of the central idea, theme, or organizing principle
Term
Idyll
Definition
a short descriptive narrative, usually a poem, about an idealized country life; also called a pastoral
Term
Allusion
Definition
a reference to another work or famous figure that is assumed to be well-known enough to be recognized by the reader
Term
Speaker
Definition
the voice of a work; an author may speak as himself or herself or as a fictitious pesona
Term
Parable
Definition
a short tale that teaches a moral; similar to but shorter than an allegory
Term
Tone
Definition
the characteristic emotion or attitude of an author toward the characters, subject, and audience
Term
Analogy
Definition
a comparison of two similar but different things, usually to clarify an action or a relationship; ex. comparing the work of a heart to that of a pump
Term
Onomatopoeia
Definition
the use of words that sound like what they mean; ex. hiss or boom
Term
Subjectivity
Definition
a personal presentation of events and characters, influenced by the author's feelings and opinions
Term
Burlesque
Definition
broad parody, whereas a parody will imitate and exaggerate a specific work
Term
Discourse
Definition
spoken or written language, including literary works; modes: description, exposition, narration, and persuasion
Term
Interior Monologue
Definition
writing that records the conversation that occurs inside a character's head
Term
Authority
Definition
support for an argument that is based on recognized experts in the field
Term
Myth
Definition
one story in a system of narratives set in a complete imaginary world that once served to explain the origin of life, religious beliefs, and the forces of nature as supernatural occurences
Supporting users have an ad free experience!