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Literary Terms
Evil literary terms for Albertson's english class!
33
Literature
Not Applicable
04/03/2005

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Term
Simile
Definition
An unexpected descriptive comparison using like or as.
Ex* Sick as a dog.
Term
Metaphor
Definition
An unexpected descriptive comparison not using like or as.
Ex* This class is hell.
Term
Hyperbole
Definition
A uniquely descriptive exaggeration.
Ex* I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse!
Term
Personification
Definition
Giving human qualities to animals or objects.
Ex* My cat talked to me.
Term
Anthropomorphism
Definition
Giving human qualities to entities not human (Gods).
Ex* Hercules was hungry.
Term
Irony
Definition
The poetically least expected event in the given circumstance.
Ex* The iron was cold. (lol)
Term
Paradox
Definition
A contradiction that nevertheless rings true.
Ex* Alone in a crowd.
Term
Allusion
Definition
A description that uses or refers to another peice of literature or history.
Ex* My parents are in the midst of a cold war.
Term
Antithesis
Definition
The poetic opposite of the idea in question.
Ex* My cell phone is the antithesis of brand new. (My cell phone sucks/is trashed/etc.)
Term
Oxymoron
Definition
Two contradictory descriptive terms used to describe the same idea.
Ex* Adult male, creation science.
Term
Cliche
Definition
Usually an undesirable form of figurative language because it is expected or overused.
Ex* On that fateful day...
Term
Idiom
Definition
A figure of speech unique to a culture of region.
Ex* That sucks, screw you, etc.
Term
Imagery
Definition
The use of the senses to decribe.
Ex* The soft, cool wind caressed my cheek...
Term
Juxtaposition
Definition
The placement of two phrases adjacent to each other so to achieve a third effect.
Ex* Two cars on the same road in the same lane going opposite directions...
Term
Synecdoche
Definition
The use of part of an item to refer to an entire item.
Ex* I had to study for a year to get my wings. (flight school)
Term
Understatement
Definition
Saying less than expected to mean more than could be said.
Ex* A bit less than perfect.
Term
Onomonapeoeai
Definition
The imitation of the sound made by the described item.
Ex* Clip clop, crash, boom, bang, etc.
Term
Alliteration
Definition
The repitition of the initial consonant sounds.
Ex* She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
Term
Consanance
Definition
The repitition of consonant sounds.
Ex* Start taking those batting tips.
Term
Assenance
Definition
The repitition of vowel sounds.
Ex* The moon was boon in my room.
Term
End rhyme
Definition
Rhyming within a line of poetry.
Ex* The funny bunny liked hunny.
Term
Internal rhyme
Definition
The tradional "elementary school" rhyme- At the end.
Ex* I saw a cow,
And I asked, how?
Term
Masculine rhyme
Definition
Single syllable rhyme.
Ex* Spit in the pit.
Term
Feminine rhyme
Definition
Multi-syllabic rhyme.
Ex* Funny bunny.
Term
Slant rhyme
Definition
An approximate rhyme, frequently using the same vowel.
Ex* Moon, phone.
Term
Iambic
Definition
Unstressed followed by stressed:
pah-Oom
Term
Trochaic
Definition
Stressed followed by unstressed:
Oom-pah
Term
Anapestic
Definition
Two unstressed followed by one stressed:
pah-pah-Oom
Term
Dactylic
Definition
One stressed followed by two unstressed:
Oom-pah-pah
Term
Imagism
Definition
Describing poetry.
Term
Villanelle
Definition
(a)1 (a) (a)
(b) (b) (b)
(a)2 (a)1 (a)2
Ex* Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night
Term
Sonnet
Definition
Three interlocking quatrains followed by a heroic couplet. Always about love.
Ex* Shakespere's sonnets
Term
Sestina
Definition
6 stanzas of 6 lines, one of 3 lines.
Same words at end of each line.
Ex* House, grandmother, child, stove, almanac, tears.
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