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literary terms
a whole bunch of them!
76
Writing
11th Grade
11/09/2010

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Term
ad hominem
Definition
When an argument is rejected for an irrelevant fact about its presenter.
Term
alliteration
Definition
A continuous repetition of the same first letter in a series of words.
Term
allusion
Definition
A reference to something without it being explicitly stated.
Term
analogy
Definition
A comparison between two separate things.
Term
anaphora
Definition
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several sentences.
Term
anecdote
Definition
A short, freestanding narrative, often humorous, personal, and meant for relief
Term
antithesis
Definition
Phrases near each other with opposite meanings.
Term
antomasia
Definition
The use of a title in place of a proper name or noun. (That Hercules over there..)
Term
aphorism
Definition
A concise phrase meant to express an important truth or fundamental principle.
Term
apostrophe
Definition
Addressing an abstraction or personification that is not tangibly present. (Death be not proud)
Term
appositive
Definition
Describes the noun or subject of a sentence (in a large cockroach, large is the appositive.)
Term
assonance
Definition
The consecutive repetitions of a sound within a word (fleet of geese.)
Term
asyndeton
Definition
The deliberate omission of conjunctions ('and's) between words, phrases, or clauses.
Term
bandwagon appeal
Definition
The belief in something simply because it's the belief of the popular majority.
Term
chiasmus
Definition
Two phrases related to each other through an inverted word structure (ride to live, live to ride.)
Term
chiasmus
Definition
Two phrases related to each other through an inverted word structure (ride to live, live to ride.)
Term
claim
Definition
The position or assertion one takes on.
Term
colloquialism
Definition
An informal expression (slang) found in conversation and not formal writings.
Term
complex sentence
Definition
A sentence with one or more subordinate (dependent) clauses.
Term
compound sentence
Definition
When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinator (like 'and'.)
Term
conceit
Definition
An elaborate, exaggerated comparison, like 'cry me a river' (a type of metaphor.)
Term
concrete language
Definition
What can be perceived through the senses (the bench was very cold.)
Term
connotation
Definition
An additional meaning or sense of a word outside its literal definition.
Term
cumulative sentence
Definition
An independent clause first, followed by dependent clauses (see if you can chop off the end and it can still make sense!)
Term
deduction
Definition
A conclusion based on knowledge of a larger concept applied to a specific instance.
Term
denotation
Definition
The strict meaning of words as found in the dictionary, without any outside connotation.
Term
diction
Definition
The choice of one word over another for the way it sounds.
Term
enthymeme
Definition
When part of an argument is missing because it is assumed to be known.
Term
epigram
Definition
A short verse, motto, or quote at the beginning of a piece to set a tone or theme.
Term
equivocation
Definition
Vagueness and ambiguity meant to be misleading.
Term
ethos
Definition
A persuasion involving ethics to convince the reader of likability and authority.
Term
euphemism
Definition
The substitution of a mild or vague phrase in place of one that is offensive or crude.
Term
exposition
Definition
Meant to inform the reader by providing background.
Term
figurative language
Definition
Using words for their non-literal sense to convey other meanings ('all the world is a stage').
Term
hyperbole
Definition
An exaggeration, figurative, not meant to be taken literally.
Term
imagery
Definition
Meant to create a visual image inside the reader's head.
Term
imperative sentence
Definition
Sentences that are a direct command.
Term
induction
Definition
What is true for one thing is assumed to be true for all things (this plant is green, all plants must be green.)
Term
interrogative sentence
Definition
Sentences that pose a question.
Term
inversion
Definition
A reversal of the normal word order for the sake of emphasis.
Term
irony
Definition
Saying one thing and meaning another, or the opposite of an expected outcome.
Term
litotes
Definition
A deliberate understatement, often expressed with negatives (no, not, ect.)
Term
logos
Definition
An appeal with a logical base, persuasions using reasoning.
Term
malapropism
Definition
The misuse of a word by confusing it for one that sounds similar; saying one thing but meaning another.
Term
metonymy
Definition
The substitution of a longer phrase for a part that suggests it.
Term
narration
Definition
The act or process of telling a story.
Term
neologism
Definition
(The practice of making a) new, false word, often by combining two others, or giving new meaning to a word.
Term
non sequitur
Definition
A statement or conclusion that is unrelated to the statement it follows.
Term
paradox
Definition
A statement with a proposal that contradicts itself.
Term
parallelism
Definition
The deliberate repetition of words or sentence structures for deliberate effect.
Term
parallelism
Definition
The deliberate repetition of words or sentence structures for deliberate effect.
Term
parody
Definition
The deliberate imitation of a piece of work in order to make fun of it.
Term
pathos
Definition
A persuasion using emotional appeal.
Term
periodic sentence
Definition
A long sentence that doesn't make sense until the end, where the subject is shown.
Term
personification
Definition
Giving human traits to non-living things.
Term
polysyndeton
Definition
A sentence that uses many conjunctions in close succession (think: run-on.)
Term
post hoc fallacy
Definition
The mistaken idea that if one thing occurs after another, the second was a direct result of the first.
Term
red herring
Definition
Something introduced with the intention of being false, to divert attention.
Term
rhetoric
Definition
Language that is effectively convincing of its point.
Term
sarcasm
Definition
When one thing is said and it is the opposite of the speaker's true meaning.
Term
satire
Definition
A criticism or mockery using ridicule and sarcasm trying to invoke a change.
Term
scheme
Definition
A systematic and coherent arrangement of parts.
Term
slippery slope
Definition
The assertion that one event will inevitably follow another, without questioning it.
Term
straw man
Definition
Disputing a view similar to, but not quite the same, as that of the opposing arguer
Term
subordinate clause
Definition
A dependent clause unable to stand along because its meaning is dependent on another clause.
Term
syllogism
Definition
Deductive reasoning with a major premise (all men are mortal,) a minor premise (Socrates is a man,) and a conclusion (Socrates is mortal.)
Term
synesthesia
Definition
The mixing of the senses.
Term
synecdoche
Definition
When a part of something is used to indicate the whole, and vice versa ('hired hands' in place of workers.)
Term
syntax
Definition
The ordering of words into meaningful verbal patterns, altering conventional order.
Term
thesis
Definition
An outlined proposition for consideration that is going to be discussed.
Term
tone
Definition
The mood of a piece as imposed by the author.
Term
trope
Definition
Any way in which a word is used outside of its literal meaning for a play on words.
Term
vernacular
Definition
The everyday/commonplace language of a region (vs. the formal, official, high-class language.)
Term
voice
Definition
The distinct style the author uses, sometimes given to his character.
Term
warrant
Definition
Sound reasoning that something is the truth.
Term
zeugma
Definition
Using one verb for two adjectives, even if it normally only makes sense for one ('Mr. Pickwick took his hat and leave', even though hats normally don't take leave.)
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