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Literary Terms

TermDefinition
Allegory is a type of narrative that uses characters and plot to depict abstract ideas and themes
Alliteration describes a series of words in quick succession that all start with the same letter or sound.
Allusion is a passing or indirect descriptive reference to something.
anachronism is when something happens or is attributed to a different era than when it actually existed.
anthropomorphize is to apply human traits or qualities to a non -human thing such as objects, animals, or the weather.
Aphorism is a universally accepted truth stated in a concise, to -the -point way.
Archetype is a "universal symbol" that brings familiarity and context to a story.
colloquialism is the use of casual and informal language in writing, which can also include slang.
dramatic irony is when the readers know more about the situation going on than at least one of the characters involved.
Euphemism is an indirect, "polite" way of describing something too inappropriate or awkward to address directly.
Exposition is when the narrative provides background information in order to help the reader understand what's going on.
flashbacks to previous events split up present-day scenes in a story, usually to build suspense toward a big reveal.
foreshadowing is when the author hints at events yet to come in a story
Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that emphasizes the significance of the statement's actual meaning.
imagery appeals to readers' senses through highly descriptive language.
In Medias Res is a Latin term that means "in the midst of things" and is a way of starting a narrative without exposition or contextual information.
irony creates a contrast between how things seem and how they really are.
Juxtaposition places two or more dissimilar characters, themes, concepts, etc. side by side, and the profound contrast highlights their differences.
malapropism is when similar-sounding words replace their appropriate counterparts, typically to comic effect
Metaphor compares two similar things by saying that one of them is the other.
metonymy like symbolism but even more so. also doesn't just symbolize something else, it comes to serve as a synonym for that thing or things
Onomatopoeia refers to words that sound like the thing they're referring to.
Oxymoron comes from two contradictory words that describe one thing.
paradox derives from the Greek word paradoxon, which means "beyond belief."
Personification uses human traits to describe non-human things
Polysyndeton Deliberate use of many conjunctions
Repetition the action of repeating something that has already been said or written.
Simile comparing two things using like or as
Symbolism represent abstract concepts and ideas.
Synecdoche A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole
tautology is when a sentence or short paragraph repeats a word or phrase, expressing the same idea twice.
tmesis Intentionally breaking a word into two parts for emphasis
tone the general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc.
Ethos the character or emotions of a speaker/writer that is expressed in the attempt to persuade an audience.
Pathos is the emotion the speaker or writer hopes to induce in the audience.
Logos appeal to reason relies on logic or reason.
camaraderie rapport or goodwill
litany a long, repetitive, or dull account
wrenching causing mental or physical pain
arable suitable for cultivation of land
dessicate to dry out
Vernacular everyday language
replete full; abundant
moratorium a suspension of activity; an authorized delay
ubiquitous occurring or seeming to occur everywhere; omnipresent
frangible fragile; easy to break
lugubrious mournful; gloomy
equanimity composure; calmness
zealous fervent; fanatical
interminable endless
truncate to shorten
Created by: jbandera23036
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