question

abstract

answer

An abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research.

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adage

answer

A saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language.

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allegory

answer

A story in which the narrative or characters carry an underlying symbolic, metaphorical, or possibly an ethical meaning. The story and characters represent values beyond themselves.

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alliteration

answer

The repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines of poetry or prose. Used for ornament or for emphasis. Also used in epithets, phrases, and slogans. Enhances the aesthetic quality of a prose passage or poem.

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allusion

answer

A reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea.

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ambiguity

answer

A vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation.

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anachronism

answer

A person, scene, event, or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time or era in which the work is set.

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analogy

answer

A comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things.

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annotation

answer

A brief explanation, summary, or evaluation of a text or work of literature.

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antagonist

answer

A character or force in a work of literature that, by opposing the protagonist, produces tension or conflict.

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antithesis

answer

A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences.

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aphorism

answer

A short, pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment.

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Apollonian

answer

In contrast to Dionysian, it refers to the most noble, godlike qualities of human nature and behavior.

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apostrophe

answer

A rhetorical device in which a speaker addresses a person or personified thing not present.

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archetype

answer

An abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model or form.

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assonance

answer

The repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose.

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ballad

answer

A simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited.

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bard

answer

A poet; in olden times, a performer who told heroic stories to a musical accompaniment.

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bathos

answer

The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality.

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belle-lettres

answer

French term for the world of books, criticism, and literature in general.

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bibliography

answer

A list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work.

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Bildungsroman

answer

A German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal.

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blank verse

answer

Poetry written in iambic pentameter, the primary meter used in English poetry and the words of Shakespeare and Milton. The lines generally do not rhyme.

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bombast

answer

Inflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects.

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burlesque

answer

A work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation.

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cacophony

answer

Grating, inharmonious sounds.

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caesura

answer

A pause somewhere in the middle of a verse, often (but not always) marked by punctuation.

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canon

answer

The works considered most important in a national literature or period; works widely read and studied.

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caricature

answer

A grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things.

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carpe diem

answer

Literally, "seize the day"; enjoy life while you can, a common theme in literature.

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catharsis

answer

A cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror or a dramatic tragedy.

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classic

answer

A highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time.

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classical, classicism

answer

Deriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity, and restraint.

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climax

answer

The high point, or turning point, or a story or play.

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coming-of-age-story/novel

answer

A tale in which a young protagonist experiences an introduction to adulthood. The character may develop understanding via disillusionment, education, doses of reality, or any other experiences that alter his or her emotional or intellectual maturity.

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conceit

answer

A witty or ingenious thought a diverting or highly fanciful idea, often stated in figurative language.

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connotation

answer

The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase. Contrast with denotation.

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consonance

answer

The repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry.

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couplet

answer

A pair of rhyming lines in a poem. Two rhyming lines in iambic pentameter is sometimes called a heroic ________.

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denotation

answer

The dictionary definition of a word. Contrast with connotation.

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dénouement

answer

The resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work of fiction.

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deus ex machina

answer

In literature, the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem.

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diction

answer

The choice of words in oral and written discourse.

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Dionysian

answer

As distinguished from Apollonian, the word refers to sensual, pleasure-seeking impulses.

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dramatic irony

answer

A circumstance in which the audience or reader knows more about a situation than a character.

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elegy

answer

A poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing or death of something or someone of value.

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ellipsis

answer

Three periods (...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation.

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elliptical construction

answer

A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words.

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empathy

answer

A feeling of association or identification with an object or person.

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end-stopped

answer

A term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation.

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enjambment

answer

In poetry, the use of the successive lines with no punctuation or pause between them.

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epic

answer

An extended narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero that in generally larger than life and is often considered a legendary figure.

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epigram

answer

A concise but ingenious, witty, and thoughtful statement.

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euphony

answer

Pleasing, harmonious sounds.

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epithet

answer

An adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing.

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eponymous

answer

A term for the title character of a work of literature.

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euphemism

answer

A mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term.

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exegesis

answer

A detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of literature.

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exposé

answer

A piece or writing that reveals weakness, faults, frailties, or other shortcomings.

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exposition

answer

The background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of a work of literature.

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explication

answer

The interpretation or analysis of a text.

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extended metaphor

answer

A series of comparisons between two unlike objects.

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fable

answer

A short tale often featuring nonhuman characters that act as people whose actions enable the author to make observations or draw useful lessons about human behavior.

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falling action

answer

The action in a play or story that occurs after the climax and that leads to the conclusion and often to the resolution of the conflict.

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fantasy

answer

A story containing unreal, imaginary features.

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farce

answer

A comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose.

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figure of speech, figurative language

answer

In contrast to literal language, _____________ implies meanings. It includes metaphors, similes, and personification, among many others.

question

first-person narrative

answer

A narrative told by a character involved in the story, using pronouns such as I and we.

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flashback

answer

A return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present action or circumstances. It might also be a character's account of the past, a dream, or a sudden association with past events.

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foil

answer

A minor character whose personality or attitude contrasts with that of the main character. Juxtaposing one character against another intensifies the qualities of both, to advantage or sometimes to disadvantage.

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foot

answer

A unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line.

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foreshadowing

answer

Providing hints of things to come in a story or play.

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frame

answer

A structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative.

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free verse

answer

A kind of poetry without rhymed lines, rhythm, or fixed metrical feet.

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genre

answer

A term used to describe literary forms, such as a novel, play, and essay.

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Gothic novel

answer

A novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action.

question

harangue

answer

A forceful sermon, lecture, or tirade.

question

hegemony

answer

a dominant cultural trend

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heroic couplet

answer

Two rhymed lines written in iambic pentameter and used widely in eighteenth-century verse.

question

hubris

answer

The excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death.

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humanism

answer

A belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity.

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hyperbole

answer

Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect.

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idyll

answer

A lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place.

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image

answer

A word or phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled, or felt.

question

in medias res

answer

A narrative that starts not at the beginning of events but at some other critical point.

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indirect quotation

answer

Actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased.

question

invective

answer

A direct verbal assault; a denunciation.

question

irony

answer

A mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule or light sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected.

question

kenning

answer

A device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities, as in "ring giver" for a king and "whale-road" for ocean.

question

lampoon

answer

A mocking, satirical assault on a person or situation.

question

light verse

answer

A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse, but sometimes with a satirical thrust.

question

litotes

answer

A form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.

question

loose sentence

answer

A sentence that follows the customary word order of English sentences, i.e., subject-verb-object. The main idea of the sentence is presented first and is then followed by one or more subordinate clauses.

question

lyric poetry

answer

Personal, reflective poetry that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject.

question

maxim

answer

A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth.

question

melodrama

answer

A literary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response.

question

metaphor

answer

A figure of speech that compares unlike objects.

question

metaphysical poetry

answer

The work of poets, particularly those of the seventeenth century, that uses elaborate conceits, is highly intellectual, and expresses the complexities of love and life.

question

meter

answer

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry.

question

metonymy

answer

A figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated.

question

Middle English

answer

The language spoken in England roughly between 1150 and 1500 A.D.

question

mock epic

answer

A parody of traditional epic form. It usually treats a frivolous topic with extreme seriousness, using conventions such as invocations to the Muse, action-packed battle scenes, and accounts of heroic exploits.

question

mode

answer

The general form, pattern, and manner of expression of a work of literature.

question

montage

answer

A quick succession of images or impressions used to express an idea.

question

mood

answer

The emotional tone in a work of literature.

question

moral

answer

A brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature.

question

motif

answer

A phrase, idea, or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature.

question

muse

answer

One of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. The imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer.

question

myth

answer

An imaginary story that has become an accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group or society. They are often used to explain natural phenomena. Almost every culture has one of these to account for the creation of the world and its inhabitants.

question

narrative

answer

A form of verse of prose that tells a story.

question

naturalism

answer

A term often used as a synonym for realism; also a view of experience that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic.

question

non sequitur

answer

A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.

question

novella

answer

A work of fiction of roughly 20,000 to 50,000 words-longer than a short story, but shorter than a novel.

question

novel of manners

answer

A novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group.

question

ode

answer

A lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.

question

Old English

answer

The Anglo-Saxon language spoken in what is now England from approximately 450 to 1150 A.D.

question

omniscient narrator

answer

A narrator with unlimited awareness, understanding, and insight of characters, setting, background, and all other elements of the story.

question

onomatopoeia

answer

The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning.

question

ottava rima

answer

An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem.

question

oxymoron

answer

A term consisting of contradictory elements juxtaposed to create a

question

parable

answer

A story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived

question

paradox

answer

A statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true

question

paraphrase

answer

A version of a text put into simpler, everyday words

question

pastoral

answer

A work of literature dealing with rural life

question

pathetic fallacy

answer

Faulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or nonhuman objects

question

pathos

answer

That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow

question

pentameter

answer

A verse with five poetic feet per line

question

periodic sentence

answer

A sentence that departs from the usual word order of English sentences by expressing its main though only at the end. In other words, the particulars in the sentence are presented before the idea they support.

question

persona

answer

The role or facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader, a viewer, or the world at large

question

personification

answer

A figure of speech in which objects and animals are given human characteristics

question

plot

answer

The interrelationship among the events in a story; the plot line is the pattern of events, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

question

picaresque novel

answer

An episodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits. Ex: Don Quixote, Moll Flanders

question

point of view

answer

The relation in which a narrator or speaker stands to the story or subject matter of a poem.

question

prosody

answer

The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry

question

protagonist

answer

The main character in a work of literature

question

pseudonym

answer

Also called "pen name" or "nom de plume"; a false name or alias used by writers. Ex: Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

question

pulp fiction

answer

Novels written for mass consumption, often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots

question

pun

answer

A humorous play on words, using similar-sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings

question

quatrain

answer

A four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem

question

realism

answer

The depiction of people, things, and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect.

question

rhetoric

answer

The language of a work and its style; words, often highly emotional, used to convince or sway an audience

question

rhetorical stance

answer

Language that conveys a speaker's attitude or opinion with regard to a particular subject

question

rhyme

answer

The repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals, used mostly in poetry.

question

rhyme scheme

answer

The pattern of rhymes within a given poem

question

rhythm

answer

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry

question

roman a clef

answer

French for a novel in which hisotrical events and actual people appear under the guise of fiction

question

romance

answer

An extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places

question

sarcasm

answer

A sharp, caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt; different from irony, which is more subtle

question

satire

answer

A literary style used to poke fun at, attack, or ridicule an idea, vice, or foible, often for the purpose of inducing change

question

scan

answer

The act of determining the meter of a poetic line.

question

sentiment

answer

A synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in literature

question

sentimental

answer

A term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish

question

setting

answer

The total environment for the action in a novel or play. It includes time, place, historical milieu, and social, political, and even spiritual circumstances

question

simile

answer

A figurative comparison using the words like or as

question

sonnet

answer

A popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme.

question

stanza

answer

A group of two or more lines in poetry combined according to subject matter, rhyme, or some other plan

question

stream of consciousness

answer

A style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind

question

style

answer

The manner in which an author uses and arranges words,

question

subplot

answer

A subordinate or minor collection of events in a novel or play, usually connected to the main plot

question

subtext

answer

The implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature

question

symbolism

answer

The use of one object to evoke ideas and associations not literally part of the original object

question

synecdoche

answer

A figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole ("fifty masts" for fifty ships) or the whole signifies the part ("days" for life, as in "He lived his days in Canada"). Also when the name of the material stands for the thing itself ("pigskin" for football)

question

syntax

answer

The organization of language into meaningful structure; every sentence has a particular pattern of words

question

theme

answer

The main idea or meaning, often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built

question

title character

answer

A character whose name appears in the title of the novel or play; also known as the eponymous character

question

tone

answer

The author's attitude toward the subject being written about. The spirit or quality that is the work's emotional essence

question

tragedy

answer

A form of literature in which the hero is destroyed by some character flaw and a set of forces that cause the hero considerable anguish

question

trope

answer

The generic name for a figure of speech such as image, symbol, simile, and metaphor

question

verbal irony

answer

A discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words

question

verse

answer

A synonym for poetry. Also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry

question

verisimilitude

answer

Similar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is.

question

versification

answer

The structural form of a line of verse as revealed by the number of feet it contains. For example: monometer = 1foot; tetrameter = 4 feet; pentameter = 5 feet, and so forth

question

villanelle

answer

A French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes

question

voice

answer

The real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker

question

wit

answer

The quickness of intellect and the power and talent for saying brilliant things that suprise and delight by their unexpectedness; the power to comment subtly and pointedly on the foibles of the passing scene

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