Glossary of Literary Terms When writing a literary analysis or a poetic explication, the student’s job is to ask how the writer says what ... Synecdoche (pronounced ‘sin-eck-doe-key’) refers to a figure of speech in which a part represents the whole or the whole represents a part. Examples: “all hands on deck” - the hand represents a ...
In literature, an imitation of another literary work that mocks, critiques, or makes light of the original. “For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls,” by Christopher Durang, is a one-act parody of The Glass Menagerie, caricaturing the overbearing Southern mother and exaggerating the idiosyncrasies of the other three characters. Personification
Literary devices are often derived from ancient Greek and Latin languages, forming a essential element of literary learning. These terms were assigned by scholars and theorists such as Aristotle and Horace, who systematically categorized these techniques in their works on rhetoric and poetics to enhance effective communication.
D . Denotation. Denotation is a word’ or thing’s “dictionary defintion”, i.e. its literal meaning.. Denouement. The denouement is the very end of a story, the part where all the different plotlines are finally tied up and all remaining questions answered.. Deus ex machina. Deus ex machina is Latin for “a god from the machine.” It’s when some new character, force, or event ...
Now let’s talk about how to use all these literary terms you just learned (or rediscovered). It’s true for every aspect of the craft: the more you read, the better you’ll write. By seeing how other storytellers put these concepts to work, you’ll uncover new methods for using literary devices and get inspired to do your own experimentation.
First published fifty years ago, A GLOSSARY OF LITERARY TERMS remains an essential text for all serious students of literature. Now fully updated to reflect the latest scholarship on recent and rapidly evolving critical theories, the 11th edition contains a complete glossary of essential literary terms presented as a series of engaging essays that explore the terms, place them in context, and ...
Literature is a rich and complex field that offers profound insights into human experiences, emotions, and cultures. To fully appreciate and analyse literary works, English literature students must familiarise themselves with literary terms. These terms are the building blocks of literary analysis, enabling readers to dissect and interpret texts with precision and depth. This article...
Alliteration – repetition of the initial consonant sounds of words: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”. Allusion – a reference to something well-known that exists outside the literary work – the reference is often indirect and relies on audience knowledge and understanding. Antagonist - character that is the source of conflict in a literary work
Glossary of Common Literary Terms Allegory: an allegory is a narrative in which the characters often stand for abstract concepts. An allegory generally teaches a lesson by means of an interesting story. Alliteration: the repetition at close intervals of consonant sounds for a purpose. For example: wailing in the winter wind. Allusion
Further Reading. There are many dictionaries of literary terms available. One of the most user-friendly is The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, ed. Chris Baldick (Oxford, 1990).More substantial (and also slightly more expensive) The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, 4th edition, ed. J.A. Cuddon, revised C. E. Preston (Harmondsworth, 1998).
Literary Terms. To discuss and analyze literature it is important to know some of the basic terms and expressions used within the subject area. The following glossary covers the most widely used terms. Term Definition; allegory: Simply put, an allegory is a narrative that has a symbolic meaning. That is, the whole story, its plot, characters ...
Disciplines like psychology, cultural studies, and history use terms in ways that are often different from the way we communicate in daily life. Some disciplines have their own dictionaries of key terms. Others may have terms scattered throughout glossaries in important primary texts and textbooks. Key terms are the “means of exchange” in ...
A verbal clichè is a fixed and often used expression. A structural clichè is a common and predictable element of a narrative. It can be either a character or a turn of the plot. In film and literature clichès are negative elements, since they indicate lack of creativity, both in terms of language and plot arrangements. Conflict
Understanding literature can be a daunting task, especially when faced with the rich array of terminology used by scholars and critics. Whether you’re diving into a classic novel, analyzing a poem, or studying for your next exam, a solid grasp of essential literature terms is crucial for interpreting and appreciating literary works. This blog post covers 50 literature English terms every ...
This glossary of literary terms is designed to assist teachers and students to better understand the terminology associated with teaching and learning English ... literature, or film defined as a remarkable or unexpected journey. The adventure happens due to chance, which is a key element of this genre. Adventure stories usually have problems ...
To make the learning process easier, I’ve compiled a list of key literary terms along with definitions and examples. Let’s dive in, one term at a time, and make sense of it all together. 1. Plot. Definition: The sequence of events that make up a story. The plot typically includes the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and ...
Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate the sounds they describe, such as ‘buzz’ or ‘clang’. oxymoron An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines words which hold directly opposite meanings; for example, old news. pathetic fallacy Pathetic fallacy is the literary technique of giving human feelings to inanimate things, such as the ...
Several other literary terms are connected to plot, including suspense, foreshadowing, repetition, climax, epiphany, and the ending of a story (often called the denouement). Poetry: Literary genre by which the author expresses a story and/or ideas in verse, employing rhythm and other aesthetic qualities of language to achieve the desired effect.
