C Flashcards
(39 cards)
cacophony
A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds, often used in poetry to create a jarring effect.
Example: “The screeching of tires, the honking of horns, and the crash of metal filled the street.”
cadence
The rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words, often used in speech or poetry to create a specific atmosphere.
Example: The cadence of the poet’s voice echoed like the rhythm of a slow march.
caesura
A pause or break within a line of poetry, usually marked by punctuation or natural speech rhythm.
Example: “To be, or not to be— | that is the question.”
canon
A collection of works considered authoritative, often in literature, where certain works are regarded as central or significant.
Example: The Western literary canon includes works like Hamlet and The Odyssey.
canto
A division of a long poem, particularly in epic poetry, similar to a chapter in a book.
Example: Dante’s Divine Comedy is divided into cantos.
caricature
An exaggerated portrayal of a person or thing, often for humorous or satirical effect.
Example: Political cartoons often feature caricatures of public figures with exaggerated features.
catachresis
A misuse or strained use of words, often involving mixed metaphors or an inexact expression.
Example: “He took the bull by the horns and faced the music” (mixing metaphors).
catalog
A list of items or elements, often used in literature for descriptive or thematic purposes.
Example: Whitman’s Song of Myself contains catalogs of various people, places, and things.
catastrophe
The final event in a drama or narrative, often the conclusion of a tragic story, leading to the downfall of the protagonist.
Example: In Macbeth, the protagonist’s death is the catastrophe that concludes the tragedy.
catharsis
The emotional release or purification experienced by the audience at the end of a tragedy, often associated with feelings of pity and fear.
Example: In Oedipus Rex, the audience experiences catharsis as Oedipus confronts his tragic fate.
Cause and Effect Essay
An essay that explores the relationship between a particular event or situation and the consequences that follow.
Example: An essay about the effects of climate change on the environment.
character
A person or figure in a narrative, story, or play who performs actions and interacts with others.
Example: John Ferasino is the central character in Colkan Bardales’s novella ‘One More Day’.
characterization
The process by which an author reveals the personality, traits, and qualities of a character, either directly or indirectly.
Example: Direct: “He was tall and kind.” Indirect: “He helped the elderly woman across the street.”
chiasmus
A rhetorical device where two phrases are structured in reverse order to create balance or emphasis.
Example: “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
chronology
The arrangement of events in the order in which they occurred in time.
Example: A historical narrative that follows the timeline of World War II.
circumlocution
The use of many words to express an idea that could be stated more directly.
Example: “The place where I live” instead of “my house.”
claim
A statement or assertion that is the central argument of an essay or argument.
Example: “Social media has a significant impact on self-esteem.”
cliché
An overused expression or idea that has lost its original impact or novelty.
Example: “Better late than never.”
cliffhanger
A dramatic ending to a scene or chapter that leaves the outcome in suspense, encouraging the reader to continue.
Example: A TV series where the last scene shows the hero in peril with no resolution.
climax
The highest point of tension or drama in a narrative, typically followed by a resolution.
Example: The moment in Romeo and Juliet when Romeo kills Tybalt.
coherence
The logical flow and consistency of ideas in a piece of writing.
Example: A well-organized essay that clearly supports its thesis statement.
colloquialism
Informal language or slang used in everyday conversation, often regionally specific.
Example: “Y’all” in Southern American English.
comedy
A genre of drama or literature that is humorous and typically ends on a happy note.
Example: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
comic relief
A humorous scene or character inserted into a serious work to lighten the mood or provide contrast.
Example: The character of the Porter in Macbeth provides comic relief after Duncan’s murder.
