D Flashcards
(27 cards)
dactyl
A metrical foot in poetry consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.
Example: “Half a league, half a league…” (from Tennyson’s The Charge of the Light Brigade)
deductive reasoning
A logical process in which a conclusion follows necessarily from the given premises.
Example: All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
denotation
The literal, dictionary definition of a word, without its emotional or cultural associations.
Example: “Snake” denotes a legless, scaly reptile.
denouement
The final part of a story where the plot strands are drawn together and resolved.
Example: The ending of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows shows where the characters end up years later.
Deus Ex Machina
A plot device where a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly resolved by an unexpected intervention.
Example: In some Greek plays, gods descend at the last moment to resolve the plot.
deuteragonist
The second most important character after the protagonist, often a sidekick or antagonist.
Example: Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes.
daicope
The repetition of a word or phrase with intervening words.
Example: “To be, or not to be!”
dialect
A regional or social variety of language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary.
Example: “Y’all” in Southern American English.
dailogue
The written or spoken exchange between two or more characters.
Example: “What are you doing here?” he asked. “I came to see you,” she replied.
daitribe
A forceful and bitter verbal or written attack against someone or something.
Example: A political rant criticizing a government’s policy.
dichotomy
A division into two sharply contrasting parts or classifications.
Example: Good vs. evil in literature like in Lord of the Rings.
diction
The author’s choice of words, which affects tone, mood, and meaning.
Example: Formal diction: “Thou art fair.” Informal diction: “You’re cute.”
didacticism
A literary approach that emphasizes instructional or informative qualities in literature.
Example: Aesop’s fables aim to teach moral lessons.
digression
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example: A narrator pauses a story to tell a personal anecdote unrelated to the plot.
dilemma
A situation in which a character must choose between two equally undesirable options.
Example: In The Hunger Games, Katniss must choose whether to kill Peeta or sacrifice herself.
direct characterization
When the author explicitly describes a character’s traits.
Example: “She was generous and kind.”
discourse
Written or spoken communication or debate; different types include narration, exposition, description, and argument.
Example: Academic essays use expository discourse.
dissonance
A harsh or jarring combination of sounds or ideas, often used to create tension.
Example: “Gr-r-r—there go, my heart’s abhorrence!” (Robert Browning)
distortion
An exaggeration or misrepresentation of reality to create a particular effect.
Example: A funhouse mirror image or a satirical portrayal of a character’s traits.
doppelganger
A double or mirror image of a character, often representing their darker side or an alternate identity.
Example: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
double entendre
A phrase or word open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or ironic.
Example: “Marriage is a fine institution, but who wants to live in an institution?”
drama
A genre of literature intended to be performed by actors on a stage, often focusing on conflict and emotion.
Example: Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
dramatic irony
When the audience knows something the characters do not, creating tension or humor.
Example: In Oedipus Rex, the audience knows Oedipus has fulfilled the prophecy long before he does.
dramatic monologue
A poem or speech in which a single character speaks to a silent listener, revealing inner thoughts.
Example: Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess.”
