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Glossary of literary terms Flashcards

(47 cards)

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1
Q

Alliteration

A

The repetition of a speech sounds in a sequence.

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2
Q

Fricative alliteration

A

Repeated “f” sounds

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3
Q

Plosive alliteration

A

Repeated “p” and “b” sounds

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4
Q

Sibilance

A

Repeated “s” or hushing sounds

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5
Q

Speech sounds in sequence

A

Alliteration

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6
Q

Allusion

A

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance

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7
Q

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance

A

Allusion

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8
Q

Anaphora

A

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

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9
Q

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

A

Anaphora

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10
Q

Antithesis

A

Kind of parallelism in which two opposite ideas are put together in a parallel structures e.g to err is human; to forgive divine

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11
Q

Kind of parallelism in which two opposite ideas are put together in a parallel structures

A

Antithesis

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12
Q

Apostrophe

A

When a speaker directly addresses someone or something that is not present or cannot respond in reality

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13
Q

When a speaker directly addresses someone or something that is not present or cannot respond in reality

A

Apostrophe

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14
Q

Assonance

A

Takes place when two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sounds but start with different consonant sounds. Linked to long vowel sounds, but also applies to all vowel sounds

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15
Q

Takes place when two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sounds but start with different consonant sounds. Linked to long vowel sounds, but also applies to all vowel sounds

A

Assonance

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16
Q

Cacophony

A

The use of words and phrases that harsh or jarring to the ear such as reappeared use of short vowels and sharp consonants

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17
Q

The use of words and phrases that harsh or jarring to the ear such as reappeared use of short vowels and sharp consonants

A

Cacophony

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18
Q

Caesura

A

A metrical pause or break in a verse where one phrase ends and another phrase begins. It may be expressed by a comma, a tick, a full stop, a semicolon, or a two lines, either slashed or upright. May signal a transition or draw attention to a thematic contrast. Eg “darling I listen; and, for many a time”

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19
Q

A metrical pause or break in a verse where one phrase ends and another phrase begins. It may be expressed by a comma, a tick, a full stop, a semicolon, or a two lines, either slashed or upright. May signal a transition or draw attention to a thematic contrast. Eg “darling I listen; and, for many a time”

20
Q

Catalogue

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A

A literacy device used in poetry and prose to give a list of things to create effect

21
Q

A literacy device used in poetry and prose to give a list of things to create effect

22
Q

Chiasmus

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A

The repetition of any grammatical structure where the second phrase is an inversion of the first. Eg “beauty is truth, truth beauty”

23
Q

The repetition of any grammatical structure where the second phrase is an inversion of the first. Eg “beauty is truth, truth beauty”

24
Q

Consonance

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A

Recurrence of similar-sounding consonants in close proximity.

25
Euphonic consonance
Smooth sounds eg f s s sh mm
26
Dissonance
Rough or unmusical language
27
Enjambment
The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet or stanza
28
The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet or stanza
Enjambment
29
Euphony
The use of words and phrases that give pleasing and soothing effect to the ear due to repeated vowels and smooth consonants. Involves the use of long vowel sounds and harmonious consonants such as l, m, n, r and sift f and v sounds. Instances if euphony can also occur through the use of assonance consonance
30
The use of words and phrases that give pleasing and soothing effect to the ear due to repeated vowels and smooth consonants. Involves the use of long vowel sounds and harmonious consonants such as l, m, n, r and sift f and v sounds. Instances if euphony can also occur through the use of assonance consonance
Euphony
31
Form
Refers to the type of poetic composition
32
Metaphor
A figure of speech that makes a comparison between 2 things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics. Made up of a tenor (the object, person, or concept which the metaphor describes) and the vehicle (the thing ti which the tenor is being compared) eg “all the world’s tenor a stage”
33
Meter
Refers to the basic rhythmic structure of a verse or lines in verse. This rhythm is produced by a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables
34
Iambic
A metrical foot consisting of two syllables in which the first syllable is unstressed and the second syllable is stressed creating a rising rhythm
35
Pyrrhic
A metrical foot consisting of two syllables in which both syllables are unstressed
36
Spondee
A metrical foot consisting of two stressed syllables
37
Trochee
A metrical foot consisting of two syllables in which the order syllable is stressed and the second syllable is unstressed creating a falling rhythm
38
Onomatopoeia
A word which creates a sound effect that mimics the thing describes
39
Paradox
A statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true
40
Ode
An elaborately structured poem praising or glorifying an event or individual and often describing nature intellectually as well as emotionally.
41
Parallelism
The use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter. Parallelism examples are found in literary works as well as in ordinary conversations eg “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishment”
42
Personification
Attributing human qualities to an idea, animal or object
43
Sibilance
The repetition of letter sounds that have a hushing or hissing qualities
44
Simile
A comparison, showing similarities between two different things. Unlike a metaphor, a similar draws resemblance with the help of words “like” or “as”
45
Synaesthesia
Presentation of ideas, characters, or places in such a manner they appeal to more than one sense
46
Tone
The expression of the speakers attitude towards what is being described through their choice of words. Tone can be critical, loving, angry, ironic, melancholy and may shift one or more times in the course of poem
47
Volta
A shift or dramatic change in thought and/or emotions

Literature (4 decks)

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