Key Terms Flashcards
(48 cards)
Define alliteration
Repetition of the same sound, usually letters in close succession.
Define allusion
An indirect reference to a concept or theme without explicit mention. For example Scrooge uses biblical allusion as he believes the ghost of Christmas present is God or at least related to him in someway (“ it has been done in your name, or at least of that in your family”)
Define anaphora
A word which refers to a previously used word .
Define antithesis
Rhetorical device where contrasting concepts are placed together in a text, typically a sentence, to highlight how opposite they are. ( when Fred is introduced as having a “cheerful voice” straight after Scrooge’s wikedness is described)
Define asyndetic listing
A list broken up by commas rather than conjunctions like ‘and’.
Define auditory imagery
Language which appeals to the readers hearing.
Define biblical
Relating to the bible; religious connotations.
Define catalyst
A dramatic tool which is used to speed up the plot. For example Jacob Marley’s ghost serves as a prime example of a catalyst for Scrooge’s transformation. His appearance, along with the subsequent visits from the three spirits, forces Scrooge to confront his past, present, and potential future, ultimately leading him to change his miserly ways.
Define connotation
Using text to create implied meaning without explicitly referring to said meaning.
Define didactic
A moral message, meaning to give instructions.
Define dramatic irony
the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
Define foreboding
Apprehension that a bad event will happen/ implying.
Define foreshadowing
a literary device used by writers to give hints or clues about events that will happen later in the story.
Define hyperbole
Use of exaggerated statements.
Define interjection
Sudden remark used as an interruption or aside in the text. For example “bah humbug!”
Define irony
Embedding the meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
Define juxtaposition
A literary device that places two things side-by-side to highlight their differences. It’s a technique used to emphasize contrasts, often between seemingly opposing ideas or elements. For example, writers might juxtapose the rich and the poor, light and darkness, or good and evil to create a more impactful message.
Define moral imperative
strongly felt ethical principle that compels a person to act, regardless of personal desires or potential consequences. It’s seen as an urgent and non-negotiable obligation to do what is morally right.
Define manifestation
The instructions on what is right and wrong. For example the ghosts are an example of this (teaching lessons).
Define oxymoron
A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms, creating a new and often thought-provoking meaning. It’s a literary device used to add depth, humor, or irony to language by juxtaposing opposing ideas.
Define pathetic fallacy
A literary device where human emotions and feelings are attributed to inanimate objects, nature, or animals.
Define poetic justice
Normally accompanied by some sort of irony, or when the characters get what they deserve. For example Scrooge was neglected and then in the prolepsis, his gravestone was also neglected.
Define polysyndetic listing
Listing using conjunctions such as ‘and’.
