literary Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is an allegory?
A work that symbolizes or represents an idea or event.
Example: The article frames climate change as a “slow war,” creating an allegory for systemic inaction.
Define alliteration.
Repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in succession.
Example: “Plastic pollution poisons our planet” uses alliteration to create a punchy, memorable opening.
What is an allusion?
An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or idea.
Example: The writer alludes to Orwell’s “Big Brother” to criticise government surveillance culture.
What is an analogy?
A detailed comparison to explain a concept.
Example: “Letting AI decide your future is like handing a toddler a steering wheel” — a relatable analogy to highlight danger.
Define anthropomorphism.
Giving nonhuman entities human behaviour or identity.
Example: The post refers to social media as “deciding what we see,” anthropomorphising the algorithm to imply control.
What is an anachronism?
A chronological inconsistency in a reference.
Example: Referring to TikTok in a 1990s context creates an unintentional anachronism.
Define colloquialism.
Informal language or everyday expressions.
Example: Phrases like “kinda messed up” in a blog post create a conversational tone using colloquialisms.
What is diction?
The writer’s word choice used to shape tone and meaning.
Example: The use of words like “corrupt,” “infected,” and “toxic” reflects highly charged diction in the piece.
What is an elegy?
A mournful text reflecting on loss.
Example: The article about pandemic deaths reads like an elegy, memorialising those who died.
Define epiphany.
A sudden realisation or turning point.
Example: The speaker has an epiphany when they realise that online validation means nothing in real life.
What is a euphemism?
A milder term used to soften a harsh or direct statement.
Example: The article uses “let go” instead of “fired” to soften the economic crisis’s impact.
Define foreshadowing.
Hinting at future consequences to create suspense or tension.
Example: Early references to “unchecked power” foreshadow the eventual misuse of AI in the article.
What is hyperbole?
Intentional and obvious exaggeration for emphasis.
Example: “This app will literally change your life” is a hyperbolic claim often found in tech reviews.
Define idiom.
A common phrase with a figurative meaning different from its literal words.
Example: Phrases like “pushing the envelope” add an idiomatic, informal tone to the post.
What is imagery?
Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.
Example: “Scrolling endlessly through glowing screens” evokes visual and emotional imagery of digital fatigue.
Define irony.
Expressing something using language that means the opposite of the literal meaning.
Example: Calling an overcrowded, chaotic train “a luxurious ride” is verbal irony used in satire.
What is juxtaposition?
Placing two contrasting ideas or images next to each other for effect.
Example: The writer juxtaposes images of lavish influencer lifestyles with rising homelessness to highlight inequality.
Define malapropism.
Mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often for comic effect.
Example: A character in a lifestyle blog saying “I’m an escape goat” instead of “scapegoat” shows malapropism.
What is a metaphor?
A direct comparison where one thing is described as another.
Example: “Social media is a mirror with no reflection” is a metaphor that critiques digital self-obsession.
Define mood.
The emotional atmosphere created by the text.
Example: The article’s use of dark, slow-paced language creates a reflective, melancholic mood around digital addiction.
What is onomatopoeia?
A word that imitates a sound.
Example: The word “ping” is used in the article to mimic constant notification noise and digital intrusion.
Define oxymoron.
Two contradictory terms paired for effect.
Example: Describing online privacy as “public secrecy” is an oxymoron that critiques surveillance culture.
What is a paradox?
A self-contradictory statement that reveals a deeper truth.
Example: “We are more connected than ever, yet more alone” is a paradox exposing social media’s emotional gap.
Define personification.
Giving human qualities to nonhuman things.
Example: “The algorithm listens, waits, and decides for you” personifies the platform as manipulative.
