Literary Terminology Flashcards
(59 cards)
Gothic
A writing style that includes elements of fear, horror, death, and gloom, mixed with romantic features like nature, strong emotions, and individuality. It often includes suspense and dark atmospheres.
Ex. Frankenstein and Dracula are quintessential examples, both featuring monstrous figures and exploring the darker sides of human nature.
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition: Placing two contrasting things side by side to highlight their differences, often to create an effect or make a point.
Ex. In A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens uses the juxtaposition of “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” to contrast the social and political climates of the era.
Rhetorical Question
A question posed not to get an answer, but to make a point or provoke thought. It emphasizes a feeling or argument.
Ex. In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock asks, “If you prick us, do we not bleed?” to emphasize the shared humanity between Jews and Christians.
Connotation
The emotional or cultural associations attached to a word, in addition to its literal meaning. It can change depending on context or personal experience.
Ex. The word “home” denotes a place of residence, but its connotation often suggests warmth, safety, and family.
Ambiguity
When a word, phrase, or story element has multiple meanings, leaving it open to interpretation. It may lead to confusion or different interpretations.
Ex. In Romeo and Juliet, the line “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” is ambiguous, suggesting that names don’t define the true nature of things.
Romanticism
A literary movement that values emotion, imagination, individualism, and a deep connection to nature, often in reaction against the rationality of the Enlightenment. It celebrates personal freedom, the sublime, and the common person.
Ex. Wuthering Heights is a classic example, where the character of Heathcliff embodies Romantic ideals of isolation, intense emotion, and defiance of social norms.
Caricature
An exaggerated portrayal of a person or thing, often highlighting specific features for comic or critical effect. This is used for satire or humor.
Ex. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain caricatures the character of the Duke and the Dauphin as greedy, dishonest, and clueless con men.
Oxymoron
A figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposing words to create a new meaning or highlight an irony.
Ex. “Deafening silence” describes a profound quietness that feels overwhelming, often in a tense or emotionally charged situation.
Allegory
A narrative in which characters or events symbolize a deeper moral, political, or philosophical meaning. It is often used to critique society or teach lessons.
Ex. Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory of the Russian Revolution, where animals on a farm represent various classes and political figures, critiquing authoritarianism and corruption.
Superlative
The form of an adjective or adverb that compares three or more things, indicating the highest or lowest degree. It’s often marked by the suffix “-est” or the word “most.”
Ex. In the sentence “She is the smartest student in the class,” “smartest” is the superlative form of “smart,” showing she is at the top of the group.
Hubris
Excessive pride or arrogance, often leading to a character’s downfall. It’s a key theme in Greek tragedies.
Ex. In Moby-Dick, Captain Ahab’s hubris drives him to pursue the white whale at all costs, eventually leading to his death.
Catharsis
The emotional release that an audience experiences after intense feelings are evoked in a work of literature, leading to purification or relief.
Ex. The tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet causes catharsis in the audience, who experience intense sorrow but are left with a sense of emotional cleansing.
Denotation
The literal, dictionary definition of a word, without any emotional or cultural associations.
Ex. The denotation of “dove” is a type of bird, while its connotation often symbolizes peace or love.
Pastoral
Literature that idealizes rural life, often portraying it as simpler and more peaceful than urban existence. It focuses on nature and the harmony between humans and their environment.
Ex. Christopher Marlowe’s The Passionate Shepherd to His Love invites a lover to escape to the countryside, presenting an idyllic vision of nature and love.
Denouement
The final part of a narrative where the strands of the plot are tied up, and the story’s conflicts are resolved. It brings closure and answers lingering questions.
Ex. The denouement of Romeo and Juliet occurs after the deaths of the two lovers, where the feuding families reconcile and end the conflict.
Anti-hero
A protagonist who lacks the traditional qualities of a hero, such as moral integrity, courage, or idealism. Often flawed, they may act selfishly or destructively.
Ex. The Punisher is an anti-hero because, although he fights crime, he uses violent and morally questionable methods.
Pathos
A literary device that appeals to the emotions of the audience, often aiming to elicit sympathy, sorrow, or compassion.
Ex. In Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens uses pathos by describing Oliver’s hardships as an orphan to evoke sympathy and support for his well-being.
Anachronism
A detail that is out of place in the time period of the story, either intentionally or accidentally. It creates an inconsistency in the historical timeline.
Ex. In Macbeth, Shakespeare mentions “cannon” despite the fact that cannons were not introduced until centuries after the play’s setting in the 11th century.
Colloquialism
Informal language specific to a particular region, culture, or group, used to create a sense of authenticity or character voice.
Ex. In the American South, “y’all” is a colloquialism for “you all,” which gives a sense of place and culture in the characters’ speech.
Byronic Hero
A dark, brooding, and often rebellious protagonist who is complex and emotionally conflicted, typically embodying Romantic ideals.
Ex. Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights is a Byronic hero, with his passion, cruelty, and internal struggle, making him both magnetic and tragic.
Realism
A style of writing that depicts life as it truly is, focusing on ordinary people, real-world issues, and authentic experiences.
Ex. Big Fish portrays real-world themes of family and personal identity, despite its fantastical elements, showcasing how realistic emotions can coexist with larger-than-life events.
Epigram
A brief, witty, and often paradoxical statement that conveys insight or irony in a clever way.
Ex. Oscar Wilde’s epigrams often have a sharp, satirical tone, like “I can resist anything except temptation,” which humorously addresses human weakness.
Allusion
A reference to another work, event, person, or figure, assuming the reader will understand the reference without it being explicitly explained.
Ex. “That’s his Achilles’ heel” refers to the Greek myth, alluding to a person’s fatal flaw or weakness.
Deus ex Machina
An unexpected or improbable event or character that solves a seemingly unsolvable problem in the narrative.
Ex. In The Lord of the Rings, eagles swooping in to rescue the protagonists from peril can be considered a deus ex machina, providing an unexpected solution.
