Literary Terms Flashcards

(120 cards)

1
Q

Auschwitz

A

Concentration camp, in Poland. 1 of 3 locations with gas chambers.

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2
Q

Bastille

A

Prison in Paris where people were held and tortured until the French Revolution.

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3
Q

Alamo

A

A fort, once a chapel, in San Antonio, Texas. 1836.

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4
Q

Abstract

A

Language that describes concepts rather than images. Ideas and qualities rather then specific things.

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5
Q

Allegory

A

Beneath the surface of a story is a hidden meaning.

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6
Q

Anecdote

A

Short, simple narrative to explain and cite sources. Helps in making a point.

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7
Q

Annotation

A

Notes added to a text to explain something.

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8
Q

Antithesis

A

Two contrasting images. Ideas are balanced by a word, phrase, or clause.

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9
Q

Aphorism

A

Short, or witty statement about life or a principle.

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10
Q

Apostrophe

A

Poetry, in prose, dead, or absent person

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11
Q

Argumentation

A

Writing that provides a point of view with presenting arguments.

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12
Q

Cacophony

A

Harsh, awkward sounds used in poetry.

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13
Q

Caricature

A

Descriptive writing that exaggerates something specific about a person.

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14
Q

Colloquialism

A

Word or phrase used everyday that is inappropriate. (Ya’ll, ain’t)

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15
Q

Coherence

A

Quality of writing which all parts contribute to a central idea

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16
Q

Concrete language

A

Observable things rather than ideas or qualities. (People, places)

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17
Q

Connotations

A

Implied suggested meaning of a word

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18
Q

Consonance

A

Repetition of identical constant sounds within 2 or more words.

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19
Q

Conundrum

A

Riddle whose answer involves a pun

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20
Q

Deduction

A

Moving from rule to example

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21
Q

Denotation

A

Literal meaning

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22
Q

Description

A

Picturing through words or observation

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23
Q

Diction

A

Word choice, element of style.

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24
Q

Ballad

A

Poem that tells a story. (Sung or recited)

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25
biography
story of a persons life
26
Blank verse
unrhymed iambic pentameter
27
Caesura
Pause or sudden break in poem.
28
Cause and effect
2 events that are related
29
Character
person who is responsible for thoughts and actions in a story
30
Antagonist
Character who deceives
31
caricature
Descriptive writing that exaggerates something specific about a person.
32
foil
Character who senses as a contrast or conflict to another
33
Hero/Heroine
A noble or aspiring character
34
Chorus
see refrain
35
Chronological order
the order things happen
36
Clarifying
The readers process of pausing and thinking
37
Cliche
Figurative language containing a overused expression
38
climax
see plot
39
comedy
humorous work
40
comparison
identifying similarities
41
concrete poetry
type of poetry that uses physical or visual form to make a message
42
Conflict
tension or problem
43
central conflict
dominant or most important conflict
44
external conflict
main character and outside force
45
internal conflict
main character and its mind
46
connecting
process of relating things
47
connotation
idea and feeling associated with a word
48
consonance
the repetition of consonant sounds
49
context clues
hints or suggestions to clarify their meaning
50
contrast
process of pointing out differences
51
couplet
unrhymed pair in a poem
52
denotation
exact dictionary meaning..opposite of connotation
53
denouncement
see plot
54
dialect
spoken in particular place with certain group of people
55
dialogue
conversation between characters in drama
56
drama
literature meant to be performed by actors
57
drawing conclusions
combining several pieces of information
58
Dramatic monologue
used when a character says their thoughts and feelings
59
elegy
poem or song that expresses sorrow or lamentation
60
enjambment
incomplete syntax at the end of the line
61
epigram
short poem or verse that seeks to ridicule a thought or event
62
epic
long narrative poem
63
epiphany
sudden moment of understanding
64
epitaph
short poem or verse written in memory or someone
65
essay
short work of nonfiction
66
descriptive essay
describes a particular subject
67
expository essay
to explain given information
68
formal essay
highly organized and thoroughly researched
69
humorous essay
amuse or entertain the reader
70
informal essay
lighter in tone and reflects writer feelings
71
narrative essay
An essay that usually tells a story.
72
Persuasive essay
Attempts to convince a reader to adopt a particular thing
73
evaluating
process of judging something or someone
74
exaggeration
see hyperbole
75
exposition
see plot
76
extended metaphor
compares 2 essentially unlike things in great length
77
external conflict
see conflict
78
fable
brief tale that teaches a lesson
79
fact and opinion
statement that can be proved
80
falling action
see plot
81
fiction
imaginary brief story
82
figurative language
expression not literally true
83
flash back
interruption of chronological order
84
foil
see character
85
folklore
traditions, customs, and stories passed down
86
Folktale
Simple story passed down from generation to generation
87
Foot
Meter within a line of poetry
88
Foreshagdowing
Writer gives hints for future events
89
Free verse
poetry with regular patterns and rhymes
90
Generalization
Broad statement
91
Genre
Type of category of literature
92
Haiku
First and third lines have3 syllables, second has 7
93
Hero, heroine
See character
94
Heroic, closed couplet
2 rhyming lines with complete thought
95
Historical fiction
Explores past time period
96
Horror fiction
Events create terror
97
Humor
Quality provokes laughter
98
Hyperbole
Figure of speech exaggerated
99
Iambic pentameter
See meter
100
Idiom
Phrase or expression that means something different.
101
Imagery
Use of words and phrases that appeal to senses.
102
Inference
Logical guess based on evidence.
103
Internal Conflict
See conflict
104
Interview
Meeting
105
Irony
Contrast between what is expected and what happens.
106
Verbal Irony
Means something totally different then what he/she is saying.
107
Dramatic Irony
Occurs when facts are not known to the characters in a work of literature.
108
Cosmic Irony
Suggest some unknown force.(Dreadful occurance)
109
Irony of Situation
Difference between what is expected to happen and how it works out.
110
Legend
Story handed down from the past.
111
Limerick
Short humorous poem
112
Literal Meaning
Actual meaning
113
Lyric poetry
Song-like poem
114
Main character
see character
115
Main idea
Most important point
116
Memoir
Type of autobiography
117
Metaphor
Figurative language, no like or as.
118
Meter
Regular pattern of accented and non accented syllables.
119
Monometer
1 foot per line.
120
Dimeter
2 foot per line.