Literary Terms #2 Flashcards
(33 cards)
Ethical Appeal
When a writer tries to persuade the audience to respect and believe him or her based on a presentation of image of self through text
Euphemism
The use of a word or phrase that is less direct, but is also considered less distasteful or less offensive than another
Exposition
Background information provided by a writer to enhance a reader’s understanding of the context of a fictional or nonfictional story
Farce
a type of comedy in which one-dimensional characters are put into ludicrous situations; ordianary standards of probability and motivation are freely violated in order to evoke laughter.
Figurative Language
A word or words that are inaccurate literary, but describe by calling to mind sensations or responses that the thing described evokes. Figurative language may be found in the form of metaphors or similies.
Figure of Speech
A form of expression in which words are used out of the usual sense in order to make the meaning more specific
Flat Character
AKA static character. Constructed around a single idea or quality; immediately recognizable
Foil
A character whose traits are the opposite of another and who thus points up the strengths and weaknesses of the other character
Genre
French, a literary form or type; classification. e.g. tragedy, comedy, novel, poetry.
Hubris
Overwhelming pride or insolence that results in the misfortune of the protagonist of a tragedy. The particular form of tragic flaw that results from excessive pride, ambition, or overconfidence. Ex: the excessive pried of hamlet
Hyperbole
Conscious exaggeration used to heighten effect. Not intended literally
Image
A word or group of words, either figurative or literal, used to describe a sensory experience or an object perceived by the senses. An image is always a concrete representation.
Induction
A form or reasoning which works from a body of facts to the formulation of a generalization; frequently used in science and history
Irony
Reader is aware of a reality that differs from a character’s perception of reality (dramatic irony)/ The literal meaning of a writer’s words may be dramatic irony
Logical Appeal
Relies on the audience’s logical facilities; logical appeal moves from evidence to conclusion
Metaphor
A comparison of two unrelated things without using like or as
Dead metaphor
Overused; lost original impact
Extended Metaphor
One developed at length and involves several points of comparison
Mixed metaphor
when two metaphors are jumbled together, often logically
Metonymy
Designation of one thing with something closely associated with it. Associating a person with an object. Ex: King- crown, newspaper- press
Mood
An atmosphere created by a writer’s word choice
Moral
The lesson drawn from a fictional or nonfictional story
Motif
A frequently recurrent character, incident, or concept in literature
Negative- Positive
Statement that starts by stating what isn’t true then ending in what is true
