Literary Terms: for all texts Flashcards
(41 cards)
what is an allusion?
a reference to something in history or literature, outside of the text, may include other works of literature , myth, or biographical detail.
what is analepsis and prolepsis?
- commonly referred to in films as flashbacks/ flashforwards
- analepsis = flashback to an earlier point in the story
- prolepsis = flashforward to a moment later in the chronology
what is anaphora?
the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences
what is assonance?
the repetition at close intervals of accented syllables or important words.
what is an absolute?
a word free from limitations or qualifications: best, all, unique, prefect
what are concrete details?
details that relate to or describe actual, specific things or events
what is meant by direct presentation?
the writer tells the readers what kind of personality the character possesses rather than allowing the character to show his/ her personality and allow readers to draw their own conclusions.
what is an epigraph?
a saying or statement on the title page of a work which presents the adventures of characters in a high position and episodes that are important to the history of a race or nation
what is eye rhyme?
words that are spelled alike, but that do not sound alike: catch/ watch
what is falling action?
the portion of a work following the climax where the conflicts are resolved.
what is imagery?
the use of language to evoke sensory impressions on the reader
what is indirect presentation?
the writer presents the character in action, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions about the personality of that character.
what is meant by in media res?
a latin term meaning ‘in the midst of things’ it refers to the fact that a literary work may begin in the middle of the action, in Ulysses by Tennyson, the narrative is set after he returns home, indicating a whole story that has gone before it.
what is a limited omniscient point of view?
a third person narrator who gives the reader access to the thoughts and feelings of one character, usually the protagonist.
what is an objective point of view?
also called a dramatic point of view, the third person narrator relates only what we can see and hear, without giving access to the thoughts and feelings of any of the characters.
what is polsynderton?
the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural
what is pathos?
the quality of a work that prompts the reader to feel pity
what is vernacular?
the everyday speech of a particular country or region, often involving non-standard usage.
what is sadism?
gaining sexual gratification by causing pain or degradation to others
what is masochism?
sexual gratification depends on suffering physical pain or humiliation of oneself
what is male chauvinism?
male prejudice against women, the belief that men are superior in terms of ability, intelligence etc.
what is anthropomorphism?
the attribution of human characteristics and qualities to non-human objects or abstractions.
what is an archetype?
a standard character type showing typical traits e.g. the vampire, the hero.
what is an aside?
when a character in a play speaks in such a way that the other characters cannot hear what is being said, or they address the audience directly. it is a device used to reveal a character’s private thoughts, emotional and intensions.