Lit Terms #5

parallelism- the principal in sentence structure that states elements of equal function should have equal form
parody- and imitation of mimicking of a composition or of the style of a well-known artist
pathos- the ability in literature to call forth settings of pity, compassion, and/or sadness
pedantry- a display of learning for its own sake
personification- figure of speech attributing human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas
plot- a plan or scheme to accomplish your purpose
poignant- eliciting sorrow or sentiment
point of view- the attitude unifying any oral or written argumentation; in description, the physical point from which the observer for views what he is describing
postmodernism- literature characterized by experimentation, irony, non traditional forms, multiple meanings, playfulness, and a blurred boundary between real and imaginary
prose- the ordinary form of spoken and written language, language that does not have a regular rhyme pattern
protagonist- the central character in a work of fiction, opposes antagonist
pun- play on words; the humorous use of a word emphasizing different meanings or applications
purpose- the intended result by an author
realism- writing about the ordinary aspects of life in a straightforward manner to reflect life as it actually is
refrain- a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a poem or song: chorus
requiem- any chant, dirge, hymn or musical service for the dead
resolution- point in a literary work at which the chief dramatic complication is worked out; denouement
restatement- idea repeated for emphasis
rhetoric- use of language, both written and verbal in order to persuade
rhetorical question- question suggesting it's own answer or not requiring an answer, used in an argument or persuasion
rising action- plot build up caused by conflict and complications, advancement towards climax
romanticism- movement in western culture beginning in the 18th and peaking in the 19th century as a revolt against classicism; imagination was valued over reason and fact
satire- ridicules or condemns the weakness in wrongdoings of individuals, groups, institutions, or humanity in general
scansion- the analysis of verse in terms of meter
setting- the time and place in which events in a short story, novel, play, or narrative poem occur

Lit Terms #4

interior monologue- a from of writing which represents the inner thoughts of a character, the recording of the internal, emotional experiences
inversion- words out of order for emphasis
juxtaposition- the intentional placement of a word, phrase, sentences of the paragraph to contrast with another nearby
lyric- a poem having musical form and quality; a short outburst of the author's innermost thoughts and feelings
magic(al) realism- a genre developed in Latin America which juxtaposes the every day with the marvelous or magical
metaphor (extended, controlling, & mixed) - an analogy that compares two different things imaginatively
metonymy- literally "name changing" a device of figurative language in which the name of an attribute or associated thing is substituted for the usual name of a thing
modernism- literary movement characterized by stylistic experimentation, rejection of tradition, interest in symbolism and psychology
monologue- an extended speech by character in a play, short story, novel, or narrative poem
mood- the pre-dominating atmosphere evoked by literary piece
motif- a reoccurring feature (name, image, or phrase) in a piece of literature
myth- a story, often about immortals, and sometimes connected with religious rituals, that attempts to give meaning to the mysteries of the world
narrative- a story or description of events
narrator- one who narrates, or tells, a story
naturalism- extreme form of realism
novelette/novella- short story; short prose narrative, often satirical
omniscient point of view- knowing all things usually the third person
onomatopoeia- use of a word whose sound and some degree imitates or suggest its meaning
oxymoron- a figure of speech in which two contradicting words or phrases are combined to produce a rhetorical effect by means of a concise paradox
pacing- rate of movement, tempo
parable- a story designed to convey some religious principle, moral lesson, or general truth
paradox- a statement apparently self-contradictory or absurd but really containing a possible truth; an opinion contrary to generally accepted ideas.