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