Literary Terms Study Guide
Last Revision: Nov. 16, 1999
abstract when subject is described in general, non-particular terms
accent the stress placed upon certain syllables in a line of verse
A. word accent - natural emphasis pattern of the word itself
B. rhetorical accent - stress put on a word because of its function or importance in a sentence
C. metrical accent - stress pattern established by the meter of a poem
D. wrenched accent - when metrical accent forces a word to be stressed unnaturally
adage saying in often in metaphorical form that tells about a common observation. See aphorism
Alexandrine verse written in iambic hexameter (12 syllables), with a caesura (pause) after 3rd foot
allegory expanded metaphor in which everything stands for something else. Characters, action, and sometimes setting represent abstract concepts or moral qualities
alliteration repetition of initial consonant (not a-e-i-o-u) sound or accented syllables. Example: pick plump pickles. See consonance, assonance
allusion a reference, usually brief, to something familiar (person, event, lit. work)
ambiguity multiple meaning in a literary work
anachronism something placed in an inappropriate period of time. Example: an airplane appearing in a scene taking place in 1812.
analogy comparison made between two things to show similarity, often used to explain something unfamiliar by comparing it to something familiar. Sometimes a simile
anapest metrical foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable. See foot
anaphora repetition of phrases in successive clauses. Example: “I gave her cakes and I gave her ale.”
anastrophe the deliberate inversion of the common order of words. Used to meet requirements of meter or rhyme. Example: there went we (normally “there we went”).
anecdote a short, pointed narrative or story concerning a particular hero or event
antagonist the major character in opposition to the hero, or protagonist. See protagonist
antithesis when sharply opposing ideas are expressed within a balanced structure
antonomasia the use of a proper noun as a common name. Example: “Hi, Mom.”
aphorism concise statement of a principle, truth, or sentiment. See adage
apostrophe when a personified abstraction or a person not present is addressed
archaism a word or phrase no longer used in actual speech
assonance repetition of vowel sounds (a-e-i-o-u), usually in stressed syllables. Example: if it were ignoble. See alliteration, consonance
ballad narrative poem originally designed to be sung
ballad stanza quatrain of alternate iambic tetrameter and trimeter lines; rhyming abab
bathos when author tries to create profound literature, but unintentionally creates an anticlimactic parody of true literature; excessive pathos. See pathos
bildungsroman German: “novel of formation.” Story depicting hero’s maturing of movement from childhood to adulthood, in a spiritual, educational, and emotional sense
blank verse verse written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. Don’t confuse with free verse.
boxed narrative narration almost entirely in flashback, sometimes returning to the initial scene
cacophony harsh, rough, or unmusical language. See euphony
caesura A noticeable pause within a line of verse
Carpe diem Latin: “Seize the day.” Advises one to enjoy the pleasures of the moment
caricature use of exaggeration by ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics
catharsis purging or cleansing of pity, fear, anger, or some other emotion
chiasmus made up of two balanced parts which have their elements reversed. Example: “Destroying others, by himself destroy’d.”
chorus group or person that sang or chanted verses commenting on action in play
cliché timeworn expressions or situations that have lost their vitality and become trite
closed couplet See couplet - closed couplet
colloquial used in conversation
comedy designed to amuse or delight, generally with happy ending. See farce, satire
A. romantic comedy - love affair that doesn’t run smoothly
B. satiric comedy - ridicules those who violate morality and manners
C. comedy of manners - intrigues of ladies and gentlemen (repartee)
D. high comedy - sophisticated, thoughtful dialogue (intellectual laughter)
E. low comedy - slapstick, clowns, essential part of a farce
conceit strikes parallel between two apparently different things or situations. Elaborate
A. Petrarchan conceit - compares one’s love to an exaggerated place or situation
B. metaphysical conceit - elaborate, extended, or startling comparisons between apparently unlike objects
concrete style that describes subject clearly, particularly, and in solid detail, leaving little question about it. See abstract
connotation suggested meaning or overtones of a word
consonance related to assonance. repetition of consonant (not a-e-i-o-u) sounds other than initial consonant, esp. at the end of words. Or, repetition of consonants with changes in the intervening vowels (reader, rider, rudder). See assonance, alliteration
couplet verse form of two rhyming lines. See stanza
A. closed couplet - couplets that form complete sentences ending in periods or semicolons
B. heroic couplet - a pair of rhymed iambic pentameter lines
dactyl metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two stressed syllables. See foot
denotation the literal or dictionary meaning of a word. See connotation
denouement final outcome of main dramatic complication; outcome of complex events
Deus ex machina Latin: “God out of the machine.” Artificial, forced, or improbable device through which a difficult situation is resolved. Example: a single raindrop leads to an electrical outage, saving the hero
diction the choice and arrangement of words
didactic a work in which the primary aim is to teach morals, politics, etc.
dipody prosodic unit or measure of two feet
dirge lyrical poem or song of lament
dramatic monologue poet assumes persona of someone else and speaks through that person. Or, the words of a single character reveals his own character and the dramatic situation
dramatic poetry poetry where a character speaks
elegy poem of lamentation (mourning) for the dead. Don’t confuse with eulogy.
end-stopped line of verse in which a grammatical pause (caused by a punctuation mark) coincides with the end of a line
enjambment See run-on line
epic (heroic poetry) long, narrative poem on a great and serious subject, told in elevated style, and centering on heroic character whose actions determine fate of others
epic simile an extended simile
epigraph quotation at the beginning of a novel or poem to evoke theme or tone
epiphany a moment of enlightenment, generally while observing a commonplace item or action
epithet adjectival term or phrase used to define a special quality in something
eulogy prose or poetry which praises a distinguished person, usually recently dead. Don’t confuse with elegy
euphemism “Fine speech.” Verbal device for avoiding an unpleasant word, concept or expression which may be considered offensively explicit. Example: death - “passing away”
euphony language which is smooth, pleasant, or musical to the ear. See cacophony
exposition information given to audience about necessary background or previous events
extended metaphor comparison used throughout a whole work or most of it. See metaphor
eye rhyme See rhyme - eye rhyme
fable brief narrative which illustrates a moral truth. Characters usually animals
fabliaux short verse tales, often comical, popular in the Middle Ages, which satirized sanctity of clergy, nobles, and chastity of women
farce ridiculous or empty show; mockery. See comedy - low comedy
feminine A. feminine ending - extra unstressed syllable at end of verse
B. feminine rhyme - see rhyme - feminine rhyme
figurative language language which makes use of figures of speech (comparisons). Common devices: antonomasia, hyperbole, litotes, metaphor, metonymy, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche. Opposite of literal
foot pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables which form a metrical unit. Consists of one stressed syllable with the rest unstressed. See meter
A. iamb - 1 unaccented, 1 accented
B. trochee - 1 accented, 1 unaccented
C. anapest - 2 unaccented, 1 accented
D. dactyl - 1 accented, 2 unaccented
E. spondee - (exception) 2 accented alone
free verse verse which lacks regular meter, line length, and fixed rhyme (like natural speech), but which may use other poetic devices. Don’t confuse with blank verse
genre a literary type, class, or form
Gothic novel aims to evoke terror w/gloomy setting, sensational/supernatural action
haiku short Japanese poetry; 3 lines and 17 syllables; expresses delicate emotion or presents an image
heroic couplet See couplet - heroic couplet
heroic quatrain See quatrain
hubris pride or self-confidence often leading to retribution, esp. in a Greek tragic hero. See tragic flaw
hyperbole deliberate exaggeration for rhetorical effect. Not meant to be taken literally Example: mile-high ice cream cones
iamb metrical foot consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable. See foot
iambic pentameter ten-syllable line of poetry w/alternating stressed/unstressed syllables. See foot and meter
idiom an accepted phrase, construction, or expression contrary to the usual patterns of language or having a different meaning from the literal. Example: “he’s out of his mind”
idyll short lyrical poem depicting rural or pastoral life. See lyrical
imagery the use of language to descriptively represent something
in media res Latin: “into the midst of things.” Story begins in middle and previous events are revealed later
internal rhyme See rhyme - internal rhyme
irony a difference between what is asserted and what is actually the case
A. verbal irony - discrepancy between statement and meaning, or words and tone
B. situational irony - discrepancy between expectation, or intention, and the outcome
C. dramatic irony - discrepancy between what the speaker says and what the author means; or, when audience has knowledge withheld from characters on stage
lament a work, usually a poem, expressing intense grief
literal adhering to fact or primary meaning of term or expression; free from exaggeration of embellishment; not figurative. See figurative language
litotes form of meiosis in which an idea is expressed by the denial of its opposite. Example: “not unlike an angel.” See meiosis and hyperbole
local color detailed representation of the way of life of a particular region
lyric poetry fairly short, non-narrative poem w/single speaker expressing thought, feeling, or state of mind
lyrical characterized by emotion
malapropism blunder caused by substitution of one word for another, similar in sound but comically different in meaning. Example: “If this policy causes any incontinence, let us know.”
masculine A. masculine ending - when final syllable in a line of verse is stressed
B. masculine rhyme - see rhyme - masculine rhyme
meiosis deliberate understatement, saying something is much less important than it really is. Example: “I died and went to hell yesterday. It was a slightly unpleasant experience.”
metaphor implied comparison that doesn’t use “like” or “as”
metaphysical relating to the transcendent, supersensible, supernatural, abstract, abstruse.
metaphysical poetry poetry of the 17th century exhibiting a highly intellectual style which was witty, subtle, and sometimes fantastic, particularly in the use of conceits. See conceit - metaphysical conceit
meter number of feet in a verse. Use Latin prefixes. Example: hexameter (six feet)
metonymy when something is replaced with something closely related. Example: “I don’t like reading Shakespeare.”
monologue long speech or talk by one person, often monopolizing conversation. See soliloquy
motif character, incident, or idea recurring frequently in various works or different parts of the same work
narrative poetry non-dramatic verse that tells a story
neoclassicism the revival or adoption of classical literature, music, art, etc.
onomatopoeia direct verbal imitation of natural sounds. Example: oink, bark, swish
oxymoron when to two words apparently contradict each other yet convey a truth
parable short, simple story illustrating a moral lesson
paradox an apparent contradiction that is nevertheless true
parallelism sentence elements that are alike in function and grammatical form.
parody feeble or ridiculous imitation. Also, imitation of style or work for comic effect or in ridicule. Don’t confuse with satire
pathos feeling of pity, sympathy, or sorrow aroused by a literary work. See bathos
persona the speaker (not the author) in a play, poem, or essay
personification when inanimate objects are endowed with human qualities
picaresque novel narrative depicting life of a picaro (Spanish: rogue, rascal)
plot organization of incidents in a work, w/beginning, middle, and end
poetic license poets can do what they want with language in order to achieve an effect
point of view the angle from which an author tells the story, told from either:
A. first person (I)
1. central - told by the protagonist
2. limited - told by a minor character
B. third person (he/she)
1. omniscient - author knows all
2. central - author only knows what the protagonist knows
prolepsis anticipated event is referred to as though it has already happened
prose the ordinary language of men in speaking or writing; distinguished from poetry by greater irregularity, variety of rhythm, similarity to patterns of everyday speech
prosody the study of versification esp. systematic study of metrical structure
protagonist lead actor, usu. the hero, in a play or story. See antagonist
quatrain unit or group of four lines of verse. See stanza
A. heroic quatrain - stanza composed of two heroic couplets
refrain regularly recurring phrase at end of each stanza or division of a poem
regional novel narration set in a particular locale, usu. rural area, where the setting plays a role in the story and influences the lives of the characters
rhetorical figures figures of speech involving arrangement of words to create special effects
rhetorical question a question, used for effect, that does not expect a reply. Example: “Did you really think I was that dumb?”
rhyme repetition of accented vowel sound at the end of a line
A. masculine rhyme - rhyme involving single, final, stressed syllable
B. feminine rhyme - rhyme involving more than one syllable
C. internal rhyme - word in the middle of a line rhyming with the word at the end of the line.
D. eye rhyme - depends on spelling rather than on sound
E. slant rhyme - inexact rhyme
rhyme scheme arrangement of rhymes in verse, indicated by letters of the alphabet
romanticism 18th century movement against neoclassicism, emphasizing imagination and emotions. See neoclassicism
run-on line line of verse which continues into the next line without a grammatical break. Also called enjambment. See end-stopped
satire wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly. Don’t confuse with parody
scansion scanning verse and analyzing its feet, pauses, and rhyme scheme
sestet concluding six lines of a sonnet. See sonnet - Petrarchan sonnet
simile a comparison between essentially unlike things, often using “like” or “as”
slant rhyme See rhyme - slant rhyme
soliloquy extended speech in which character alone on stage expresses thoughts
sonnet verse form with 14 lines, iambic pentameter, complicated rhyme scheme
A. Petrarchan sonnet - (Italian) 2 parts, octave (8 lines), sestet (6 lines), r. scheme abba abba cde cde, or any variation of cde
B. Spenserian sonnet - 3 quatrains, couplet, r. scheme abab bcbc cdcd ee
C. Shakespearian sonnet - above w/r. scheme abab cdcd efef gg or abba cddc effe gg
spondee metrical foot consisting of two stressed syllables (exception to rule). See foot
Spoonerism the accidental reversal of sounds, esp. initial sounds. Example: “poured with rain” for “roared with pain.”
stanza group of lines whose metrical pattern is repeated throughout the poem
A. couplet - 2 lines per group
B. tercet or triplet - 3 lines per group
C. quatrain - 4 lines per group, most common in English poetry
D. sestet or sextet - six lines per group
E. septet or rhyme royal - seven lines per group
F. ottava rima - eight lines per group
G. Spenserian - nine lines per group
sublime elements of beauty combined w/mixture of pain and danger
surrealism produces incongruous and dreamlike imagery and sequences associated with the unconscious
symbol something which stands for itself at a literal level but which suggests other things at the same time
synecdoche the use of the part for the whole. Example: “all hands on deck.”
theme the central idea of a literary work
tone the writer’s attitude to his or her subject. Examples: cynical, forceful, scholarly
tragedy works in which serious and important actions turn out disastrously for the main character, often through hubris or a tragic flaw. See hubris
tragic flaw character flaw in the hero of tragedy that brings about his downfall. See hubris
trimeter line of verse w/3 dipodies (classical) or 3 metrical feet (modern English prose). See dipody
trochee metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable. See foot
zeugma expressions in which a single word has the same grammatical relation to 2 or more other words, but means something different in both instances. Example: “A stain on her honor, and her dress.”
Recent Comments