kenning
An expression including a combination of two nouns in order to provide an alternative metaphorical definition for a word. ex. "boy-child" for son
alliteration
The repetition of the same letter or sound in words close together..
wyrd
The overall power that determines fate or events, as well as the name of the sisters of fate in Greek mythology
wergild
This is money to a family that has lost someone, by another family who did the killing, in order to prevent blood feuds.
patronym
A family name, usually from the father's side
caste
A class system that divides the people based on wealth, religion, or education.
in media res
This refers to when a narrative in an epic opens " in the middle of things
epic
A long poem, usually taken from generations of oral narration, that depicts a larger than life hero on his/her quest
allegory
A work of literature or art that can be interpreted to have a deeper meaning
allusion
A statement or expression used to reference something without directly stating it
anaphora
The repetition of the first word or phrase of several phrases, clauses, or sentences in a row
aphorism
A proverb or short observation that contains some general truth
apostrophe
A literary device used in poetry or playwright when a character is talking about another character who is not present at the time
archetype
A specific example of a certain idea or pattern
chiasmus
A literary tool where concepts, words, or sentence structures are repeated on reverse order
conceit
In poetry an extended, elaborate metaphor
elegiac
A work of poetry or song written in verse to mourn or respect a recently deceased person
epithet
A description of something or someone that aids in defining its characteristics
homily
A religious speech that offers moral correction
hubris
Excessive pride in oneself which ultimately leads to their demise
irony
Words that are used in a way that their intended meaning and actual meaning are two different things or when the audience is aware of something the characters don't know or when the situation is exactly opposite or really different from what was expected
litotes
A figure of speech where an understatement of negatives is used in substitution for something positive, but it means the same thing. It is an understatement that uses a double negative or an element of irony. Irony is when an author highlights something that is unexpected, sometimes for humorous or dramatic effect.
metonomy
A figure of speech which replaces something's name with a word closely associated with a said thing
motif
Image, sound, action, or phrase that helps contribute towards the theme
non sequitur
Literary devices that do not make sense logically or from a reasonable standpoint . A phrase that does not follow logic
parallelism
The repetition of words or phrases in a sentence that help contribute towards the theme
pathos
An appeal to emotions.
synesthesia
A technique that portrays settings or characters in a way that appeals to more more than one sense, often through a different sense.
synecdoche
a device where a part of somethign represents a whole, or a whole of something represents a part.
understatement
A device that makes a situation less important than it actually is.
Scop
Was a poet as represented in Old English poetry. The Old English counterpart of the Old Norse skald, with the important difference that "skald" was applied to historical persons, and ___ is used, for the most part, to designate oral poets withing Old English literature.