Allegory
The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning
Alliteration
The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words
Allusion
A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical
Ambiguity
The multiple meanings either intentional or unintentional, of a word phrase, sentence, or passage.
Analogy
A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. An analogy can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar.
Antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.
Apostrophe
A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer.
Atmosphere
The emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described.
Clause
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent or main clause expressed a completely though and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent or subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause
Colloquial
The use of slang or informality in speech or writing.
Connotation
The non literal, associative meaning of a word: the implied- suggested meaning
Denotation
The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word.
Diction
An author's word choice
Didactic
From the Greek didactic literally means teaching. Didactic works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the reaching of moral or ethical principles.
Euphemism
From the Greek for "good speech" euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept
Extended Metaphor
a metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work
Figurative Language
Writing or speech that is not intended to carry a literal meaning and is usually meant or be imaginative and vivid.
Genre
the major category of literature into which a literary work fits
Hyperbole
A figure of speech using deliberate comic or serious exaggeration or overstatement that can produce irony.
Imagery
The sensory details used to describe, inspire emotion or represent an abstract idea.
Irony
The contrast between what is stated explicit and what is really meant
Metaphor
A device used to produce figurative language possibly comparing dissimilar things
Mood
The prevailing atmosphere of a work and/or the speaker's attitude
Narrative
A story or account of a series of events
Onomatopoeia
A figure of speech in which natural sounds imitate the sounds of words
Paradox
A statement that appears to be contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon further inspection maintains some degree of truth or validity.
Parallelism
The grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity
Pedantic
An adjective that describes words, phrases, or a general tone that is overly scholarly to academic
Point of view
The perspective from which the story is told
Prose
One of the major divisions of genre including all the forms of fiction and non-fiction
Rhetoric
The principles governing the art of effective, eloquent, persuasive writing
Sarcasm
Bitter or caustic language intended to ridicule, can be witty or cruel
Satire
A style of writing that may incorporate irony, parody, or sarcasm and is often humorous and insightful
Semantics
The study of the meaning of words, their connotation and historical development
Style
The sum of an author's choices about the use of literary devices
Symbol/Symbolism
Generally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else. Usually a symbol is something concrete that represents something more abstract
Syntax
The Way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences
Theme
A central idea or message of a work
Tone
Similar to mood, tone describes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both
Transition
A word or phrase that links different ideas or signals a shift from idea to idea
Analyze
Break the subject down into parts, and explain the various parts
Compare
Show how two things are similar as well as different; include details or examples
Contrast
Show how things are different; include details or examples
Critique
Point out the positive and negative aspects of something
Define
Give an accurate meaning of a term with enough detail to demonstrate understanding
Describe
Write about the subject so the readers can easily visualize it; tell how it looks or happened, including how, who, where, why
Discuss
Give a complete and detailed answer, including important characteristics and main points
Evaluate
Give your opinion of the value of the subject; discuss its positive and negative points, strengthens and weaknesses
Explain
Give facts and details about the meaning of something
Illustrate
Make the point or idea clear by giving examples
Interpret
Explain the meaning of a reading selection; discuss the results or the effects of something
Justify
Give substantive reasons that support a particular decision, action, or event
Persuade
Give reasons in order to convince someone to do or believe something; appeal to the readers' feelings and intellect
Respond
State your overall reaction to the content, the support your individual opinions with specific reason and examples, making sure to refer back to the reading
Summarize
Briefly cover the main points; use the paragraph form and don't include any personal opinions about the content
Contrive
To plan with ingenuity; devise; invent
Bromides
A platitude (a dull remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound), or trite (lacking in freshness or effectiveness) saying
Inexorably
Unyielding; unalterable -syn: relentlessly
Cogent
To the point; relevant; pertinent
Vacuity
Absence of thought or intelligence; emptiness
Warily
A cautious manner; characterized by cautiousness
Diffidence
State of being restrained or reserved in manner, conduct
Jargon
Unintelligible or meaningless talk or writing; gibberish
Polysyllables
Consisting of several, especially more than four or more, syllables, as a word
Elusive
Hard to express or define
Induce
To bring about, produce, or cause
Inconstancy
State of being changable; fickle; variable
Pious
Of or pertaining to religious devotion; sacred rather than secular
Cantankerously
State of being disagreeable to deal with; contentious
Callously
Insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic
Iota
A very small quantity
Maladjusted
Badly or unsatisfactorily regulated especially in relationship to one's social circumstances, environment
Cliché
A sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality though overuse
Taboo
Proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable
Perspicacity
having or showing an ability to notice and understand things that are difficult or not obvious
Ignominy
a situation or event that causes you to feel ashamed or embarrassed
Audacious
very confident and daring : very bold and surprising or shocking
Obdurate
refusing to do what other people want : not willing to change your opinion or the way you do something
Immutable
unable to be changed
Consummate
very good or skillful, complete
Atrocity
a very cruel or terrible act or action
Sanctimony
obsolete, holiness
Canard
a false report or story : a belief or rumor that is not true
Censure
official strong criticism
Felicitous
very well suited for some purpose or situation
Impetus
a force that causes something (such as a process or activity) to be done or to become more active
Anomalous
not expected or usual
Diffidence
lacking confidence : not feeling comfortable around people, very careful about acting or speaking
Sanguine
confident and hopeful, bloodred
Abhorrence
act of abhorring (disliking something very much)
Abettors
to help, encourage, or support someone in a criminal act
Entreaty
a serious request for something
Pernicious
causing great harm or damage often in a way that is not easily seen or noticed
Veracity
truth or accuracy, the quality of being truthful or honest
Ardor
Feelings of great warmth and intensity
Beckon
Appear inviting
Calamity
An event resulting in a great loss and misfortune
Destitute
Completely wanting or lacking
Discord
Lack of agreement or harmony
Emphatic
Without question or beyond doubt
Exhort
Force or impel in an indicated direction
Forte
An asset of special worth or utility
Goad
Provoke as by constant criticism
Hospitable
Disposed to treat guests and strangers generously
Imprudent
Not wise
Iniquity
Morally objectionable behavior
Misnomer
An incorrect or unsuitable name
Perpetual
Without interruption
Presumptuous
Excessively forward
Redress
A sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
Sanction
Official permission or approval
Semblance
An outward appearance that is deliberately misleading
Vigilance
Process of paying close and continuous attention
Wretched
very unfortunate in condition or circumstances; miserable; pitiable.
Obdurate
stubbornly persistent in doing wrong
Stolid
showing little or no emotion, not really excited or upset
disparity
markedly distinct in quality or character
Fetter
something that confines
Mockery
insulting or contemptuous action or speech
Sacrilegious
an act of treating a holy place or object in a way that doesn't show proper respect
Irrevocable
not capable of being changed, impossible to revoke
Plaintive
expressing suffering or sadness
Lament
to express sorrow, regret, or unhappiness about something
Tumultuous
loud, excited, and emotional; involving a lot of violence, confusion, and disorder
Reproach
a cause or occasion of blame, discredit, or disgrace
Equivocate
to use unclear language especially to deceive or mislead someone
Creed
an idea or set of beliefs that guides the actions of a person or group
Denounce
to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or evil
Rebuke
to criticize sharply, reprimand
Despotism
a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power
Beset
to cause problems or difficulties
Avarice
excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain
Feverent
exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling
Logos
an appeal to reason and logic
Ethos
appeal to the speaker's credibility
Pathos
appeal to emotions, values, or desires of the audience
Understatement
figurative language that presents the facts in a way that makes them appear much less significant than they really are
Simile
a comparison between tow unlike objects using like or as
Oxymoron
an apparent contradiction of terms
Personification
figurative device where inanimate objects or concepts are given human qualities
Rhetorical Question
a question whose answer is obvious, don't need to be answered
Bombast
language that is overly rhetorical (pompous), especially when considered in context
Pun
a play on words, either on a words' multiple meanings or replaces one word with a word that is similar in sound but not meaning.
Metonymy
one term substituted for another term with which it is closely associated
Synecdoche
a form of metonymy that is restricted to cases where a part is used to signify the whole
Aphorism
a concise, pithy statement of an opinion or a general truth
Malapropism
the unintentional use of a word that resembles the word intended but has a very different meaning
Circumlocution
talking around a subject or talking around a word
Verbal Irony
refers to the process of stating something but meaning the opposite of what is stated
Situational Irony
refers to a situation that runs contrary to what was expected