Literary vocab list 1

allusion

reference to something in history ir literature

denotation

literal meaning of something

connotation

suggested/implied meaning of something

anecdote

a brief story that illustrates a point

colloquialism

regional expression not used in formal writing

euphemism

indirect, less offensive way of saying something

oxymoron

joining of two contradictory words

figurative language

language not meant to be taken literally

anaphora

repetition of words at the start of consecutive lines

inverted syntax

unusual (non-standard) word order

paradix

a contradictory statement that contains some truth

epithet

adjective phrase used to emphasize a characteristic

aphorism

concise statement of a general truth; a saying

litotes

expresses an idea through denying its opposite

apostrophe

speaking directly to something/someone who isn't there

metonymy

substituting a more general word for something closely associated with it

motif

recurring image, phrase, or idea

conceit

extended, complex metaphor

onomatopoeia

word formed from the imitation of sounds

diction

word choices made by the author

colloquialism

y'all

euphemism

may I use the restroom

oxymoron

jumbo shrimp

figurative language

simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification

anaphora

best of times, worst of times

onomatopoeia

boom

litotes

lunch wasn't too bad

apostrophe

I hate you math

metonymy

Leo won last night