Terms : Hide Images
| 7277937827 | Allegory | an extended narrative in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface story | 0 | |
| 7277951842 | Alliteration | the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close to one another | 1 | |
| 7277959169 | Allusion | a reference to another work or famous figure that is assumed to be well-known enough to be recognized by the reader | 2 | |
| 7277969096 | Anachronism | an event, object, custom, person, or thing that is out of order in time | 3 | |
| 7277972828 | Analogy | a comparison of two similar but different things, usually to clarify an action or a relationship | 4 | |
| 7277977777 | Anaphora | specific type of repetition; word, phrase, or clause repeated at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row (often found in speeches) | 5 | |
| 7277994739 | Anecdote | a short, simple narrative of an incident; often used for humorous effect or to make a point | 6 | |
| 7277999759 | Annotation | explanatory or critical notes added to a text | 7 | |
| 7278003391 | Antecedent | the noun to which a later pronoun refers | 8 | |
| 7278006885 | Antimetabole | the repetition of words in an inverted order to sharpen contrast | 9 | |
| 7278011831 | Antithesis | parallel structure that juxtaposes contrasting ideas | 10 | |
| 7278016740 | Aphorism | a short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life | 11 | |
| 7278023500 | Apostrophe | not to be confused with the punctuation mark, usually in poetry but sometimes in prose; the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction | 12 | |
| 7278038331 | Appeal to Authority (Ethos) | rhetorical persuasive argument in which the speaker or a representative of the speaker claims to be an authority or expert in the field. Sometimes is a logical fallacy | 13 | |
| 7278048040 | Appeal to Emotion (Pathos) | rhetorical persuasive argument in which the speaker attempts to play upon the emotions of the audience | 14 | |
| 7278056762 | Appeal to Logic (Logos) | rhetorical persuasive argument in which the speaker attempts to the audience's reason by providing facts or other evidence | 15 | |
| 7278060993 | Appositive | (grammar) a word or phrase that renames a nearby noun or pronoun | 16 | |
| 7278071266 | Archaic diction | the use or words common to an earlier time period; antiquated language | 17 | |
| 7278073600 | Argument by analogy | a comparison of two similar situations, implying that the outcome of one will resemble the outcome of the other | 18 | |
| 7278079618 | Argumentation | to write by argumentation means to persuade an audience about an issue that is debatable or at least not universally accepted as true | 19 | |
| 7278097002 | Aristotelian Triangle | a diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience | 20 | |
| 7278102263 | Assertion | an emphatic statement; declaration. An assertion supported by evidence becomes an argument | 21 | |
| 7278107345 | Assonance | the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds, usually in successive or proximate words | 22 | |
| 7278113166 | Assumption | a belief or statement taken for granted without proof | 23 | |
| 7278116148 | Asyndeton | leaving out conjunctions between words, phrases, clauses | 24 | |
| 7278122942 | Atmosphere | the emotional feeling inspired by a work created by diction, dialogue, setting, and description; also called mood | 25 | |
| 7278129970 | Attitude | the speaker's position on a subject as revealed through his or her tone | 26 | |
| 7278135980 | Attribution | the ascribing (referring) of a work to a particular author or artist | 27 | |
| 7278146853 | Audience | one's listener or readership; those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed | 28 | |
| 7278157406 | Authority | support for an argument that is based on recognized experts in the field | 29 | |
| 7278176264 | Bias | prejudice or predisposition toward one side of a subject or issue | 30 | |
| 7278181181 | Biblical allusion | a reference to a person, place, or stories in the Bible that is assumed to be well-known enough to be recognized by the reader | 31 | |
| 7278187789 | Burlesque | broad parody; whereas a parody will imitate and exaggerate a specific work, such as Rome and Juliet. A burlesque will take an entire form or style, such as myths, and exaggerate it into ridiculousness | 32 | |
| 7278213109 | Cacophony | harsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of euphony | 33 | |
| 7278224445 | Cannon | that which has been accepted as authentic, such as in cannon law, or the literary cannon | 34 | |
| 7278227942 | Caricature | descriptive writing that seizes upon certain individual qualities of a person or a stereotype and through exaggeration or distortion produces a ridiculous effect | 35 | |
| 7278256064 | Cause and Effect (Casual Analysis) | to write by casual analysis mans to examine and to explain in a logical, well organized, sequential manner why, when and/or how something has occurred or why, when, and/or how something could occur, if specific preventive action is not taken. The point is to show an uninterrupted, causative, convincing link between the cause and the effect | 36 | |
| 7278296158 | Characterization | the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character revealed through direct characterization or indirect characterization | 37 | |
| 7278306080 | Chiasmus | a verbal pattern in which the second half of the expression is balanced against the first with the parts reversed. Essentially the same as an antimetabole | 38 | |
| 7278320663 | Cite | identifying a part of a piece of writing as being derived from a source | 39 | |
| 7278325009 | Claim | an assertion usually supported by evidence | 40 | |
| 7278327522 | Classicism | the principles and styles admired in the classics of Greek and Roman literature, such as objectivity, sensibility, restrain and formality | 41 | |
| 7278337758 | Clause | (grammar) a syntactic construction containing a subject and a predicate and forming part of a sentence or constituting a whole simple sentence | 42 | |
| 7278353900 | Close reading | a careful reading that is attentive to organization, figurative language, sentence structure, vocabulary, and other literary structural elements of text | 43 | |
| 7278373445 | Coherence | quality of a piece of writing in which all the parts contribute to the development of the central idea, theme, or organizing principle | 44 | |
| 7278379283 | Colloquialism | a word or phrase used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing | 45 | |
| 7278390262 | Common ground | shared beliefs, values, or positions | 46 | |
| 7278400623 | Comparison-Contrast | to compare and contrast means to identify (i.e., list) and to explain (i.e., analyze, interpret, and sometimes evaluate) the similarities and differences (comparison) or just the differences (contrast) of some subjects or texts under discussion | 47 | |
| 7278417116 | Complex Sentence | (grammar) a sentence that includes one independent clause and at least one dependent clause | 48 | |
| 7278423119 | Conceit | an elaborate figure of speech in which two seemingly dissimilar things or situations compared | 49 | |
| 7278426642 | Concession | a reluctant acknowledgment or yielding | 50 | |
| 7278429815 | Connotation | implied or suggested meaning or a word because of its association in the reader's mind | 51 | |
| 7278439339 | Consonance | the repetition of identical consonant sounds before and after different vowel sounds, as in boost/best; it can also be seen within several compound words, such as fulfill and Ping-Pong | 52 | |
| 7278447028 | Context | words, events, or circumstances that help determine meaning | 53 | |
| 7278450677 | Conundrum | a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun; it may also be a paradox or difficult problem | 54 | |
| 7307007028 | Coordination | (grammar) grammatical equivalence between parts of a sentence, often through coordination conjunction such as and or, but | 55 | |
| 7307008510 | Counterargument | a challenge to a position; an opposing argument | 56 | |
| 7307009375 | Credible | worthy of belief; trustworthy | 57 | |
| 7307010365 | Cumulative sentence | an independent clause followed by subordinate clauses or phrases that supply additional detail | 58 | |
| 7307012812 | Cynicism | the attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professes motives of others | 59 | |
| 7307014652 | Declaration Sentence | a sentence that makes a statement | 60 | |
| 7307014973 | Deduction | reasoning from general to specific | 61 | |
| 7307015631 | Deductive Reasoning | the method of argument in which specific statements and conclusions are drawn from established, general principles | 62 | |
| 7307017600 | Definition | to illustrate through example and rational thought what something or someone is and what something or someone is not | 63 | |
| 7307019197 | Denotation | the literal meaning of a word; its dictionary definition | 64 | |
| 7307021410 | Description | one of the four modes of discourse. Give a sensory image of the person, place, thing, or idea that is being described. Sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and that intangible sixth sense, frequently referred to as a "gut feeling" or an inexplicable awareness, are the means by which one describes | 65 | |
| 7307026927 | Dialect | the language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group | 66 | |
| 7307028089 | Dialectal Journal | a double-column journal in which one writes a quotation in one column and reflections on that quotation int the other column | 67 | |
| 7307030598 | Dictation | the specific word choice an author uses to persuade or convey tone, purpose, or effect | 68 | |
| 7307033235 | Discourse | spoken or written language, including literary works; the four traditionally classified modes of discourse are: description, exposition, narration, and persuasion | 69 | |
| 7307037023 | Dissonance | harsh or grating sounds that do not go together | 70 | |
| 7307037802 | Documentation | bibliographic information about the sources used in a piece of writing | 71 | |
| 7307039202 | Dynamic character | a literary or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change on personality or attitude (Ebenezer Scrooge) | 72 | |
| 7307042337 | Elegiac | mournful over what passed or been lost; often used to describe tone | 73 | |
| 7307043160 | Elegy | a poem or prose work that laments, or meditates upon the death of a person or persons | 74 | |
| 7307044836 | Ellipsis | a mark or marks as ... to indicate an omission or suppression of letters or words | 75 | |
| 7307046020 | Epigram | a concise, witty saying in poetry or prose that either stands alone or is part of a larger work; it may also refer to a short poem of this time | 76 | |
| 7307050030 | Epistrope | figure of repetition that occurs when the last word or set of words in one sentence, clause, or phrase is repeated on roe more times at the end of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases | 77 | |
| 7307053384 | Epitaph | writing in praise of a dead person, most often inscribed upon a headstone | 78 | |
| 7307054795 | Epithet | a characterizing word or phrase firmly associated with a person or thing and often used in place of an actual name, title, or the like, as "man's best friend" for "dog" | 79 | |
| 7307058968 | Eulogy | a speech or written passage in praise of a person; an oration in honor of a deceased person | 80 | |
| 7307060027 | Ethos | a Greek term referring to the character of a person | 81 | |
| 7307062568 | Euphemism | the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt | 82 | |
| 7307064244 | Euphony | a succession or harmonious sounds used in poetry or prose; the opposite of cacophony | 83 | |
| 7307066383 | Example (model) | to write by example or to model means to illustrate through analogy a person, place, thing, or idea in a clear, precise, informative manner or to teach a lesson using relevant, informative, concisely worded analogies and illustrations | 84 | |
| 7307070282 | Exemplum | a brief tale used in medieval times to illustrate a sermon or teach a lesson | 85 | |
| 7307074331 | Explication of text | explanation of a text's meaning through an analysis of all of its constituent parts, including the literary devices used; also called close reading | 86 | |
| 7307075861 | Exposition | the immediate revelation to the audience of the setting and other background information necessary for understanding the plot | 87 | |
| 7307082585 | Extended metaphor | a comparison that extends over several lines or an entire poem | 88 | |
| 7307083091 | Facts | information that is true or demonstrable | 89 | |
| 7307083684 | Figurative Language | the use of tropes of figures of speech; going beyond literal meaning to achieve literary effect | 90 | |
| 7307085301 | Figure of speech | expressions such as similes, metaphors, and personifications that make imaginative, rather than literal, comparisons or associations | 91 | |
| 7307088809 | Flashback | a device in the narrative of a novel, etc. by which an event or scene taking place before the present time in the narrative is inserted into the chronological structure of the work | 92 | |
| 7307091237 | Flat character | a type of character who may not be fully developed but is useful in carrying out some narrative purpose of the author | 93 | |
| 7307093738 | Foil | a secondary character whose personality and attitude is opposite the personality of a major character | 94 | |
| 7307094681 | Folklore | traditional stories, songs, dances, and customs, that are preserved among a people | 95 | |
| 7307096454 | Foreshadowing | the use of a hint or clue to suggest a larger event that occurs later in the work | 96 | |
| 7307097694 | Fragment | (grammar) a word, phrase, or clause that does not form a full sentence | 97 | |
| 7307099076 | Genre | a type of literary work, such as a novel or poem; there are also subgenres, such as science fiction or sonnet, within the larger genres | 98 | |
| 7307101790 | Hint of an Ideal | Even in the darkest satire, a hint of what the author believes to be the ideal solution is given | 99 | |
| 7307104939 | Homily | a sermon, but more contemporary uses include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual life | 100 | |
| 7307107132 | Hortative Sentence | sentences that exhorts, advises, calls to action | 101 | |
| 7307111410 | Hortatory | urging, or strongly encouraging | 102 | |
| 7307114109 | Hubris | the excessive pride or ambition that leads a tragic hero to disregard warnings of impending doom, eventually causing his downfall | 103 | |
| 7307117400 | Humor | anything that causes laughter or amusement | 104 | |
| 7307118061 | Hyperbole | deliberate exaggeration in order to create humor or emphasis | 105 | |
| 7307118997 | Idyll | a short descriptive narrative, usually a poem, about an idealized country life; also called a pastoral | 106 | |
| 7307121526 | Imagery | words or phrases that use a collection of images to appeal to one or more of the five senses in order to create a mental picture | 107 | |
| 7307123153 | Imperative Sentence | a sentence that requests or commands | 108 | |
| 7307124732 | Induction | reasoning from specific to general | 109 | |
| 7307125255 | Inductive Reasoning | the method of reasoning or argument in which general statements and conclusions are drawn from specific principles and data - movement from specific to general | 110 | |
| 7307133355 | Inference | a conclusion or proposition arrived at by considering facts, observations, or some other specific data, and moving towards a general conclusion | 111 | |
| 7307136066 | Interior Monologue | writing that records the conversation that occurs inside a character's head | 112 | |
| 7307148345 | Invective Satire | harsh, abusive language directed against a person or cause | 113 | |
| 7307149532 | Inversion | (grammar) reversing the customary order of elements in a sentence or phrase | 114 | |
| 7307155783 | Irony | a type of verbal irony in which he/she uses words of praise to blame and words of blame to praise. A situation or statement in which the actual outcome or meaning is opposite to what is expected | 115 | |
| 7307161090 | Dramatic Irony | occurs when the audience knows more about circumstances or events in the story that the characters within it | 116 | |
| 7307164375 | Verbal Irony | occurs when a speaker or narrator says one thing while meaning the opposite | 117 | |
| 7310723209 | Situational Irony | occurs when an event contradicts the expectations of the characters or the reader | 118 | |
| 8339452762 | Isocolon | parallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but also in length | 119 | |
| 8339465818 | Jargon | specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar, group | 120 | |
| 8339476338 | Juxtaposition | placement of two things side by side for emphasis | 121 | |
| 8339484063 | Litotes | a figure of speech consisting of an understatement which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite | 122 | |
| 8339500419 | Logical Fallacy | an error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid | 123 | |
| 8339573197 | Ad Hominem | attacking a person's personal traits and personality in an attempt to undermine their argument | 124 | |
| 8339604820 | Appeal to Emotion | manipulating an emotional response in place of a valid or compelling argument | 125 | |
| 8340119819 | Appeal to Force | uses force, the threat of force, or some other unpleasant backlash to make the audience accept a conclusion | 126 | |
| 8340140606 | Bandwagon | tries to get everyone on board. "Ad Populum" | 127 | |
| 8340154065 | Begging the Question | when the writer presents an arguable point as a fact that supports the argument. (circular reasoning) | 128 | |
| 8340173600 | Either/Or Fallacy | when a writer builds an argument upon the assumption that there are only two choices or possible outcomes when actually there are several | 129 | |
| 8340193390 | Hasty Generalization | arguments that are based on insufficient evidence | 130 | |
| 8340207890 | Non Sequitur | arguments do not follow the previous statements. | 131 | |
| 8340223203 | Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc | literally means "after this, therefore because of this" these arguments assume a faulty, casual relationship | 132 | |
| 8340243937 | Red Herrings | a deliberate attempt to change the subject or divert the argument from the real question at hand to some side point | 133 | |
| 8340258498 | Slippery Slope | speaker argues that, once the first step is undertaken, a second or third step will inevitably follow | 134 | |
| 8340294975 | Stacking the Deck | speaker ignores examples that disprove the point, and lists only those examples that support their cause | 135 | |
| 8340311180 | Straw Man | argument includes any lame attempt to "prove" an argument by overstating, exaggerating, or over-simplifying the arguments opposing side | 136 | |
| 8340344398 | Logos | appeal to logic, trying to convince an audience through the use of logic and reasoning | 137 | |
| 8340381443 | Loose Sentence | a long sentence that starts with its main cause and is followed by dependent clauses or modifying phrases | 138 | |
| 8340395298 | Malapropism | misusing words ridiculously, especially by the confusion of words that are similar in sound | 139 | |
| 8340408143 | Metaphor | a figure of speech or trope through which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else, thus making an implicit comparison | 140 | |
| 8557631163 | Metonymy | a figure of speech that uses the name of an object, person, or idea to represent something with which it is associated | 141 | |
| 8557635155 | Mode | the method of form of a literary work; the manner in which a work of literature is written | 142 | |
| 8557639348 | Modes of discourse | the four traditional categories of written texts | 143 | |
| 8557649756 | Modifier | a word, phrase, or clause that qualifies or describes another word, phrase, or clause | 144 | |
| 8557655447 | Mood | primary emotional attitude of a work | 145 | |
| 8557657119 | Motif | main theme or subject of a work that is elaborated on in the development of the piece; a repeated pattern or idea | 146 | |
| 8557662587 | Myth | one story in a system of narratives set in a complete imaginary world that once served to explain the origin of life, religious beliefs, and the forces of nature as supernatural occurrences | 147 | |
| 8557672243 | Narrative | recounts an event or a series of related events | 148 | |
| 8557675645 | Naturalism | a literary movement that grew out of realism in France, the U.S., and England in the late nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries; it portrays humans as having no free will, being driven by the natural forces of heredity, environment, and animalistic urges over which they have no control | 149 | |
| 8557689652 | Nominalization | turning a verb or adjective into a noun | 150 | |
| 8557693796 | Objectivity | an impersonal presentation of events and characters | 151 | |
| 8557696061 | Onomatopoeia | the use of words that sound like what they mean | 152 | |
| 8557703077 | Omniscient narrator | an all-knowing, usually third-person narrator | 153 | |
| 8557705772 | Oxymoron | a figure of speech composed of contradictory words or phrases | 154 | |
| 8557708090 | Pacing | the relative speed or slowness with which a story is told or an idea is presented | 155 | |
| 8557712748 | Parable | a short tale that teaches a moral; similar but shorter than an allegory | 156 | |
| 8557716362 | Paradox | a statement that seems to contradict itself but that turns out to have a rational meaning | 157 | |
| 8557718486 | Parallelism | the technique of arranging words, phrases, clauses, or larger structures by placing them side by side and making them similar in form | 158 | |
| 8557723903 | Parody | a work that ridicules the style of another work by imitating and exaggerating its elements or by being overly serious about an original piece of work or an author; used for comic effect | 159 | |
| 8557730378 | Pathos | A Greek term that refers to suffering but has come to be associated with broader appeals to emotion | 160 |
