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653100101allegorya narrative in which the characters, behavior, and even the setting demonstrates multiple levels of meaning and significance. Often a universal symbol or a personified abstraction.0
48018451AlliterationThe sequential repetition of a similar initial sound, usually applied to consonants, usually in closely proximate, stressed syllables.1
684770778AllusionA literary, historical, religious, or mythological reference in a literary work.2
114341235AnaphoraThe regular repetition of the same words or phrases at the beginning of successive phrases or clauses.3
695359742AntithesisThe juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or paralleled words, phrases, grammatical structure, or ideas. Ex. many are called, few are chosen.4
830706668AphorismA concise statement designed to make a point or illustrate a commonly held belief5
686594362Appeals to.....authority, emotion, logicRhetorical arguments in which the speaker claims to be an authority or expert in a field, or attempts play upon the emotions, or appeals to the use of reason6
643677464ApostropheAn address or invocation to something intimate, often in poetry Ex. Death not be proud7
403917536AssonanceThe repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds, usually in successive or proximate words. Slows down the pace. Ex. I like Ike.8
1028057030AsyndetonA syntactical structure in which conjuctions are omitted in a series, usually producing more rapid prose9
565382104AttitudeThe sense expressed by the tone of voice or the mood of a piece of writing; the author's feelings toward his or her subject, characters, events, or theme. It might even be his or her feelings for the reader.10
8007256Begging the questionAn argumentative ploy where the arguer sidesteps the question or the conflict, evades or ignores the real question.11
1007134283CanonThat which has been accepted as authentic. Ex. Great Gatsby in the American Literature Canon12
190462552ChiasmusA figure of speech and generally a syntactical structure wherein the order of the terms in the first half of a parallel clause is reversed in the second.13
1259170894ColloquialA term identifying the diction of the common, ordinary folks, especially in a specific region or area14
642867002ConceitA comparison of two unlikely things that is drawn out within a piece of literature, in particular an extended metaphor within a poem15
659596665ConnotationThe implied, suggested, or underlying meaning of a word or phrase16
461041428ConsonanceThe repletion of two or more consonants with a change in intervening vowels17
700015718CritiqueAn assessment analysis of something, such as a passage of writing, for determining what it is, what its limitations are, and how it conforms to the standard of the genre18
1598461857Deductive reasoningThe method of argument in which specific statements and conclusions are drawn from general principles: movement form the general to the specific19
767021186DialectThe language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group20
543103854DictionThe specific word choice an author uses to persuade or convey tone, purpose or effect21
1697039847DidacticWriting or speech that had an instructive purpose or a lesson; often associated with a dry pompous presentation22
958764594ElegyA poem or prose that laments, or meditates upon the death of a person23
1568694633EpistropheIn rhetoric, the repletion of a phrase at the end of successive sentences24
697731830EpitaphWriting in praise of a dead person, most often inscribed upon a headstone25
745363218EthosIn rhetoric, the appeal of a text to the credibility and character of the speaker, writer, or narrator26
2331221630EulogyA speech or written passage in praise of a person; an oration in honor of a deceased person27
2331225125EuphemismAn indirect, kinder, or less harsh or hurtful way of expressing unpleasant information28
2331233486ExpositionThe interpretation or analysis of a text. Also, the opening section of a narrative or dramatic structure in which characters, setting, theme, and conflict can be revealed29
2331255368Extended MetaphorA series of comparisons within a piece of writing. If they are consistently one concept, this is also known as a conceit30
2331260516Figurative LanguageLanguage with levels of meaning expressed through figures of speech such as personification, metaphor, litote, etc.31
2331269300FlashbackAn earlier event is inserted into the normal chronology of the narration32
2331277551GenreA type or class of literature, such as epic, narrative, poetry, biography, history33
2331284634HomilyA sermon, but more contemporary uses include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual life34
2331296663HyperboleOverstatement characterized by exaggerated language, usually to make a point or draw attention35
2331302896ImageryAny sensory detail or evocation in a work to evoke a feeling, to call to mind an idea, or to describe an object. Involves any or all of the five senses.36
2331309459Inductive ReasoningThe method of reasoning or argument in which general statements and conclusions are drawn from specific principles: movement from the specific to the general37
2331318071InferenceA conclusion or proposition arrived at by considering facts, observations, or some other specific data. Looking at the clues, learning the facts38
2331328232IronyThe contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The intended meaning is often the opposite of what is stated, often suggesting light sarcasm39
2331334623IsocolonParallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but also in length40
2331340099JargonSpecialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group41
2331343614JuxtapositionThe location of one thing adjacent to another to create an effect, reveal an attitude, or accomplish some other purpose42
2331355340LitoteA figure speech that emphasizes its subject by conscious understatement43
2331360544Loose SentenceA long sentence that starts with its main clause, which is followed by several dependent clauses and modifying phrases44
2331367477MetaphorOne thing pictured as if it were something else, suggesting a likeness to analogy. An implicit comparison or identification of one thing with another, without the use of like or as45
2331379026MetonymyA figure of speech in which an attribute or commonly associated feature is used46
2401719089Mode of DiscourseThe way in which information is presented in written or spoken form. Narration, description, process analysis, and cause and effect are all types of this47
2401723915MoodA feeling or ambience resulting from the tone of a piece as well as the writer/narrator's attitude and point of view. It is a "feeling" that establishes the atmosphere in a work of literature or other discourse48
2401739678NarrativeA mode of discourse that tells a story of some sort and it is based on sequences of connected events, usually presented in a straightforward, chronological framework49
2401744278OnomatopoeiaA word capturing or approximating the sound of what is described. The purpose of these words is to make a passage more effective for the reader for the reader or listener50
2401750141OxymoronA figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory elements51
2401753054ParadoxA statement that seems contradictory but may probably be true52
2401754481Parallel StructureThe use of similar forms in writing for nouns, verbs, phrases, or thoughts. In prose, recurrent syntactical similarity where several parts of a sentence or several sentences are expressed alike to show that their ideas are equal in importance53
2401764684PathosThat element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow. In argument or persuasion it tends to be the evocation of pity54
2401770246Periodic SentenceA long sentence in which the main clause is not completed until the end55
2401773357PersonificationTreating an abstraction or nonhuman object as if it were a person by endowing it with human features or qualitites56
2401778502Point of ViewThe relation in which a narrator/author stands to a subject of discourse. Requires the reader to establish the historical perspective of what is being said57
2401784595ProseThe ordinary form of written language without metrical structure in contrast to verse and poetry58
2401790436RealismAttempting to describe nature and life without idealization and with attention to detail59
2401795102RebuttalAn argument technique wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and countered60
2401801026RhetoricThe art of using words to persuade in writing or speaking61
2401802692Rhetorical QuestionA question that is asked simply for the sake of stylistic effect and is not expected to be answered62
2401804862SarcasmA form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually critical. Can be light, and gently poke fun at something, or it can be harsh and mean63
2401809808SatireA literary work that holds up human failings to ridicule and censure64
2401811926SimileA direct, explicit comparison of one thing to another, using the words using like or as65
2404218116StyleThe manner in which a writer combines and arranges words, shapes ideas, and utilizes syntax and structure66
2404221459SymbolismUse of a person, place, thing, event, or pattern that figuratively represents or "stands for" something else67
2404224715SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part signifies a whole68
2404228390SyntaxThe way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. Basically, sentence structure69
2404231404ThemeThe central or dominant idea or focus of a work. The statement a passage makes about its subject70
2404234275ToneThe attitude the narrator/author has toward the subject and theme. Based on particular stylistic devices employed by the author71
2404238170VoiceThe acknowledged or unacknowledged source of the words of the story; the speaker's or narrator's particular "take" on an idea based on a particular passage and how all the elements of the style of the piece come together to express his/her feelings72
2404246751ZeugmaA grammatically correct construction in which a word, usually a verb or adjective, is applied to two or more nouns without being repeated73

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