Literary Terms – Round 2
English 11 – Devine
ALLEGORY
In allegories people, abstract ideas, or
events are themselves, but also stand for
something else on the symbolic level.
 Used in prose and poetry, an allegory tells
a story which explains an idea or a
principle or gives a moral lesson.
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Allusion
A
brief and indirect reference
to a person, place, thing or
idea of historical, cultural,
literary or political significance
that many people would
recognize.
“Don’t act like a Romeo in front of her.”
 “This place is like a Garden of Eden.”
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ANECDOTE
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A short narrative account of an amusing,
unusual, revealing, or interesting event. A
good anecdote has a single, definite point,
and the setting, dialogue, and characters
are usually subordinate to that point.
Writers may use anecdotes to clarify
abstract points, to humanize individuals,
or to create a memorable image in the
reader's mind.
Antithesis
An antithesis (which literally means opposite),
is a rhetorical device in which two opposite
ideas are put together in a sentence or
paragraph for achieving a contrasting effect.
 Phrases or clauses are often contrasted in a
parallel structure. The structures are similar
in order to draw a listener’s or reader’s
attention.
 Patience is bitter, but it has a sweet fruit.
 You are easy on the eyes, but hard on the heart.
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Aphorism
An aphorism is a statement of truth or opinion
expressed in a brief and witty manner. The term
is often applied to philosophical, moral and
literary principles.
 The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying
away small stones. - William Faulkner
 Life’s Tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too
late. - Benjamin Franklin
 Life is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy
for those who feel. - Jean de La Bruyère
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Apostrophe
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A figure of speech by which the writer or
speaker addresses, in the second person,
some person or thing, absent or present. It is
a rhetorical speech (not requiring a
response) often sad or frustrated in tone.
“Oh Death, be not proud.” – John Donne
“Welcome, O life! I go to encounter for the
millionth time the reality of experience and to
forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated
conscience of my race.” – James Joyce
Caricature
A
grotesque or foolish
image of a character (and
this includes a written or
described image), achieved
through the exaggeration
of personality traits.
http://www.dezineguide.com/inspiratio
n/40-amazing-examples-of-funnycaricatures/
Catharsis

Catharsis is a Greek word meaning
cleansing or healing. A catharsis is an
emotional discharge which yields a state
of moral or spiritual renewal or a feeling
of liberation from anxiety and stress. In
literature it is used for the cleansing of
the audience’s emotions by witnessing
characters expressing their own emotions.
It is a vicarious process.
Conflict
In literature, a conflict involves a struggle between two
opposing forces, usually a protagonist and an antagonist.
 Internal and External Conflicts: An internal or
psychological conflict arises as soon as a character
experiences two opposite emotions or desires, usually
virtue or vice or good and evil inside him. This
disagreement causes a character to fall into mental
agony.
 External conflict is where a character finds himself in
struggle with outside forces that hamper his progress.
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CONNOTATION
The extra implication or taint of meaning each word
carries beyond the minimal, strict definition found in a
dictionary.
 For instance, the terms civil war, revolution and rebellion
have the same denotation; they all refer to an attempt
at social or political change. However, civil war carries
historical connotations for Americans. Likewise,
revolution is often applied more generally to scientific
or theoretical changes, and it does not necessarily
connote violence. Rebellion, for many English speakers,
connotes an improper uprising against a legitimate
authority (thus we speak about "rebellious teenagers"
rather than "revolutionary teenagers"). (Contrast
with denotation.)
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DENOTATION

The minimal, strict definition of a word as
found in a dictionary, disregarding any
historical or emotional connotation.
(Contrast with connotation.)
Dialect
 The
style and manner of
speaking from one particular
area, as related in writing.
 New Yorkers say “New Yawk”
 Southerners say “Ya’ll”
 Brommies say “In’it?”
Epiphany
 An
epiphany is that a moment in the
story where a character achieves
realization, awareness or feeling of
knowledge after which events in the
story are seen through the prism of
this new light.
Hubris
Hubris is extreme negative pride or
arrogance shown by a character that
ultimately brings about his downfall.
 Hubris is a typical personality flaw of a
character who enjoys a powerful position
as a result of which he overestimates his
capabilities to such an extent that he
loses his contact with the reality.
 “Pride goeth before destruction.”
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Idiom
An expression that is not interpreted
literally, but has a culturally based
meaning, quite different from what the
individual words mean. It is interpreted in
a figurative sense and is often humorous.
 Bought the farm, kicked the can = died
 Tossed his cookies, blew chunks = vomited
 Went postal, lost their marbles = went crazy
 She stood me up = ________________
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Parallelism
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Using components in a sentence that are
grammatically the same or similar in their
construction, sound, meaning or meter.
This method adds balance and rhythm to sentences
giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be
persuasive because of the repetition it employs.
“Alice ran into the room, into the garden, and into
our hearts.”
“Whether in class, at work or at home, Shasta was
always busy.”
“Flying is fun, convenient and fast.”
Parody
 Parody
is a direct imitation of a
particular writer, artist or genre,
exaggerating noticeable features
deliberately to produce a comic
effect.
Satire
 In
satire the writer uses humor,
irony, exaggeration or ridicule,
but NOT direct imitation, to
expose and criticize foolishness
and corruption of an individual
or a society. Fictional characters
stand for real people.
Repetition
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Repetition is a literary device that repeats
the same words or phrases a few times to
make an idea clearer. It could be a word, a
phrase, a full sentence or a poetical line
repeated to emphasize its significance in the
entire text.
I looked upon the rotting sea,
And drew my eyes away;
I looked upon the rotting deck,
And there the dead men lay.
- From the Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a literary device in which a
part of something represents the whole.
 The word “bread” refers to food or
money as in “sole breadwinner.”
 The phrase “gray beard” refers to an old
man.
 The word “suits” refers to businessmen.
 The word “boots” refers to soldiers, as in
“boots on the ground.”
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