2010-2011
Literary Terminology: Addenda
Aposiopesis (‘Becoming silent’): Abruptly breaking off in the middle of a sentence, often due to a
passionate feeling or modesty. This is a form of ellipsis.
Anacoluthon (‘Inconsequent’): Inadvertent or purposed deviation in the structure of a sentence by
which a construction started at the beginning is not followed out consistently. It is more often slight
and unintentional, and depending on the language, can be stylistically acceptable.
Caesura: A measurable and audible pause in a line of poetic verse. (Arma virumque cano//Troiae
qui primus ab oris –Vergil’s Aeneid, I.1)
Crasis (‘Mingling’): The contraction of a vowel or diphthong at the end of a word with a vowel or
diphthong beginning the following word. This is more often found in the Greek language.
Diaraesis (‘Choice between’): The pronunciation of two adjacent vowels as separate syllables
instead of as a diphthong. (In English, cooperate)
Enjambment: A spilling onto the next line of verse.
Epanalepsis: Repetition of a word in successive clauses or lines. This is a specific type of
anaphora. (“Strike as I would have struck those tyrants! Strike deep as my curse! Strike!” –Lord
Byron)
Hysteron Proteron: The reversal of the natural order of ideas, often called placing the ‘horse
before the cart.’ (We die, and we rush into the thick of things)
Paranomasia: A play on words, either using etymology or puns.
Pleonasm: An exceptional (and often redundant) fullness of expression, often in an archaic form.
Some expressions are grammatically acceptable, while others are clearly not. (Will and testament;
tuna fish; from hence; most bestest)
Polyptoton: Repetition of a noun or pronoun in different cases, often unrelated syntactically, which
produces a rhetorical effect. (“With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder” -Shakespeare)
Prolepsis: Inclusion of future events in the main story, causing formal anticipation. (That guy’s a
dead man!)
Tmesis (‘Cutting apart’): A separation of a compound word into two separate entities separated by
other words. (circumdant virum => circum virum dant)
Zeugma (‘Yoke’): Joining of two or more words by a modifying or governing word which applies
strictly only to one. (Vicit pudorem libido, timorem audacia, rationem amentia. –Cicero, Pro
Cluentio)