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178 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
abstract
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(n) an abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research.
(adj) Dealing with or tending to deal with a subject apart from a particular or specific instance. |
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ad hominem
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directed to or appealing to feelings or prejudices instead of to intellect or reason
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adage
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a saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language.
ex: "There is more than one way to skin a cat" |
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allegory
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a story in which a 2nd meaning is to be read beneath the surface
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alliteration
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the repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines in a poem
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allusion
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a reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea
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ambiguity
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a vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings or interpretations
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anachronism
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a person, scene, event, or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.
ex: Columbus sailing to the US |
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analogy
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a comparison that points out similarities b/w two dissimilar things;
extended analogy = a passage that points out several similarities b/w two unlike things |
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anecdote
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a brief narrative often used to illustrate an idea or make a point
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annotation
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a brief explanation, summary, or evaluation of a text or work of lit.
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antagonist
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a character or force in a work of lit that, by opposing the protagonist, produces tension or conflict
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antecedent
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a word to which a pronoun refers
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antithesis
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rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences
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aphorism
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a short, pithy statement of a generally acepted truth or sentiment
(see adage and maxim) |
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Apollonian
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in contrast to Dionysian, it refers to the most noble, godlike qualities of human nature and behavior
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apostrophe
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a locution that addresses a person or personified thng not present
ex: Cruel streets of Manhattan, how I detest you! |
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arch
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(adj) characterized by clever or sly humor, often saucy, playful and somewhat irreverent
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archetype
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an abstract or ideal coneption of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model or form
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assonance
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the repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words in prose or poetry
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bard
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a poet; in olden times, a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment
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bathos
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insincere or overdone sentimentality
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belle-lettres
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a French term for the word of books, criticism, and lit in general
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bibliography
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a list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a particular subject
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bombast
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inflated, pretentious language
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burlesque
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a work of lit meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation
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cacophony
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grating, inharmonious sounds
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canon
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the works considered most important in a national lit or period; works widely read and studied
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caricature
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a grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things
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carpe diem
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"seize the day"; enjoy life while you can, common theme in life and lit
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circumlocution
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literally "talking around" a subject; ie: discourse that avoids direct reference to a subject
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classic
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a highly regarded work of lit or other art form that has withstood the test of time
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classical, classicism
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deriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity and restraint
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clause
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a structural element of a sentence, containing a subject and predicate
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climax
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the high point, or turning point of a story or play
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comparison and contrast
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a mode of discourse in which two or more things are compared and contrasted
comparison - similarities contrast - differences |
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conceit
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a witty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea, often stated in figurative language
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concrete detail
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a highly specific, particular, often real, actual, or tangible detail; the opposite of abstract
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connotation
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the suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase
contrast with denotation |
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consonance
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the repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a unit of speech or writing
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critique
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an analysis or assesment of a thing or situation for the purpose of determining
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cynic
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one who expects and observes nothing but the worst of human contact
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deductive reasoning
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a method of reasoning by which specific definitions, conclusions, and theorems are drawn from general principles
opposite of indeuctive reasoning |
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denotation
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dictionary def of a word
contrast with connotation |
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denouement
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the resolution that occurs at the end of a narrative or drama, real or imagined
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descriptive detail
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graphic, exact, and accurate presentation of the characteristics of a person, place or thing
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deus ex machina
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in lit, the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem
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diction
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the choice of words in oral and written discourse
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didactic
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having an instructive purpose; intending to convey info or teach a lesson, usually in a dry, ompous manner
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digression
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the portion of discourse that wanders or departs from the main subject or topic
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Dionysian
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as distinguished from Apollonian, the word refers to sensual, pleasure-seeking impulses
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dramatic irony
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a circumstance in which the audience or reader knows more about a situation that a character
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elegy
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a poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing or death of someone or something of value
"elegaic" |
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ellipsis
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(...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation
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elliptical construction
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a sentence containing a deliberate omission of words
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empathy
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a feeling of association or identification with an object or person
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epic
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a narrative poem that tells the adventures and exploits of a hero
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epigram
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a concise but ingenious, witty, and thoughtful statement
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euphony
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pleasing, harmonious sounds
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epithet
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an adj or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing
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eponymous
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a term for the thtle character of a work of lit
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euphemism
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a mild or less negative usage for a blunt term
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exegesis
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a detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of prose or poetry
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expose
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a piece of writing that reveals weaknesses, faults, frailties, or other shortcomings
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exposition
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the background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of an essay or otherwork; setting forth the meaning or purpose of a piece of writing or discourse
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explanation
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the interpretation or analysis of a text
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extended metaphor
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a series of comparisons b/w two unlike objects
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fable
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a short tale often with nonhuman characters from which a useful lesson may be learned
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fallacy, fallacious reasoning
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an incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information
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fantasy
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a story containing unreal, imaginary features
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farce
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a comedy that contains an extavagant and nonsensical disgrgard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose
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figure of speech, figurative language
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in contrast to literal language, figurative language implies meanings
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frame
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a structure that provides a premise or setting for a narrative or other discouse
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genre
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a term used to describe literary forms, sush as novel, play and essay
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harangue
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a forceful sermon, lecture, or tirade
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homily
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a forceful sermon on a religious or moral theme meant to guide human behavior
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hubris
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excessive pride that often affects tone
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humanism
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a belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity
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hyperbole
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overstaement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect
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idyll
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a lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place
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image
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a word or phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled of felt
"imagery" |
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indirect quotation
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a rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased
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inductive reasoning
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a method of reasoning in which a number of specific facts or examples are used to make a generalization
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inference
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a conclusion or proprsition arrived at by considering facts, observations, or some other specific data
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invective
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a direct verbal assault; a denunciation; casting blame on someone or something
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irony
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the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
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kenning
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a device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities
ex: "ring-giver" for king ...etc |
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lampoon
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a mocking, satirical assault on a persin or situation
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litotes
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a form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity
"he is not a bad dancer" |
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loose sentence
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a sentence that does not end with the completion of its main clause, but continues with one or more subordinate clauses or other modifiers
(see periodic sentence) |
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lyrical prose
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personal, reflective prose that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject
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malapropism
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a confused use of words in which the appropriate word is replaced by one with a similar sound but inapproprite meaning
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maxim
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a saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth
(see adage and aphorism) |
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melodrama
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a literary form in which events are exaggereated in order to create an extreme emotional response
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metaphor
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a figure of speech that compares unlike objects
extended metaphor = several similar are compared metaphorical allusion = refering to a particular place or thing |
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metaphysical
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a term describing poetry that uses elaborate conceits, expresses the complexities of love and life and is highly intellectual
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metonymy
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a FOS that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated
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Middle English
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language spoken in England b/w 1150 AD - 1500 AD
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mock epic
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a parody of traditional epic form
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mock solemnity
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feigned or delberately artificial seriousness, often for satirical purposes
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mode
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the general from, pattern and manner of expression of a piece of discourse
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montage
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a quick succession of images or impressions used to express an idea
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mood
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the emotional tone or prevailing atm in a work of lit or other discourse.
indicative mood = statements of fact subjunctive mood = express doubt or conditional attitude imperative mood = to give commmands |
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moral
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a brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of lit
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motif
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a phrase, idea, or event thet thru repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in an essay or other discourse
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muse
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(n) one of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts; imaginary source of inspiratin for artist or writer
(v) to reflect deeply; to ponder |
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myth
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an imaginary story that has become an accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group or society
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narrative
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a for of verse or porse (both fiction and nonfiction) that tells a story
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naturaliam
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a term often used as a synonym for realism; also a view of experience that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic
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non sequitur
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a statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before
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objective
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(adj) of or relating to facts and reality, as opposed to private and personal feelings and attitudes
opposite to subjective |
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ode
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a lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exhalted feelings toward the subject
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Old English
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the Anglo-Saxon language spoken from around 450 AD - 1150AD, in modern day Great Britian
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omniscient narrator
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a narrator with unlimited awareness, understanding, and insight of characters, setting, backgroud and all other elements to a story
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onomatopoeia
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the use of wordswhose sound suggest their meaning
bam! bubbling! pow! |
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oxymoron
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a tern consisting of contradictory elements juxaposed to create a paradoxical effect
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parable
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a story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived
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paradox
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a statement that seems self-contradicory but is nevertheless true
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parallel structure
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the structure for expressing two or more grammatical elements of equal rank
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parody
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an imitation of a work meant to ridiclue its style and suject
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paraphrase
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a version of text put into simpler, everyday words
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pastoral
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a work of lit dealing with rural life
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pathetic fallacy
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faulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or non human objects
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pathos
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that element in nature that stimulates pity or sorrow
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pendantic
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narrowly academic instead of broad and humane; excessively petty and meticulous
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periodic sentence
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a sentence that departs from the usual word order of English sentences by expressing its main thought only at the end
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persona
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the role or fascade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader or other audience
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personification
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a FOS in which objecta and animals are given human characteristics
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plot
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the interrelationship among the events of the story; the plot line is the patteren of events, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution
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point of view
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the relation in which a narrator or speaker stands to a subject of discourse
1st person = internal POV observer = external POV |
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predicate
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the part of a sentence that is not the grammatical subject
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prose
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any discourse that is not poetry
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proverb
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a short, pithy statement of a general truth, one that condenses common experiense into memorable form
see adage and maxim |
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pseudonym
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a false name or alias used by writers
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pulp fiction
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novels written for mass consumption, often empasizing exciting and titillating plots
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pun
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a humorous play on words, using similar-sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings
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realism
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the dipiction of people, things and event as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect
(see naturalism) |
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rebuttal (or) refutation
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the part of discourse wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and answered
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reiteration
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repetition of an idea using different words, phrases, or ideas for rhetorical effect
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repetition
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reuse of the same words, phrases or ideas for rhetorical effect, usually to emphasize a point
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retraction
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the withdrawl of a previously ststed idea or opinion
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rhetoric
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the lang. of a work and its style; words, often highly emotional, used to convince or sway an audience
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rhetorical mode
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a general tern that identifies discourse according to chief purpose
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rhetorical question
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a question to which the audience already knows the answer, a question merely asked for effect with no answer expected
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rhetorical stance
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lang, that conveys a speaker's attitude or opinion with regard to a certain subject
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rhyme
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the retetition of similar sounds at regular intervals, used mostly in poetry but not unheard of in prose
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rhythm
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the patterm of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up speech and writing
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romance
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an extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places
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sarcasm
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a sharp, caustic attitude conveyed in words thru jibes, taunts or other remarks. less subtle than irony
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satire
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a literary style used to poke fun at attack, or ridicule an idea, vice, or foible, often for the purpose of inducing change
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sentence structure
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the arrangement of the parts of a sentence
simple = one subject, one verb compound = 2+ clauses joined by subjunction complex = lots-o-clases joined by dependent clauses |
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sentiment
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a synonym for view of feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in lit
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sentimental
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a term that describes character's excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish
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setting
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an environment that consists of time, place, historical milieu and social, political, and even spiritual circumstances
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simile
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a figurative comparison using the words like or as
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stream of consciousness
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a style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind
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style
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the manner in which an author uses and arraanges words, shapes ideas, forms sentences and creates a structure to convey ideas
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stylistic devices
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a general term reffering to diction, syntax, tone, figurative language and all other elements that contribute to the "style" or manner of a given piece of discourse
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subject development
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the name of a grammatical until that is comprised of predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives
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subjective
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(adj) of or relating to private and personal feelings and attitudes as opposed to facts and reality
opposite is objective |
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subtext
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the implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of an essay or other work
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syllogism
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a form of deductive reasoning in which given certain ideas or facts, other ideas or facts must follow
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symbolism
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the use of one object to evoke ideas and associations not literally part of the original object
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synecdote
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a FOS in whic a part signifies the whole or the whole signifies the part. or when name of material stands for the thing itself (ie: pigskin & football)
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syntax
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the organization of lang. into meaningful structure; every sentence has a particular syntax, or pattern of words
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theme
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the main idea or meaning, often an abstract idea upon which an essay or other form of discourse is built
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thesis
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the main idea of a piece of discourse; the statement or proposition that a speaker or writer wishes to advance, illustrate, prove or defend
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tone
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the author's attitude toward the subject being written about. tone is the characteristic emotion that prevades a work or part of a work--the spirit or quality that is the work's emotional essence
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tragedy
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a form of lit in which the hero is destroyed by some character flaw and by a set of forces that cause the hero considerable anguish
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transition
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a stylistic device used to create a link between ideas. transitions often endow discourse with continuity and coherence
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trope
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the generic name for a FOS such as image, symbol, simile, and metaphor
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understatement
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a restrained statement that departs from what could be said; a studied aviodance of emphasis or exaggeration, often to create a particular effect
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verbal irony
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a discrepancy b/w the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words
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verse
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a synonym for poetry; also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry
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verisimilitude
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similar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is
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voice
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the real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker.
in grammar, active voice and passive voice refer to the use of verbs |
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whimsy
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an object, device, or creation that is fanciful or rooted in unreality
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wit
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the quickness of intellect and the power and talent for saying brilliant things that surprise and delight by their unexpectedness; the power to comment subtly and pointedly on the folibles of the passing scene
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