1-30 Lit Terms

Abstract- refers to language that describes concepts rather than concrete images.

Ad Hominem- In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning "against the man."

Allegory- a work that functions on a symbolic level.

Alliteration - the repetition of initial consonant sounds, such as "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."

Allusion- a reference contained in a work.

Ambiguity- the multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

Amplification- involves repeating a word or expression while adding more detail to it, in order to emphasize what otherwise might be passed over.

Analogy- a literary device employed to serve as a basis for comparison. It is assumed that what applies to the parallel situation also applies to the original circumstance. In other words, it is the comparison between two different items.

Anaphora- the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines.

Anastrophe- transposition of normal word order; most often found in Latin in the case of prepositions and the words they control. (a form of hyperbaton)

Anecdote- a story or brief episode told by the writer or a character to illustrate to a point.

Antanagoge- placing a good point or benefit next to a fault criticism, or problem in order to reduce the impact or significance of the negative point.

Antimetabole- reversing the order of repeated words or phrases (a loosely chiastic structure, AB-BA) to intensify the final formulation, to present alternatives, or to show contrast.

Antiphrasis- one word irony, established by context.

Antistrophe- repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.

Antithesis- the presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. "To be or not to be..." "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country..."

Aphorism- a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author's point.

Apophasis- (also called praeteritio or occupatio) asserts or emphasizes something by pointedly seeming to pass over, ignore, or deny it.

Aporia- expression of doubt (often feigned) by which a speaker appears uncertain as to what he should think, say, or do.

Aposiopesis- a form of ellipse by which a speaker comes to an abrupt halt, seemingly overcome by passion (fear, excitement, etc.) or modesty.

Apostrophe- a figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity. William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he writes, "Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee."

Appositive- a noun or noun substitute placed next to (in apposition to) another noun to be described or defined by the appositive.

Archaism- use of an older or obsolete form.

Argument- a single assertion or a series of assertions presented and defended by the writer

Assonance- repetition of the same sound in words close together.

Asyndeton- lack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words.

Atmosphere- the emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the atmosphere. Frequently, atmosphere foreshadows events.

Attitude- the relationship an author has toward his or her subject, and/or his or her audience.

Brachylogy- a general term for abbreviated or condensed expression, of which asyndeton and zeugma are types.

Cacophony harsh and discordant sounds in a line or passage in a literary work.