Literary Terms and Definitions

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accentuate

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stress or single out as important

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fluctuate

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rise and fall irregularly in number or amount

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hypothetical

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assumed by hypothesis; supposed; based on possible ideas or situations rather than actual ones

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analogy

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drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity

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boisterous

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full of rough and exuberant animal spirits; noisy and lively; unrestrained or unruly

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boycott

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refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization; to refuse to have dealings with or refuse to buy as a protest or means of coercion

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commemorate

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call to remember; to honour or keep alive in memory

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theme

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an important idea or subject that runs through a piece of writing; main idea or message a writer develops or repeats

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imagery

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Words and phrases that create vivid experiences or a picture for the reader

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foreshadow

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a writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events that will occur later in the narrative