Intermediate Literary Terms

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Apostrophe

Back

Addressing an absent or imaginary person, or an abstract idea.

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Antithesis

Back

Contrasting ideas expressed in balanced grammatical structure.

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Chiasmus

Back

A rhetorical or poetic device in which words are repeated in reverse order.

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Colloquialism

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Informal language or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing.

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Conceit

Back

An elaborate metaphor comparing two very different things.

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Epigraph

Back

A quote or aphorism at the beginning of a work suggesting its theme.

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Epistrophe

Back

Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

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Flashback

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A scene that interrupts the plot to show events from an earlier time.

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Juxtaposition

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Placing contrasting ideas next to each other for effect.

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Motif

Back

A recurring idea, image, or symbol that helps develop theme.