Literary Terms Flashcards

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What is an elegy?

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A sad poem or song written to honor someone who has died.

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What is a euphemism?

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A nicer or softer way of saying something that might sound rude or harsh.

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What is a novella?

Back

A short novel — longer than a short story but shorter than a regular book (usually under 100 pages).

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What is an ode?

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A poem that praises or celebrates something or someone. It’s usually serious and carefully written.

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What is a paradox?

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A statement that doesn’t seem to make sense but actually has some truth.

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What is a parody?

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A funny copy or imitation of a story, song, or style that makes fun of the original.

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What is prose?

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Normal writing — not poetry. It’s written in sentences and paragraphs, like in books or essays.

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What is satire?

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Writing that makes fun of people or society to show problems and try to make change.

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What is a soliloquy?

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When a character in a play speaks their thoughts out loud when alone, so the audience knows what they’re thinking.

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What is a sonnet?

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A poem with 14 lines, often with a rhyme pattern. It usually has a twist or change near the end.