Literary Terms #2

Concrete

• Refers to objects or aspects that may be perceived by one or more of the five senses, through the language used.

•  An association suggested by a word, useful when discussing diction. (house and home are different)

• the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests. (house and home are the same)

• The writer’s choice and arrangement of words or distinctive vocabulary (its effectiveness and precision).

Diction

• Refers to objects or aspects that may be perceived by one or more of the five senses, through the language used.

•  An association suggested by a word, useful when discussing diction. (house and home are different)

• the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests. (house and home are the same)

• The writer’s choice and arrangement of words or distinctive vocabulary (its effectiveness and precision).

Denotation

• Refers to objects or aspects that may be perceived by one or more of the five senses, through the language used.

•  An association suggested by a word, useful when discussing diction. (house and home are different)

• the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests. (house and home are the same)

• The writer’s choice and arrangement of words or distinctive vocabulary (its effectiveness and precision).

Connotation

• Refers to objects or aspects that may be perceived by one or more of the five senses, through the language used.

•  An association suggested by a word, useful when discussing diction. (house and home are different)

• the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests. (house and home are the same)

• The writer’s choice and arrangement of words or distinctive vocabulary (its effectiveness and precision).

Dramatic Irony

• Where a character (or characters) is/are unaware of something of which the audience/reader and often other characters on stage are aware. A powerful tool especially in drama, used for tragic or comic purposes.

• Two consecutive rhyming lines of verse. May clinch or emphasise an idea.(“Nature’s first green is gold,

• Stating or implying the opposite of what has been said or suggested.

• The circumstances, background or environment in which an event (or text) takes place, or an idea is set, and in terms of which it can be understood. (ii) The part of a text that surrounds a word or passage and determines or clarifies its meaning.

Couplet

• Where a character (or characters) is/are unaware of something of which the audience/reader and often other characters on stage are aware. A powerful tool especially in drama, used for tragic or comic purposes.

• Two consecutive rhyming lines of verse. May clinch or emphasise an idea.(“Nature’s first green is gold,

• Stating or implying the opposite of what has been said or suggested.

• The circumstances, background or environment in which an event (or text) takes place, or an idea is set, and in terms of which it can be understood. (ii) The part of a text that surrounds a word or passage and determines or clarifies its meaning.

Context

• Where a character (or characters) is/are unaware of something of which the audience/reader and often other characters on stage are aware. A powerful tool especially in drama, used for tragic or comic purposes.

• Two consecutive rhyming lines of verse. May clinch or emphasise an idea.(“Nature’s first green is gold,

• Stating or implying the opposite of what has been said or suggested.

• The circumstances, background or environment in which an event (or text) takes place, or an idea is set, and in terms of which it can be understood. (ii) The part of a text that surrounds a word or passage and determines or clarifies its meaning.

Contradiction

• Where a character (or characters) is/are unaware of something of which the audience/reader and often other characters on stage are aware. A powerful tool especially in drama, used for tragic or comic purposes.

• Two consecutive rhyming lines of verse. May clinch or emphasise an idea.(“Nature’s first green is gold,

• Stating or implying the opposite of what has been said or suggested.

• The circumstances, background or environment in which an event (or text) takes place, or an idea is set, and in terms of which it can be understood. (ii) The part of a text that surrounds a word or passage and determines or clarifies its meaning.

Caesura

• A break or pause within a line of poetry, created by a comma or full stop or unmarked pause needed by the sense. Used effectively for emphasis, or to change direction or pace. To whence we came, for never again shall we return

• Repetition of similar vowel sounds close to one another (“The sweep / of easy wind”: Frost). This can create atmosphere in descriptive poetry. Sound this aloud to hear the effect.

• Expressing contrasting ideas by balancing words of opposite meaning and idea in a line or sentence, for rhetorical impact: “They promised opportunity and provided slavery”.

• Simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings towards something or someone. A writer’s attitude to a character or event may not be clear-cut, but may seem to hold at least two responses at the same time. Distinguish this from ‘ambiguity’.

Ambivalence

• A break or pause within a line of poetry, created by a comma or full stop or unmarked pause needed by the sense. Used effectively for emphasis, or to change direction or pace. To whence we came, for never again shall we return

• Repetition of similar vowel sounds close to one another (“The sweep / of easy wind”: Frost). This can create atmosphere in descriptive poetry. Sound this aloud to hear the effect.

• Expressing contrasting ideas by balancing words of opposite meaning and idea in a line or sentence, for rhetorical impact: “They promised opportunity and provided slavery”.

• Simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings towards something or someone. A writer’s attitude to a character or event may not be clear-cut, but may seem to hold at least two responses at the same time.