Lit. Terms 5-30

Analogy

A comparison made between two things to show the similarities between them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhueKrKKNps

Analysis

A method in which a work or idea is separated into its parts, and those parts given rigorous and detailed scrutiny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJKvdYB1t1w

Anaphora

A device or repetition in which a word or words are repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJLXOz19Rn4

Anecdote

A very short story used to illustrate a point

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAZTMDZkPz8





Antagonist

A person or force opposing the protagonist in a drama or narrative

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH6O4zYLkyA

Antithesis

A balancing of one term against another for emphasis or stylistic effectiveness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPN2717RMLY

Aphorism

A terse, pointed statement expressing some wise or clever observation about life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqwGMRwhdGw

Apologia

A defense or justification for some doctrine, piece of writing, cause, or action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXcch3_5JBI

Apostrophe

A figure of speech in which an absent or dead person, an abstarct quality, or something imanimate or nonhuman is addressed directly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OKcB-aJtt4

Argument(ation)

The process of convincing a reader by proving either the truth or the falsity of an idea or proposition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-a5B6xM5s4

Assumption

The act of supposing, or taking for granted that a thing is true

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TywmpMQYojs

Audience

The intended listener or listeners

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pED9TKjGn_g

Characterization

The means by which a writer reveals a character's personality

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYfZc0IO0As

Chiasmus

A reversal in the order off words so that the second half of a statement balances the first half in inverted word order

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TCaqxU7Ruk

Circumlocution

A roundabout or evasive speech or writing, in which many words are used but a few would have served

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKt3rim-VDk

Classicism

Art, literature, and music reflecting the principles of ancient Greece and Rome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyK7CHk4eR8

Cliche

A phrase of situation overused within society

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERD2TnMNH98

Climax

The decisive point in narrative or drama; the pint of greatest intensity or intrest at which plot question is answered or resolved

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8neDjQoBMQ

Colloquialism

Folksy speech, slang words or phrases usually used in informal conversation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwPBI6yA9vI

Comedy

Originally a nondramatic literary piece of work that was marked by a happy ending; now a term to describe a ludicrous, farcical, or amusing event designed provide enjoyment or produce smiles and laughter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCsHEpQBRJU

Conflict

Struggle or problem in a story causing tension

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb6IiSUxpgw

Connotation

Implicit meaning, going beyond dictionary definition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05TU0v0OLYc

Contrast

A rhetorical device by which one element is thrown into opposition to another for sake of emphasis or clarity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCoOyqt9qa8

Denotation

Plain dictionary definition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05TU0v0OLYc

Denouement

Loose ends tied up in a story after the climax, closure, conclusion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXjfWw0gMF0