Literary Terms EOC Prep

Understatement A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.figure of speech "It's just a flesh wound.“ (Black Knight, after both of his arms cut off, in Monty Python and the Holy Grail)

Parallelism Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly. The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game.

Allusion a passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication: an allusion to Shakespeare. “Flying too close to the sun” is alluding to the story of Icarus.

Analogy Reasoning or explaining from parallel cases. A simile is an expressed analogy; a metaphor is an implied one.simile metaphor "MTV is to music as KFC is to chicken." "Memory is to love what the saucer is to the cup."

Tone A writer's attitude toward the subject and audience. Tone is primarily conveyed through diction, point of view, syntax, and level of formality. audiencedictionpoint of viewsyntax Tone words

Voice the voice of a verb describes the relationship between the action (or state) that the verb expresses and the participants identified by its arguments (subject, object, etc.). arguments Active voice - When the subject is the agent or doer of the action.subject –The cat ate the mouse. Passive Voice - When the subject is the patient, target or undergoer of the action. –The mouse was eaten by the cat.

Denotation vs. Connotation Denotation is the specific, literal image, idea, concept, or object that a sign refers to. Connotation is the figurative cultural assumptions that the image implies or suggests. It involves emotional overtones, subjective interpretation, socio-cultural values, and ideological assumptions.signassumptions Example - Stop Sign Denotation—Stop (even without words, we recognize the meaning from the shape and color) Connotation—Risk (accident or ticket)

Review Terms Irony Simile Metaphor Hyperbole – overstatemnet Personification Alliteration Onomatopoeia POV –1 st Person –2 nd Person –3 rd (limited vs. omniscient)

Review Terms Plot/Subplot Flashback Conflict –Man vs. Man –Man vs. Self –Man vs. Society –Man vs. Nature Foreshadowing