Literary Terms Sam Young, Nevyat Gebru, Joshua Inyangson, John Nguyen
Origin - Latin “to say” Definition - Denotes the word choice and phrasing in a literary work. Diction
Definition - Diction that creates a sense of authority and includes words or phrases that would typically not be used in everyday conversation. Typically includes: ●Using Latinate vocabulary rather than Anglo-Saxon (propitious instead of lucky, converse instead of talk) ●Lengthy complex sentences with many subordinate clauses ●Use of periphrasis (zephyrs instead of warm winds, warblers instead of songbirds) Formal Diction
Definition:plain syntax, either simple sentences or compound sentences made up of clauses linked by “and” Typically uses: ●monosyllabic ●Anglo-Saxon ●emphasis on nouns Colloquial Diction
Definition - the extent to which it deals with general concepts. Language that describe concepts (like ideas and qualities) and not concrete images. ex. love, patriotism, beauty, time Abstraction
Definition - with physical objects, like imagery, and emotive and sensual details. ex. lips, gun, silky gown, shrill cry Concreteness
Definition - Phrasing and vocabulary that is characteristic of poetry. ●refers to the style of 18th century neoclassical poets ○ “decorum” - highly formal word choice suitable to a lofty subject and a refined audience. Poetic Diction
●Words derived from Latin like “provoke”, “celestial”, and “repressed” ●Personification of abstract moral qualities like “Honor” ●Antiquated Words - “o”, “abide”, “ere” ●Poetic Contractions - “ne’er” (never), ‘tis (it is), and “morn” (morning). Examples
●Origin - Latin “to play with” ●Classification: Rhetorical Device ●Definition: Passing reference in a work of literature to another literary or historical work, figure, event, or literary passage ○ reference is not explained ○ gives the reader a better understanding of the text by referencing something similar Ex. “Though I have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought upon a platter, I am no prophet—and here’s no great matter…” ●Alludes to John the Baptist, who was beheaded Allusion
●Origin: Greek “proportionate” ●Classification: Rhetorical Device ●Definition: Comparison of a subject to something that is similar ○ To help readers understand the passage by relating incidents to something common ○ Helps to clarify or emphasize themes, motifs or ideas ●Similes and metaphors are analogy based ○ like or as vs no like or as Analogy
●“ As soon as I saw the elephant, I knew with perfect certainty that I ought not to shoot him. It is a serious matter to shoot a working elephant - it is comparable to destroying a huge and costly piece of machinery (Shooting an Elephant - George Orwell) ●Comparing elephant to machinery to clarify and emphasize a point Examples