Download English 12 Glossary

English 11
Note: The following terms are important vocabulary terms used to analyze
literature. They are commonly used in English class to discuss both the content
of stories, poems and informational test (the actual ideas expressed by the story or
poem) and to explain the style of the writer (the manner in which the piece is
written).
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Alliteration: the repetition of sounds in nearby words, usually involving the first
consonant sounds of the words. This device is often used to reinforce meaning or
to imitate a sound relevant to what is being described. For example, the following
line from Robert Frost's poem "Acquainted with the Night" provides us with an
example of alliteration," I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet." The
repetition of the "s" sound creates a sense of quiet, reinforcing the meaning of the
line.
Allusion: a reference to a famous character or idea found in another story, poem,
legend or myth. Holy books like the Bible and the Koran or people or events from
history are often used as allusion For example, "He met his Waterloo" (Napoleon
Bonaparte's final place of defeat) is a historical allusion to suggest someone has
met something he or she could not beat, or "Cupid's arrow struck her" is a
reference to the God of Love from Greek myths. Contemporary allusion to popular
culture is also common. A writer might refer to Avril Lavigne or Jackie Lee. An
allusion adds to the depth of meaning of a poem or story since it reminds the
reader of an entire story which can be applied to the situation.
Analogy: an explanation of one thing by a comparison of it, point by point, with
another. An analogy can be drawn between the solar system and molecular
structure, for instance. The following compares an actor to a car:
"Harrison Ford is like one of those sports cars that advertise acceleration from 0 to
60 m.p.h. in three or four seconds. He can go from slightly broody inaction to
ferocious reaction in approximately the same time span. And he handles the tight
turns and corkscrew twists of a suspense story without losing his balance or
leaving skid marks on the film. But maybe the best and most interesting thing
about him is that he doesn't look particularly sleek, quick, or powerful; until
something or somebody causes him to gun his engine, he projects the seemly aura
of the family sedan."
(Richard Schickel, Time magazine review of Patriot Games)
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Antagonist: the person or force that opposes the protagonist or main character of a
literary work. In The Giver, the antagonist is sometimes Jonas' father and
sometimes The Giver himself.
Antecedent Action: the section of the plot, usually at the beginning, which sets the
scene, introduces the main characters, establishes the tone and mood and suggests
the possible conflicts to be explored in the story. Antecedent action is also known
as the exposition.
Anti-climax: the point(s) in the story where secondary or minor conflicts are
resolved. In The Giver, one anti-climax occurs when Jonas finds out what his
assignment is and another when he decides to run away with Gabriel. In The
Outsiders, anti-climaxes occur when Johnny kills the Soc and when Johnny dies.
Argument: in exposition, the use of reason or logic to convince a reader or
listener. Argument depends on a statement of hypothesis followed by irrefutable
evidence as support. An Argumentative Essay uses this approach to develop its
content.
Assonance: the repetition of vowel sounds in a line or series of lines of
poetry. For example the use of the "o" sound here:
Our echoes roll from soul to soul
And grow forever and ever.
Atmosphere: see "Mood"
Audience: those readers, viewers or listeners for whom the content of a piece of
writing or media production is intended. This aspect can often be figured out by
looking at the difficulty of the wording. Typical fairy tales have children for their
audience. Horror movies are usually produced for a teenaged audience, newspaper
editorials for adults.
Autobiography: the story of a life written by the person who lived it.
Ballad: a narrative poem which usually contains much repetition and often a
repeated refrain or chorus. Ballads were originally folk songs passed down from
age to age. They often tell of a single dramatic episode such as the sinking of a
ship or the fight over a beautiful woman. Ballads have regular rhythms and rhyme
schemes and are typically set to music. They are typically divided into stanzas of a
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regular length. Examples are Robert Service's "The Shooting of Dan McGrew"
and Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"
Bias: the personal "slant" or set of preferences or prejudices either suggested or
directly stated in a work of literature.
Biography: the story of a life written by someone other than the person involved.
Blank Verse: a form of verse which is written in iambic pentameter and is not
rhymed. Most of Shakespeare's plays are written in blank verse because it can be
used to imitate normal speech patterns in English. The famous American poet,
Robert Frost, often used blank verse:
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go. - "The Mending Wall"
Character: a personality in fiction or non-fiction. Characters may be human or
non-human (e.g. the rat in "Barney") or may be real (Confucius) legendary (Hua
Mulan) or imaginary (Sherlock Holmes). Character details typically contain
information about appearance, background, behaviour and attitude. Characters are
analyzed as static (unchanging), dynamic (changing in an important way), flat
(one-dimensional) or rounded or full (three-dimensional and realistic). There are a
variety of character types: stock, stereotype, hero, villain and victim to name just a
few. Protagonist, antagonist and catalyst are the most important types.
Character Foil: a character whose personality traits provide contrast to those of the
protagonist. A foil must be in some way be similar to the protagonist in order that
the contrast between them serves to enhance or set off certain qualities in the
protagonist. For example, Asher in The Giver is a character foil for Jonas.
Chronological Order: the organization of a series of events according to the time
that they happened.
Cliches: expressions which began as appropriate and perhaps vivid images but
which have become overused to the point where their original value is lost.
Cliches are "tired" expressions to avoid in your writing because most people have
heard too often them before. "Life is a box of chocolates", Time flies", "last but
not least" or "in this day and age" are a good examples.
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Climax: the final decisive turning point in a series of actions, as in a drama or
story, for example, Adam and Eve's biting into the apple in the story of the Garden
of Eden, Snow White's kiss from Prince Charming or Ponyboy's reading of
Johnny's last letter in The Outsiders.
Colloquial: a term used to describe the common everyday speech style of a region
or social group. Colloquial speech contrasts with formal speaking patterns by
having more abbreviations, (e.g. "doc" instead of doctor) contractions ("they'll"
instead of "they will") and simple language.
Comedy: a term applied to any literary work, but most often applied to drama, in
which the outcome is seen as happy. Typically, a romantic comedy ends with a
marriage or engagement. Other comic content includes 'slapstick" or farcical,
physical humour (e.g. cream pie in the face) or satire (mocking).
Compare: to show the similarities and/or the differences between two elements.
Conflict: the problem(s) needing to be resolved in a narrative. Conflicts provide
the driving force for the progress of the plot. They create much of the suspense
and interest for the reader. They typically are described as human versus human,
human versus nature and human versus him or herself, although others are
possible. They can also be described as being physical, emotional, intellectual or
moral in quality.
Connotation: the feelings and associations suggested by a word. For example, note
the differences in associations of the words "slender" or "svelte" (glamorous image
like a fashion model), "skinny" (too thin so that bones are showing through the
skin) and "anorexic" (so sickly the person should see a doctor). Skillful use of
connotation (by way of choices made in vocabulary) helps the writer to create a
desired tone. Connotation can be positive or negative. "To eat" is a neutral
connotation but " guzzle" and "gobble" are negative because animals do these
actions. Words for "eat" with a positive connotation are "dine" and "feast" because
these choices suggest good manners or plentiful food.
Consonance: the combination of two or more consonant sounds within a phrase.
e.g., "the murmuring of innumerable bees" (m's and r's)
Contrast: to show only the differences between two elements.
Couplet: a stanza of two lines, usually rhyming
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Critical Incident: the first complication in a story; the event in the plot after which
the central dynamic of the conflict is set into play; the point after which there is no
turning back or undoing the problem without creating further complications. In
"The Friday Everything Changed", this point occurs when Alma Niles asked Miss
Ralston why the girls couldn't go for water. In The Giver, it occurs when Jonas is
appointed as the Receiver of Memory. In The Outsiders, Ponyboy's being caught
by Bob talking to Cherry creates the critical incident.
Denotation: the literal or dictionary meaning for a word.
Denouement: the point in the plot of a drama or novel where the outcome or major
clarification occurs, from the French for "untying"; this section of the plot is also
known as the "falling action". For example, the characters may discover each
other's real identity or values; they may marry, separate, leave on a journey or die.
Description: writing which depends upon sensory detail (sight, sound, smell, taste
and touch) to capture the quality of a scene, object or character.
Dialect: a variety of speech peculiar to a region or class of people, often different
in vocabulary and idiom. (vernacular or patois) Examples are the use of the
Appalachian "youngins" for children or the Cajun "cher" for "dear".
Newfoundlanders say "dipper" instead of "saucepan". Americans say "soda" for
soft drinks: Canadians say "pop".
Dialogue: conversation in literature, most typically between two characters.
Diary: the personal daily writings of an individual, usually recording reflections or
reactions to the events of the day.
Direct Presentation: in narration, the use of actual individual's speech or behaviour
to provide information about the person's personality, beliefs or motives.
Dissonance: an unpleasant-sounding mingling of sounds
Drama: plays produced for the stage, television or radio
Dramatic Irony: a situation in literature (often but not always in plays) where the
audience or listener is aware of some important development which the main
character does not realize. In The Giver, there is dramatic irony when the reader
knows what "release" means before Jonas does. In Barney, the reader may realize
the rat is malicious well befor the end of the story.
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Dynamic Character: a character whose life view changes in some very important
way during the course of the story. Jonas is a dynamic character in The Giver.
Editorial: an expression of opinion on a topical issue published by the editor of a
magazine or newspaper.
Elegy: a formal poem, often written as a lament for a departed friend or respected
person. The poet usually sets forth his or her ideas about death or some serious
topic.
Epic: a long narrative poem which tells of the adventures of heroic characters,
covers a long period of time, or describes some monumental task. Often
supernatural forces play some part in the action. E.g. Beowulf or the Iliad
Exposition: the type of writing which provides detailed explanation of facts or
ideas (as opposed to description or narration). Expository is a word to describe
writing which tries to explain something.
Fable: a brief narrative in either verse or prose which illustrates some moral truth.
The characters are often animals such s in Aesop's Fables or George Orwell's
Animal Farm. The story may also be of a fantasic nature.
Falling Action: see Denouement
Fantasy: narrative writing which features unbelievable or nonexistent worlds, such
as under the earth, in a fairyland, on the moon. The characters are often something
other than human or may include nonhuman characters. Example: J. R. R.
Tolkien's, The Hobbit, J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series, or Philip Pullman's The
Golden Compass Trilogy.
Figurative Language: writing which features those figures of speech commonly
used to evoke sensory images to provide depth of expression in writing. Such
devices include similes, metaphors, personification and hyperbole, for example.
Also called Imagistic Devices.
First Person Point of View: the perspective of the speaker of the story is "I"
or "we"
Flashback: an interruption in the continuity of a narrative during which some
earlier episode is recalled. The technique is frequently used to clarify some plot
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development for the reader, where the reader has been kept unaware of something
in order to increase intrigue or suspense.
Flat Character: A flat character embodies one or two qualities, ideas, or traits that
can be readily described in a brief summary. They are not psychologically
complex characters and therefore are easily understood by readers. Some flat
characters are recognized as stock characters; they are stereotypes such as the
"dumb blonde" or the "mean stepfather." They become types rather than
individuals.
Focus Statement: In expository writing, the sentence in the introduction which
helps to limit the topic to a breadth which can be handled within the scope of the
assigned length. The focus statement may also provide transition into the body of
the essay.
Foreshadowing: in a narrative, a hint ahead of time of action to come.
Formal essay: a controlled and logical approach to a topic. Formal essays
must have five basic elements if they are to be successful:
1. A strong thesis statement with logical supporting points. 2. Body
paragraphs that discuss the supporting points in the order they are
mentioned in the thesis statement. 3.Good transitions between paragraphs.
4. A conclusion which summarizes what has been said in the body of the
paper. 5. Appropriate diction and tone.
Free Verse: the form of poetry which lacks regular metre, line length or rhyme
scheme, instead relying upon the natural speech rhythms of the language to help it
flow. Also called Free Form.
Genre: a literary type or class. Poetry, drama, novels, essays and short stories
may each be said to be a separate genre of literature. The term is also used to
designate sub-groups within each class. For example, romances and science fiction
are genres of novels.
Graphic Text: a combination of pictures and words to tell a story.
Hero: a flat or stock character in epics, traditional ballads and modern escape
fiction who is admirable and noble in behaviour and outlook. Superman,
Spiderman or Luke Skywalker from the "Star Wars" movies are heroic figures.
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Hyperbole: extreme exaggeration for effect. Hyperbole is often used with
qualifying expressions such as "so big that..." or with numerical describers,
for example, "I've told you a million times..." This device is often used for
humorous effect or in love poetry.
E.g. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach...
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning
"I'm drowning in a pool of tears since you left me."
For humour: "He's so skinny he has to run around in the shower to get
wet!"
For dramatic effect: "I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse!", and "My feet are
killing me!"
Idiom: an expression peculiar to a language, not readily understandable from its
grammatical construction. e.g 'being in the same boat" means being in the same
difficult situation.
Image: in the context of literature, a mental picture created by either figurative or
imitative devices.
Imagery: the pattern or collection of images in a poem or other literary work. A
discussion of imagery could include both figurative devices (simile, metaphor,
hyperbole, personification, et al) and imitative devices (alliteration, assonance,
consonance, onomatopoeia, repetition et al). Imagery discussion is more technical
than the discussion of symbolism in that it draws attention to the specific instances
where devices are effectively used to create impressions, whereas symbolism is
more often discussed in terms of its significance for a statement of theme.
Symbolism often depends on the "collage" effect of a collection of imagery.
Indirect Presentation: In narration the use of a witness's observations about
a character's words or behaviour as a source of information about the
person's personality traits, motives or beliefs
Informal Essay: a piece of writing which uses a relaxed level of language and
diction, a more conversational style which invites the reader into an intimate,
unconventional or friendly kind of experience.
Internal Rhyme: rhyme which occurs within lines of poetry.
E.g. Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee where the cotton blooms
and blows...
-Robert Service
This technique is often used to give strength and vigour to a poem since it seems
to make the action occur more rapidly.
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Irony: in poetry, a difference which the reader senses between the words that are
spoken (or written) and what is true. Some techniques used to achieve irony are
hyperbole and outright contradiction. Irony is often seen as gentle form of
sarcasm. The following example comes from a newspaper "filler":
The tobacco industry reports it provides jobs for 57000 Americans and this figure
does not include physicians, X-ray technicians, nurses, hospital employees,
firefighters, dry cleaners, respiratory specialists, pharmacists, morticians and
gravediggers.
Jargon: a term of contempt applied to speech or writing considered ugly sounding,
unintelligible or meaningless. Often the language of a trade or profession such as
medicine or computer programming seems full of unnecessarily complex or
inflated terminology which is called jargon.
Legend: a story, sometimes of a national or folk hero, which has a basis in fact but
also contains imaginative material. e.g. stories of Robin Hood or Hua Mulan
Limerick: a humorous five line poem, usually in anapestic metre; the first, second
and fifth lines have three feet and rhyme with each other; the third and fourth lines
have two feet and rhyme with each other. Limericks usually tell of the actions of a
person in a colloquial, sometimes extremely irreverent, style.
E.g. There was a young lady from Spain,
Who was exceedingly sick on a train.
Her Gravol exhausted,
She burped and then lost it,
Again and again and again.
Limited Omniscient Point of View: the perspective of the narrator allows an
internal view of only one main character's thought and feelings.
Literal Language: language which provides the exact meaning of a word or phrase
taken without any added exaggeration, imagination or connotation. The opposite
of figurative meaning.
Lyric: a short poem expressing the internal emotions or thoughts of a single
speaker. Lyrics are usually an expression of the poet's feelings about a person,
object or situation; the intent is to create a single unified impression on the reader
or listener. Lyrics originated as songs, and in their strictest definition, should be
regularly rhymed and metered. However, the words of all songs nowadays are
called lyrics, regardless of whether there is a regular rhyme or rhythm.
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Metaphor: a form of figurative language which makes a comparison by stating that
two ideas are the same, that one is the other, also called indirect comparison. For
example, "The boss was a mule when I asked for a raise."
Metaphors may be called extended metaphors when they are especially drawn out,
or when they are central to the organization of a poem.
They may be implied metaphors when the quality of one item is applied to another
although the two are not stated. For instance, "Her fingers flew across the
keyboard."
Metaphors are used to enrich the connotations of words and to state concisely a
variety of meanings. To say a person is a star does not require one to state all the
qualities of an actual star.
Metaphorical language includes in general all the devices which involve one entity
assuming the identity of another. Therefore, personification, metonymy and
synecdoche are special cases of metaphors.
Metonymy: the use of the name of one thing for that of another which it naturally
suggests. For instance, "The pen (the power of literature) is mightier than the
sword (military force)." An accountant will say we must pay taxes to "the Crown"
when he means Revenue Canada.
Metre: the pattern of stressed syllables which occurs at regular intervals and makes
up the rhythm or beat of a poem.
Mood: in a literary work, the emotional atmosphere established to arouse a
particular response from the reader, e.g. spooky, relaxed, tense. Mood is used by
some in the same sense as Tone although tone is more properly the attitude of the
writer and not the emotional response of the reader.
Narration: writing which tells a story and organizes action according to the
sequence of time (although not necessarily in chronological order).
Narrative: a story, either fiction or non-fiction
Objective Language: the use of terms which are as neutral as possible in their
connotation so that little or no bias is evident.
Objective Point of View: the perspective which provides only information about
what the characters can be observed to be saying and doing. No internal thought or
feeling is mentioned.
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Ode: a poem on an exalted theme, expressed in dignified, sincere language,
serious in tone, and usually in praise of somebody or something. Because of their
serious nature, odes are often parodied or satirized.
Omniscient Point of View: the perspective allows the internal thoughts and
feelings of all the characters to be revealed.
Onomatopoeia: the use of words whose sounds seem to suggest or imitate the
natural sounds associated with the object or action involved e.g. buzz or tinkle.
Oxymoron: a figure of speech consisting generally of two apparently
contradictory terms which express a startling paradox e.g. "shrieks of
silence", "angelical fiend" or "conspicuous by its absence"
Parable: a story illustrating a moral lesson. In a parable, the story is developed,
not for its own sake, but only in so far as it reinforces the moral which is always
explicit. An example is "The Good Samaritan".
Paradox: although appearing to be self-contradictory, the situation contains a basis
of truth which reconciles the seeming opposites. For example, the use of X-rays to
treat cancer seems paradoxical, because exposure to X-rays is known to be the
cause of some cancers. Another paradox is the fact that if one wants a job done,
one is better off to give the job to a busy person to do because a busy person is
more likely to get the job done than is someone with lots of time on his/her hands.
"The boy is father to the man" because the quality of someone's childhood often
determines what kind of adult the person will be.
Parody: a piece of writing which copies the form of another in order to evoke a
humorous reaction, For example, the scripts for some "Saturday Night Live" skits
which ridicule famous personalities are parodies. Rich Little's impersonations and
"Weird" Al Yancovic's songs (e.g. "Eat It" or "Like a Surgeon") are also parodies.
Passive Voice: the verb form which has the subject being the entity which
has been acted upon. The opposite to active voice.
e.g Active Voice "The car hit the wall."
Passive Voice "The wall was hot by the car."
Personification: a specialized metaphor in which an inanimate object or quality is
given human characteristics. For example, "the brook babbled and chuckled" or
"the mirror frowned back at her".
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Persuasion: in exposition, the use of emotional appeal (e.g. guilt, jealousy, hatred
etc.) to convince a reader or listener. Persuasive writing uses emotional pressure to
convince the reader to
Plot: the sequence of events in a narrative literary work. A well-structured plot
will show the connection between events in terms of causality.
Point of View: the perspective from which the action is seen. For
example, the first person point of view ("I") involves seeing the action through the
eyes of a participant; limited third person involves seeing the action through the
eyes of a non-participating but existing character; omniscient third person point of
view involves seeing the action from an all-knowing vantage point, such that the
character's internal thoughts are revealed. As readers, we tend to see only what the
narrator sees; we tend to be swayed by the narrator's powers of observation and
may be duped when those conclusions are wrong.
Prose: writing organized in standard sentence and paragraph form, as opposed to
poetry, which is organized by rhyme, by rhythm, or (in much modern poetry) by
the writer's own preference.
Protagonist: the major character in a literary work, around whom all the action
revolves. For example, Jonas is the protagonist in The Giver and Ponyboy Curtis is
in The Outsiders.
Proverb: a short popular saying, generally an observation or a piece of advice.
Although some have been attributed to specific individuals (such as those of
Solomon) most derive from folk wisdom. Examples include "A friend in need is a
friend in deed" or "A chain is no stronger than its weakest link."
Pun: the usually humorous use of words which are formed alike but have different
meanings, or the use of a single word with two or more different meanings to
make a joke. Also called wordplay. For example:
A bicycle can't stand alone because it is two-tired.
A backward poet writes inverse.
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress. Question and Answer: A style of response which involves a simple posing of a
problem with a statement for a reply
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Refrain: a repeated series of lines or words between stanzas, common in ballads
and music lyrics
Repetition: one of the imitative devices most often used for emphasis or an
echoing effect.
Research: the use of secondary resources for supporting or explaining an idea
Rhetoric: the art or science of using words effectively in speaking or writing, so as
to influence or persuade; the art or science of literary composition, especially in
prose, including the skillful use of figures of speech and diction.
Rhetorical Question: a query for which no reply is expected. The question is posed
as a device to call attention to the problem or to get the attention of the audience.
Rhyme: similarity of the end sound of words, a device used to establish form in a
poem and to provide a pleasing sound. Rhyme also unifies a stanza or poem and
helps to provide division between stanzas.
Rhyme Scheme: the pattern of rhyme within a poem, designated by applying to
each similar rhyme the same letter of the alphabet.
Rhythm: in poetry, the beat established by the stressed and unstressed syllable
pattern of the metrical foot. Rhythm is identified by both the type of foot (e.g.
iambic) and by the number of feet to the line (e.g. pentameter has 5 feet to the line
of poetry).
Rising Action: the section of the plot occurring after the critical incident up until
the point of the major climax.
Round Character: in fiction, the personality whose traits are revealed most fully. A
round character is one who, being seen in a greater variety of circumstances, shows
both admirable and less worthy qualities.
Sarcasm: the use of strong sounding bitter ironic language
Satire: the type of writing which serves to ridicule or poke fun at something. E.g.
much of Mad Magazine and Saturday Night Live is satirical.
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Setting: the time and place within which the action of a work of literature occurs.
Simile: a figure of speech in which there is a direct statement of similarity between
two items which are essentially dissimilar, usually through the use of a word such
as "as", "like" or "than", or by a verb such as "resembles".
Slang: the very informal language often associated a social sub-group or the
poorly educated.
Sonnet: a lyric poem of fourteen lines in iambic pentameter following one of
several possible rhyme schemes. The two main types of sonnet are the Italian (or
Petrarchan) and the English (Elizabethan or Shakespearean).
The Italian sonnet is divided into two parts: an eight-line section (octave) rhymed
abba abba, and a six-line section (sestet) usually rhymed cde cde. Often the octave
states a problem or poses a question and the sestet offers a solution. The English
sonnet usually has three quatrains, each with its own rhyme scheme, and ends in a
rhymed couplet. The rhyme scheme is usually then abab cdcd efef gg. The final
couplet is usually a concluding statement commenting on the preceding thoughts.
Speaker: the voice use to provide the narrative
Stanza: a group of two or more lines in a poem, a "verse" in common English
discussion of poetry. Each stanza is set off from the preceding one by spacing (like
a paragraph in prose).
Static Character; a personality which does not develop in terms of attitude or
philosophical outlook from the way in which he or she was first presented (not to
be confused with flat character) A static character may be rounded, but just
lacking in personal growth.
Stereotyped Character: Character in a literary work or film who thinks or acts
according to certain unvarying patterns simply because of his or her racial, ethnic,
religious, or social background. A stereotype is usually an image that society
projects or imposes on every member of a group as a result of prejudice or faulty
information. Examples of stereotypes are the Irish drunk, the Italian mobster, the
dishonest car salesman, the plain-Jane librarian, the shyster lawyer, the
Machiavellian politician, and the dumb blonde.
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Style: the manner in which a literary work is presented. Formal and informal styles
are the most commonly recognized in modern writing, although English prose may
also be associated with the culture in which it originates, for example American
Canadian or British style, or with the social stratum from which it derives, for
example sophisticated urban, or simplistic provincial.
Subjective Language: in contrast to objective language, the use of diction which
suggests personal bias or prejudice on the part of the writer.
Surprise Ending: an unexpected development at the end of a narrative, often
engineered for effect. The short stories of Saki (H.H.Munro) are well known for
this feature
Suspense: in a work of literature, the deliberative development of tension to arouse
the curiosity of the audience. In mystery stories for example, withholding
important information about characters or plot developments often creates
suspense.
Symbol: a term with many meanings, basically a symbol is an image that stands
for something else. (e.g. a star is a symbol for a successful person; a flag is a
symbol for a country.) Symbols tend to depend on the connotations that the reader
associates with them; hence, they suggest or evoke meanings rather than state
them directly.
Symbolism: broadly speaking, the process whereby the writer uses imagery to
transmit a message which is usually closely related to the thematic intent of the
literary piece. For example, in The Outsiders, Johnny's use of "gold" and "sunset"
suggests all that is fresh and good about life. Gold has the additional meaning of
material value and richness, and therefore, the boys' search for a better life. In The
Giver, Jonas's blue eyes suggest clarity of vision and the ability of greater
perception in general. The lack of colour for most inhabitants of Jonas's world
suggests its dreariness and sterility.
Theme: in literary works, the central thought of the piece as a whole; the abstract
concept which is made concrete through the imagery and other features of the
work. The theme need not be a "lesson:" or "moral" necessarily, although it may
be; it might simply be an observation made about some aspect of life or death or
whatever topic is under discussion. A theme should be able to be summarized in
no more that two or three sentences.
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Thesis Statement: In expository writing, the sentence in the introduction which
contains the central idea of the essay. The thesis statement should always suggest
the "shape" of the discussion which follows; that is, some sense of the sub-topics
to be used should be contained in the thesis statement.
Third Person Point of View: the use of an uninvolved or peripherally
involved observer as the narrator.
Tone: the attitude of the writer towards the topic. Typical tones are: cynical,
ironic, humorous, genuine, angry, sardonic, querulous and non-chalant. Generally,
tone is either formal or informal as determined by the writer's choice of diction.
Tragedy: the traditional definition of tragedy involved a noble character, typically
a king or nobleman, who is neither villainous nor exceptionally virtuous, and who
is caught in circumstances which cause him to move from happiness to misery as a
result of frailty or some error in judgment. A modern use of the term implies an
ordinary person of the middle or lower class whose downfall is the result of the
evils of society rather than fate or a flaw within him or herself. In fact, modern
tragic characters are more often victims not of moral flaws but of psychological
abnormalities.
Transition: the use of rhetorical technique to provide direction for the reader in
following a line of reasoning or narrative. For instance, expressions such as
"furthermore" or "in addition" suggest discussion which augments that which has
already been provided, whereas an expression such as "nevertheless" suggests
contrast, and "consequently", a logical causal relationship.
Understatement: (also called Litotes). a figure of speech in which something is
deliberately underrated or said to be less than it is. Understatement has the effect
of simplifying or suggesting that the thing described is more than it is, allowing
the reader to add the significance. Understatement is therefore a form of irony. For
example, a scholar might say about his own area of expertise that he knows "not a
little"; he is, in fact, saying that he knows quite a lot.
Another humorous example: "The British are feeling the pinch in relation to
recent terrorist bombings and threats to destroy nightclubs and airports, and
therefore have raised their security level from 'Miffed' to 'Peeved.' Soon, though,
security levels may be raised yet again to 'Irritated' or even 'A Bit Cross.' Brits
have not been 'A Bit Cross' since the Blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran
out." (anonymous post on the Internet, July 2007)
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Unity: the quality of a literary work which suggests a seamless coherence, so that
no part can be imagined as superfluous or unnecessary...not all works achieve the
ideal.
Villanelle: a fixed poetic form, originally French, in which there are only two
rhymes used in total. The poem consists of four tercets and one final quatrain.
Verse: either a line of poetry within a stanza or poetry in general. The term should
not be used as a synonym for stanza.
Voice: the sense of identity which an author is able to infuse into a piece of
writing through choice of detail and style. A truly objective piece of writing
should not convey any voice.
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