1. ACT - A major division in a play. Often, individual acts are divided into smaller units ("scenes") that all take place in a specific location. Originally, Greek plays were not divided into acts. in the 1900s, most playwrights preferred a three-act model, though two-act plays are not uncommon.
2. Alliteration- Repeating a consonant sound in close proximity to others, or beginning several words with the same vowel sound. For instance, the phrase "buckets of big blue berries" alliterates with the consonant b.
3. ALLUSION - A casual reference in literature to a person, place, event, or another passage of literature, often without explicit identification. Allusions can originate in mythology, biblical references, historical events, legends, geography, or earlier literary works. in Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock
4. AMBIGUITY - In common conversation, ambiguity is a negative term applied to a vague or equivocal expression when precision would be more useful. Sometimes, however, intentional ambiguity in literature can be a powerful device, leaving something undetermined in order to open up multiple possible meanings.
5. ANACHRONISM - Placing an event, person, item, or verbal expression in the wrong historical period. In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Shakespeare writes the following lines: Brutus: Peace! Count the clock. Cassius: The clock has stricken three
6. ANTICLIMAX - (also called bathos): a drop, often sudden and unexpected, from a dignified or important idea or situation to one that is trivial or humorous. Also a sudden descent from something sublime to something ridiculous.
7. ANTI-HERO - A protagonist who is a non-hero or the antithesis of a traditional hero. While the traditional hero may be dashing, strong, brave, resourceful, or handsome, the antihero may be incompetent, unlucky, clumsy, dumb, ugly, or clownish. the Sub-Mariner
8. Antithesis- Using opposite phrases in close conjunction. Examples might be, "I burn and I freeze,". The best antitheses express their contrary ideas in a balanced sentence. It can be a contrast of opposites and contrast of degree. Antithesis is an example of a rhetorical scheme. Contrast with oxymoron. Man proposes, God disposes
9. Archetype-An original model or type after which other similar things are patterned Frankenstein is the archetypal monster
10. Apostrophe – apostrophe is the act of addressing some abstraction or personification that is not physically present. An apostrophe is an example of a rhetorical trope. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
11. Aside- In drama, a few words or a short passage spoken by one character to the audience while the other actors on stage pretend their characters cannot hear the speaker's words. It is a theatrical convention that the aside is not audible to other characters on stage.
12. Assonance - Identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words. "Do you like blue”
13. BEAST EPIC - popular genre in various literatures, consisting of a lengthy cycle of animal tales that provides a satiric commentary on human society. Although individual episodes may be drawn from fables, the beast epic differs from the fable not only in length but also in putting less emphasis on a moral. Roman de Reynart
14. BILDUNGSROMAN- A novel in which an adolescent protagonist comes to adulthood by a process of experience and disillusionment. This character loses his or her innocence, discovers that previous preconceptions are false, or has the security of childhood torn away, but usually matures and strengthens by this process. Examples include Wieland's Agathon, Herman Raucher's Summer of '42, Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine, Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey.
15. BLACK COMEDY - is a sub-genre of comedy and satire in which topics and events that are usually regarded as taboo are treated in a satirical or humorous manner while retaining their seriousness. the Shakespearean play Titus Andronicus,
16. Blank verse- the technical name for unrhymed iambic pentameters eg.Verse of 5 feet per line, with stress the 2nd beat of each foot. Paradise lost
17. Burlesque- A work that ridicules a topic by treating something exalted as if it were trivial or vice-versa. See also parody and travesty. Dulcamara
18. CANON – a body of writings established as authentic. The term usually refers to biblical writings accepted as authorized – as opposed to the Apocrypha.
19. CARICATURE – in art or literature, portrayal of an individual or thing than exaggerates and distorts prominent characteristics as to make them appear ridiculous. Caricature is commonly a medium for satire. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
20. Catharsis- An emotional discharge that brings about a moral or spiritual renewal or welcome relief from tension and anxiety. According to Aristotle, catharsis is the marking feature and ultimate end of any tragic artistic work.
21. Climax – the part of the story or play at which a crisis is reached and resolution achieved.
22. Comedy of humours – a comedy in which each humor was associated with different physical and mental characteristic . There were 4 types of humor and they could be combined. The person’s character was controlled by one of the humor. Popular in Renaissance literature. Every Man in His Humour
23. Comedy of manners - A comic drama consisting of five or three acts in which the attitudes and customs of a society are critiqued and satirized according to high standards of intellect and morality. The dialogue is usually clever and sophisticated. Characters are valued according to their linguistic and intellectual prowess. L'École des femmes
24. Comic relief- a humorous or facial interlude in a serious literary work or drama, esp a tragedy , intended to relieve the dramatic tension or heighten the emotional input by means of contrast. Hamlet
25. Conceit- fanciful or unusual image in which apparently dissimilar things are shown to have a relationship. An elaborate metaphor often strained or far-petched , in which the subject is compared with simpler analogue usually chosen from nature or a familiar context. "My true-love hath my heart and I have his
26. Consonance- is a stylistic device characterized by the repetition of 2 or more consonant using different vowels. Repeats the consonant sound but not vowel sounds.
27. Convention- is an agreement between the writer and his or her readers which allows various freedoms and restrictions . The term is especially relevant to drama. The stage itself establishes a convention by creating boundaries and limitations . The audience is prepared to suspend disbelief and to experience a representation of scenery and action.
28. Couplet – a unit of verse consisting of 2 successive lines , usually rhyming and having the same meter and often forming a complete thought or syntactic unit. True wit is nature to advantage dress'd;/// What oft was thought, but ne'er so well express'd.— Alexander Pope
29. Complication – rising in tension in drama. A c. in no more than a reversal in the action of the play, whether major or minor. In Hamlet each time someone appears and distracts Hamlet from his plan to kill the king in Shakespeare’s play.
30. Crisis – the point in the story or play at which tension reaches maximum and resolution is imminent. There may be of course several crises, each preceding a climax. C. are the point of high dramatic action in a play.
31. Cycle- a group of works, usually narrative poems, that either share a common theme or subject (e.g. the Trojan war, Charlemagne, the Knights of the Round Table), or are linked together as a sequence
32. Decorum – principle of classical rhetoric poetry and theatrical theory. Term used to describe the mutual appropriateness of genre,style,action,matter and character . Ex: High style is fit and proper for royalty a grave style for old men.
33. Denouement- the final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot . The events following the climax of a drama or novel in which such a resolution or clarification takes place.
34. DETECTIVE STORY – type of popular literature dealing with the step-by-step investigation and solution of the crime usually murder.
35. Deus ex machina – God out of machine . In Greek drama , God was lowered onto the stages by a machine so he could get into hero out of difficulties . Today this phrase is applied to any unanticipated intervenor who resolves a difficult situation in any literary genre. Euripides' "Medea"
36. DICTION – the way words are selected in a particular literary work, usually poetry. The appropriate selection of words in a poem is poetic diction. The choice of words, phrases, sentence structure and even figurative language which give regards to clarity and accuracy.
37. Didactic(ism) - instructive; designed to impart information, advice, or some doctrine of morality or philosophy. Much of the most ancient surviving literature is didactic, containing genealogies, proverbial wisdom, and religious instruction. Most European literary works of the Middle Ages have a strong didactic element, usually expounding doctrines of the Church. Didacticism is an artistic philosophy that emphasizes instructional & informative qualities of literature & other types of art. Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Critisicm.
38. Dirge- a mournful or elegiac poem or other literary work , a poem of grief or lamentation esp one intended to accompany funeral or memorial rites. Dies Iræ
39. Disintegrated soul- sense of hopelessness connected with a tragic flaw (hamartia). The protagonist has no choice and doesn’t know what to do. Macbeth.
40. Doggerel – crudely or irregularly fashioned verse, often of humorous or burlesque nature, a verse considered of little literary value. Shakespeare uses doggerel in The Comedy of Errors
41. DRAMATIC IRONY – the dramatic effect achieved by leading an audience to understand incongruity between a situation and the accompanying speeches, while the characters in the play remain unaware of the incongruity. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
42. ELEGY – classical, formal structure, focuses on death// the subject of the poem are death, war, love and similar themes. A poem of mourning for an individual or a lament for some tragic event (sad, melancholic) John Milton's "Lycidas
43. ELLIPSIS - (1) In its oldest sense as a rhetorical device, ellipsis refers to the artful omission of a word implied by a previous clause. For instance, an author might write, "The American soldiers killed eight civilians, and the French eight."
44. EMBLEM – a visible symbol representing an abstract idea. It consists of a pictorial image, abstract that is a perfect example. /// an object or the figure of an object, symbolizing and suggesting another object, or an idea, by natural aptness or by association, a figurative representation, a typical designation, a symbol e.g. cross – suffering, death, crucifixion, sin, victory.
45. Epic- is a lengthy narrative poem ,ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Epics are often of national significance in the sense that they embody the history and aspirations of nation . 2 kinds of epic: primary also known as primitive(Beowulf)and secondary known as literary.
46. Epilogue- A conclusion added to a literary work such as a novel, play, or long poem. It is the opposite of a prologue. Often, the epilogue refers to the moral of a fable. Sometimes, it is a speech made by one of the actors at the end of a play asking for the indulgence of the critics and the audience.
47. EPIPHANY – a literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight. A sadden appearance, manifestation.
48. EPISTOLARY NOVEL – novel in the form of a series of letters of letters written by one or more characters. It allows the author to present the character’s thoughts without interference, presents events from several point of view. Pride and Prejudice,
49. EXEMPLUM – kind of religious convention, type of story with a moral message. Type of sermon.
50. EXPOSITION – at the beginning of the play the dramatist is often committed to giving a certain amount of essential information about the plot and the events which are to come.
51. EYE-RHYME – a rhyme which gives to the eye the impression of an exact rhyme but does not in fact possess identical sounds e.g. move/love, come/home
52. FARCE – situational comedy, exaggerated behaviour, absurd situations, elements of improbability. Joe Orton: Loot
53. FEMINE RHYME – when words of two or more syllables rhyme it is known as femine or double rhyme. It’s particularly common in humorous verse. pleasure, treasure
54. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE – language which was figure of speech, e.g. metaphor, simile, alliteration. It must be distinguished from literal language.
55. FLASHBACK – when the current action is broken by referent to sth which occurred earlier in the work or prior to its beginning.
56. FLAT & ROUND CHARECTERS – term used to describe two basically different types of character and characterisation. A FLAT CHARECTER does not change in the course of a story or play, a ROUND one develops and alters. Mr. Collins in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice/ Raskolnikov
57. FOOT – a way of measuring meter in poetry using a series of stressed and unstressed syllables that is prepared establishes a poetic foot.
58. FORESHADOWING – when the writer drops hints or clues in the plot that give to the rider an idea of what is going to happen later in story.
59. 4 levels of meaning : 1)literal/historical 2)moral 3) allegory 4)anagogical
60. FREE VERSE – does not have a strict pattern of rhyming. Marriage Marianne Moore
61. GENRE – a French term for a kind, literary type or classic. The major classical genres were epic, tragedy, lyric, comedy and satire to which would now be added novel and short story.
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