Literature vocab unit A

refers to a total objectivity of a writer wherin his/her view and judgments are withheld in his/her account of human experience; also, the distance between a work of art and its perceiver

inversion of the normal syntactic order of words

discussions directed to the reader and constituting a substantial break in the narrative illusion of reality

the selection of words in oral or written discourse

the interpretation or analysis of text

a term used to describe literary forms such as tragedy, comedy, novel and essay

a narrative technique in which characters' thoughts are revealed in a way that appears to be uncontrolled by the author; typically aims to reveal the inner self of a character. It portrays emotional experiences as they occur at both a conscious and unconscious level.

a narrator who observes from only one point of view, lacking omniscience

the emotional response that a piece of literature stimulates in the reader

a narrator with unlimited awareness, understanding, and insight of character, setting, background, and all other elements of the story

the role or facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader, a viewer, or the world at large

the view, whether limited or omniscient, the reader gets of the action and characters in the story

the language of a work and its style; similar to diction

refers to an attempt on the part of an author to reproduce the unembellished flow of thoughts in the human mind with its feelings, judgments, associations, and memories

the manner in which an author uses words, shapes ideas, forms sentences, and creates a structure

the arrangement of words in a sentence; sentence pattern

the main idea or meaning, often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built

the author's attitude toward the subject being written about; the characteristic emotion that pervades a work or part of a work -- the spirit or character that is a work's emotional essence

the real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker

reference to a person, place, event, or other source meant to create an effect or enrich the meaning of an idea

"No, I am not Prince Hamlet / Nor was meant to be."

a comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things

You are to me as dawn is to day.

a figure of speech in which a striking association is made between two seemingly dissimilar things; an extended metaphor

Her eyes were sparkling diamonds, which glittered brightly through the dark cave of my soul, promising rich hope and fulfillment.

the suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase (contrast with denotation)

Those liberals are trying to unravel the moral fabric of this country.

the dictionary definition of a word or phrase (contrast with connotation)

Liberal: a person who hold liberal views; not narrow in opinion or judgment; tolerant

figures of speech, among them metaphor, simile, personification, synecdoche, metonymy, allusion, and symbol

She was like Athena, a veritable fountain of knowledge.

the use of words to represent what can be seen, touched, smelled, tasted, or felt -- sensory language

The piquant soup permeated the house with aromas of ripe and tomatoes, savory spices, and rich chicken broth.

a figure of speech that compares unlike objects

Her eyes were sparkling diamonds

a figure of speech in which objects and animals are given human qualities.

The moon smiled upon the dancing waves.

a figurative comparision using the words like or as

Her eyes were like sparkling diamonds.

repetition of consonant sounds, especially at the beginnings of words

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

a locution that addresses a person or personified thing not present

"Oh, you cruel streets of Manhattan, how I detest you!"

the repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry

Time files when you're rhyming.

the use of inharmonious sounds in close conjuction to create an effect (contrast with euphony)

acrimonious alacrity

the repetition of two more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry

Look, don't trick me into thinking about trucks and buckets.

the use of pleasant, harmonious words to create an effect (contrast with cacophony)

The mellifluous melody of the rushing river aroused my senses.

a figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated.

The White House claims that the allegations were false.

the use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning

bubbling, murmuring brook

the use of one object to suggest another, hidden, object or idea

The American flag represents freedom and democracy.

a figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole or the whole signifies the part

Fifty masts sailed toward shore.
He lived his days under African skies.