E-F-G Words

(not to be confused with the “effing” words...sorry)

ellipsis

• That series of three periods which indicates that something has been omitted from a given text; be wary, as omission can obscure the real meaning of a piece of writing

• Also used to indicate......a pause

epigram

• A concise witty saying in poetry or prose that either stands alone or is part of a larger work; it may also refer to a short poem of this type

• Think Oscar Wilde....or not....

“All art is quite useless.”

epigraph

• The use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme

• Hemmingway begins The Sun Also Rises with two epigraphs. One of them is “You are all a lost generation” by Gertrude Stein.

epiphany

• When a writer suddenly realizes, part way through an essay, that she/he has missed something or been on the wrong track, and announces to the reader: “Hark, a light bulb has gone on in my head, and I will now proceed with a new/better thought or idea!”

• a sudden realization

epithet

• An adjective or adjective phrase appropriately qualifying a subject (noun) by naming a key or important characteristic of the subject, as in "laughing happiness," "sneering contempt," "untroubled sleep," "peaceful dawn," and "life-giving water." Sometimes a metaphorical epithet will be good to use, as in "lazy road," "tired landscape," "smirking billboards."

• Aptness and brilliant effectiveness are the key considerations in choosing epithets. Be fresh, seek striking images, pay attention to connotative value.

essay

• A lovely euphemism for “timed writing”

• Comes in many varieties and sizes; some of our favorites are the 5-paragraph essay or its close cousin the 4-6 paragraph essay...

ethos

• One of the three appeals of argumentation

• Addresses the “ethics” or morality, the rightness or wrongness of an issue or position

• The other two appeals are to logos and pathos

euphemism

• A more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable

• Also referred to as social or political correctness• Can obscure the reality of a situation• Can add humor or ironic understatement

– “Earthly remains” instead of “corpse”

– “Collateral damage” instead of “civilian casualties”

– “Friendly fire” instead of “We killed one of our own”

– Remember the list in “Under the Influence”????

euphony

• “Pleasant, mellifluous presentation of sounds in a literary work” – straight out of 5 Steps to a 5

• Successive harmonious or nice sounds in a literary work

• Comes from the Greek meaning “good sound”

• Related to the euphonium????????

Exposition

• Background information presented in a literary work necessary for understanding the plot OR

• One of the four modes of discourse which

» Compare and contrast» Classify and divide» Define» Analyze a process» Analyze cause and effect

Extended metaphor

• A figure of speech using implied comparison that is developed at great length, sustained throughout or occurs frequently in a work

• Take a break to look at wonderful example!!!!

Figurative language

• Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning

• Creates associations that are imaginative

• “the body of devices that enables the writer [you] to operate on levels other than the literal one” (5 Steps to a 5)

• Metaphor, simile, symbol, motif, irony, paradox, hyperbole, understatement......

Figure of speech

• A device used to produce figurative language; many compare dissimilar things

• The list on the previous slide, although not complete, is suggestive of figures of speech which you should have in your toolbox

flashback

• A device or convention that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts, events or episodes

• Insert sound effect here for movie flashback........

foreshadowing

• Dun, dun, dun.....

• Hints or clues of larger events that occur later in a work

form

• The shape or structure of a literary work

poetry

prose

drama

Generic conventions

• Traditions or conventions for each genre which help distinguish or define each one

• They differentiate between an essay and journalistic writing, or between an autobiography and political writing

• On the AP exam, try to distinguish the unique features of a writer’s work from those dictated by convention; for example...

Mitch Albom

•

genre

• The major category into which a literary work fits (poetry, prose, drama)

• On the AP exam, expect the majority of passages to be from the following genres:– autobiography - biography– diaries - criticism– essays - journalistic writing– letters - scientific writing– nature writing

That’s all, Folks!!!!