Glossary of Lit Terms2013-2014

AbstractNot concrete; based on general

principles or theories rather than on specific instances.

AestheticBeautiful: pleasing in appearance.

AllusionAct of alluding: the act of making an

indirect reference to somebody or something.

AnalogyComparison: a comparison between two

things that are similar in some way, often used to help explain something or make it easier to understand.

AnalysisClose examination: the examination of

something in detail in order to understand it better or draw conclusions from it.

Annotation A critical or explanatory note or body of

notes added to a text.

ArchetypeOriginal model: something that serves as

the model or pattern for other things of the same type.

ArgumentStated point of view: the main point of

view expressed in a book, report, or speech.

AutobiographyLife story written by self: an account of

somebody's life written by that person.

CatalogueCreating longs lists for poetic or

rhetorical effect.

Close ReadingLooking at a piece of literature closely to

analyze every word.

ColloquialOrdinary language; not formal; a

discussion.

ConnotationThe associated meaning of a word apart

from the definition.

Context CluesSources of information outside the word

that allow the reader to identify and predict definitions.

Definitional EssayProvides a personal commentary on what

a word, term, or concept means in depth.

DescriptiveA spoken or written account of a person,

object, or event.

DenotationThe literal definition of a word.

DocumentaryNon-fiction films about some aspect of

reality.

EvaluativeTo examine or judge; appraise.

EvocativeBring strong feelings, images, or

memories to mind.

ExpositoryWriting intended to explain or describe.

Figurative LanguageExpressing ideas indirectly; using figures

of speech in writing.

Free VerseOpen form of poetry; no rhyme, meter,

etc.

Graphic OrganizerVisual representation of concepts,

knowledge, or ideas.

GustatoryConcerned with tasting or the sense of

taste.

ImageryVisually descriptive figurative language;

allows the reader to paint a picture in their mind.

InferenceDeduce or conclude from reasoning and

evidence.

InterpretiveSomething that explains or defines.

KineticOf, relating to, or resulting from motion.

LiteralWords taken in their most basic sense.

Literary AnalysisThe study, evaluation, and interpretation

of literature.

Loose/Periodic SentenceA loose sentence has the main idea first.

A periodic sentence has the main idea at the end.

MemoirA historial account or biography.

MetacognitiveKnowing about knowing.

MetaphorA comparison without using “like or “as”

MotifA reoccuring subject, theme, or idea in

literature.

MythA traditional story concerning the history

of a people or the origin of a phenomenon.

NarrativeA spoken or written account of events; a

story.

NovellaA short novel or a long short story.

Olfactory• Of or relating to the sense of smell.

Oral History• The collection and study of historical

information using sound recordings of interviews with people having personal knowledge of past events.

Oxymoron• A figure of speech in which apparently

contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

Paradox• A statement or proposition that,

despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory.• Example: “You gotta spend money to

make money”

Parallel Structure• A balance within one or more

sentences of similar phrases or clauses that have the same grammatical structure.

Paraphrase• Express the meaning of (the writer or

speaker or something written or spoken) using different words.

Personification• The attribution of a personal nature or

human characteristics to something nonhuman.

Poetic• Literary work in metrical form; verse.

Reflection• Serious thought or consideration

Repetition• Saying or writing something again

Rhetoric• The art of effective persuasive

speaking

Rubric• A document that articulates

expectations including categories and levels of quality

Satiric• The use or irony, sarcasm, etc. to

ridicule.

Scholarly• Serious academic study.

Simile• Comparison using “like” or “as”.

Simple Sentence• A sentence with one independent

clause.

Stanza• A group of lines forming a unit of verse

in a poem.

Summary• A brief statement or account of main

points.

Symbol• Something that represents or stands

for something else.

Tactile• Of or connected with the sense of

touch.

Theme• The message or main point of a piece

of literature; sometimes a lesson or moral.