1 / 11

Literary Terms

Literary Terms. Sam Young, Nevyat Gebru, Joshua Inyangson, John Nguyen. Diction. Origin - Latin “to say” Definition - Denotes the word choice and phrasing in a literary work. Formal Diction.

sabina
Download Presentation

Literary Terms

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Literary Terms Sam Young, Nevyat Gebru, Joshua Inyangson, John Nguyen

  2. Diction Origin- Latin “to say” Definition - Denotes the word choice and phrasing in a literary work.

  3. Formal Diction Definition - Diction that creates a sense of authority and includes words or phrases that would typically not be used in everyday conversation. Typically includes: • Using Latinate vocabulary rather than Anglo-Saxon (propitious instead of lucky, converse instead of talk) • Lengthy complex sentences with many subordinate clauses • Use of periphrasis (zephyrs instead of warm winds, warblers instead of songbirds)

  4. Colloquial Diction Definition:plain syntax, either simple sentences or compound sentences made up of clauses linked by “and” Typically uses: • monosyllabic • Anglo-Saxon • emphasis on nouns

  5. Abstraction Definition - the extent to which it deals with general concepts. Language that describe concepts (like ideas and qualities) and not concrete images. ex. love, patriotism, beauty, time

  6. Concreteness • Definition - with physical objects, like imagery, and emotive and sensual details. • ex. lips, gun, silky gown, shrill cry

  7. Poetic Diction Definition - Phrasing and vocabulary that is characteristic of poetry. • refers to the style of 18th century neoclassical poets • “decorum” - highly formal word choice suitable to a lofty subject and a refined audience.

  8. Examples • Words derived from Latin like “provoke”, “celestial”, and “repressed” • Personification of abstract moral qualities like “Honor” • Antiquated Words - “o”, “abide”, “ere” • Poetic Contractions - “ne’er” (never), ‘tis (it is), and “morn” (morning).

  9. Allusion • Origin - Latin “to play with” • Classification:Rhetorical Device • Definition: Passing reference in a work of literature to another literary or historical work, figure, event, or literary passage • reference is not explained • gives the reader a better understanding of the text by referencing something similar Ex. “Though I have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought upon a platter, I am no prophet—and here’s no great matter…” • Alludes to John the Baptist, who was beheaded

  10. Analogy • Origin: Greek “proportionate” • Classification: Rhetorical Device • Definition: Comparison of a subject to something that is similar • To help readers understand the passage by relating incidents to something common • Helps to clarify or emphasize themes, motifs or ideas • Similes and metaphors are analogy based • like or as vs no like or as

  11. Examples • “ As soon as I saw the elephant, I knew with perfect certainty that I ought not to shoot him. It is a serious matter to shoot a working elephant - it is comparable to destroying a huge and costly piece of machinery (Shooting an Elephant - George Orwell) • Comparing elephant to machinery to clarify and emphasize a point

More Related