Lit Terms #3 (DEFINITIONS)

exposition: a setting forth of facts, ideas, etc ..; detailed explanation; reading or writing that sets forth or explains

expressionism: an early 20th century movement in art, literature and drama, characterized by distortion of reality and the use of symbols, stylization, etc .. to give objective expression to inner experience

fable: a fictitious story meant to teach a moral lesson - characters are usually talking animals; a myth or legend

fallacy: aptness to mislead; deceptive or delusive quality; a false or mistaken idea, opinion, etc .. error

falling action: the part of a literary plot after the climax and after the conflict has been resolved

farce: an exaggerated comedy based on broadly humorous and highly unlikely situations

figurative language: not in its original, usual or exact sense or reference; representing one concept in terms of another that may be thought of as analogous with it; metaphorically

flashback: an interruption in the continuity of a story, play, etc .. by the narration or portrayal of some earlier episode

foil: a person or thing that sets off or enhances another by contrast

folktale: a story usually of anonymous authorship and legendary or mythical elements, made and handed down orally among the common people

foreshadowing: to be a sign of (something to come); indicate or suggest something before hand, prefigure, presage

free verse:verse characterized by much rhythmic variation, irregular or unusual stanzaic forms and either no rhyme or a loose rhyme pattern

genre: a kind or type as of works of literature, art, etc ..

gothic tale: of or in a style of literature using a medieval setting, atmosphere, etc .. especially to suggest horror and mystery

hyperbole: exaggeration for effect, not meant to be taken literally

imagery: mental images as produced by memory or imagination; descriptions and figures of speech

implication: something implies from which an inference can be drawn; a formal relationship between two propositions such that if the first is true then then the second is necessarily or logically true

incongruity: the condition, quality or fact of being incongruous, specifically lack of harmony or agreement; something incongruous

inference: the act or process of inferring, specifically the deriving of a conclusion in logic by either induction or deduction

irony: a combination of circumstances or a result that is opposite of what is or might have been expected or considered appropriate

Word of the Day: STERNUTATION

Sternutation: the act of expelling air through the mouth

... basically the act of sneezing.

Ex.) I just sternutated throughout the whole flower shop.

Lit Terms #2 (DEFINITIONS)

circumlocution: a roundabout, indirect or lengthy way of expressing something; periphrases

classicism: the aesthetic principles or qualities regarded as characteristic of ancient Greece and Rome; objectivity, formality, balance, simplicity, restraint, etc .., generally contrasted with

romanticism. Knowledge of the art and literature of ancient Greece and Rome, classical scholarship

cliche: an expression or idea that has been trite, overused by society

climax: the final, culminating element or event in a series; highest point, as of interest, excitement, etc ..

colloquialism: colloquial style, quality or usage (informal speech)

comedy: a drama or narrative with a happy ending or non tragic theme

conflict: to be antagonistic, incompatible, or contradictory; be in opposition, clash

connotation: the act or process of connoting (to suggest or convey in addition to the explicit or denoted meaning

contrast: a striking difference between things being compared

denotation: the direct, explicit meaning or reference of a word or term

denouement: the outcome, solution, unraveling or clarification of a plot in a drama, story, etc ..

dialect: any form of speech considered as deviating from a real or imagery standard speech

dialectics: art or practice of examining opinions or ideas logically, often by the method of question and answer as to determine the validity; logical argumentation

dichotomy: division into two parts, groups or classes especially when these are sharply distinguished or opposed. The phase of the moon or planet in which just half of its surface facing earth seems illuminated

diction: manner or expression in words; choice of words; wording

didactic: morally instructive or intending to be so; too much inclined to teach other; boringly pedantic or moralistic

dogmatic: like dogma; doctrinal; stating opinion in a positive or arrogant manner

elegy: a poem or song of lament and praise for the dead, as Shelly's "Adonais"; any poem, song, etc .. in a mournfully contemplative tone

epic: a long narrative poem in a dignified style about the deeds of a traditional or historical hero or heroes(Odyssey, Iliad)

epigram: a short poem with a witty or satirical point

"Great Expectations" Lecture Notes

All That David Copperfield Kind of Crap

Salinger refers to David Copperfield's life story as cliche tragedy novel, where the character's life alters from a fairytale to nightmare. He states "all that David Copperfield crap" to enlighten the reader that no this is not a story that unfortunately turns into a tragedy but a tragedy from beginning to end. That fact that Salinger's diction and tone is more of a raw thought rather than a literary correct sentence supports Dickens unique approach at connecting with the readers through the natural flow of thoughts that aren't cut off by corrections from the grammar nazi.

Dickens remark towards one of his own novels through Salinger evokes the thought that Dickens is trying to make a statement that his work is all unique within its own covers challenging the reader to isolate the author's reputation from the story. In this way, readers are able to grasp a whole different meaning from the context and establish a character in their minds using the techniques utilized in the novel. Dickens style revolves around uniqueness, his approach at writing aims towards a diverse range of stories, themes and characters.

Lit Terms: List 1 (DEFINITIONS)

ALLEGORY:

• a story in which people, things, and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning; allegories are used for teaching or explaining ideas, moral principles, etc ..
• the presenting of ideas by means of such stories; symbolical narration or description

ALLITERATION:

• repetition of an initial sound, usually of a consonant or cluster in two or more words of a phrase, line of poetry, etc ..

ALLUSION:

• an indirect reference; casual mention 

AMBIGUITY:

• state of being ambiguous - having two or more possible meanings; not clear; indefinite; uncertain; vague 

ANACHRONISM:

• the representation of something as existing or occurring at other than its proper time especially earlier; anything that is or seems to be out of its proper time in history

ANALOGY:

• similarity in some respects between things otherwise unlike; partial resemblance
• the process by which new or less familiar words, constructions, or pronunciations conform to the pattern of older or more familiar (and often unrelated) ones

ANALYSIS:

• a separating or breaking up of any whole into parts especially with an examination of these parts to find out their nature, proportion, function, interrelationship, etc ..
• the use of word order and uninflected function words rather than inflection to express syntactic relationships

ANAPHORA:

• the rhetorical device of repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences

ANECDOTE:

• a short, entertaining account of some happening, usually personal or biographical

ANTAGONIST:

• a person who opposes or competes with another; adversary. opponent

ANTITHESIS:

• a contrast or opposition of thoughts, usually in two phrases, clauses, or sentences
• the exact opposite

 APHORISM:

• a short concise statement of a principle
• a short, pointed sentence expressing a wise or clever observation or a general truth; maxim; adage

APOLOGIA:

• an apology especially a formal defense of an idea, religion, etc ..

APOSTROPHE:

• words addressed to a person or thing, whether absent or, generally in an exclamatory  digression in a speech or literary writing
• to show the omission of a letter or letters from a word

ARGUMENT:

• a reason or reasons offered for or against something
• a short statement of subject matter, or a brief synopsis of a plot; summary

ASSUMPTION:

• the act of assuming, a taking upon oneself, taking over, or taking for granted
• supposition 

AUDIENCE:

• a group of persons assembled to hear or see a speaker, a play, a concert, etc ..

CHARACTERIZATION:

• the act of characterizing, description of characterics
• the delineation of character or creation of characters in a play, story, etc ..

CHIASMUS:

•  rhetoric inversion of the second of two parallel clauses, phrases, etc ..

Siddartha Notes #1

In-class discussion notes on Siddhartha's central message and key points.