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