Monday, December 7, 2020

Definition of Various Literary Terms in English

 Definition of Various Literary Terms in English

Definition of Various Literary Terms in English

Definition of Literary Terms: 

Literary terms refers to the style, technique, and organizing utilized by essayists and speakers. It refers to lively strategies utilized by joke artists to make us giggle or clever stunts scholars use to institute new words or adages.


List of Literary Devices: 
Definition of Alliteration:

Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of some words in a verse line. The writer uses alliteration to create rhythm via repetition. Here are a few examples of alliteration:

For Example:

Rana runs a race.

Five miles meandering with mazy motion.

Shima swims on the sea.

Bret introduced bundles of bread to the bakery.

Definition of Blank Verse:

Blank Verse is the poetry without rhyme. It refers to the poems which rhyme less. It is poetry consisting of iambic pentameter. Black verse is suitable for poetic drama and other long narrative poems. 


The characteristics of Blank Verse are-

Consisting of iambic pentameter lines.

Verse line of five iambic feet.

The last word of the lines does not rhyme.

Types of Blank Verse:

  1. Poetry Iamb pentameter blank verse (unstressed/stressed syllables)
  2. Trochee blank verse (stressed/unstressed syllables)
  3. Anapest blank verse (unstressed/unstressed/stressed syllables)
  4. Dactyl blank verse (stressed/unstressed/unstressed syllables)


Short Examples of Blank Verse:

  • Dreams are clues that tell us to take chances.
  • The source of faith in happiness and
  • Daylight changes, and it is time to take
  • The night frost drips from the roof
  • Human cadences always searching for this
  • The moon takes its bath in lovely silver dust.

Examples of Blank Verse in Literature: 

Mending Walls by Robert Frost:

"Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.

That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,

And spills the upper boulders in the sun; "


This poem has no acceptable rhyme scheme. Yet, there is a regular meter in 10 syllables of every line. It is following the iambic pentameter sample with 5 feet in every line. The poet wrote only the first line  in the trochee pattern. 


Definition of Allegory:

Allegory is an easy story which has a symbolic and extra complicated degree of meaning. Characters, setting, objects and colors can all stand for symbolizing different higher ideas.

For Example:

Fables and fairy tales Many fables and fairy stories use allegory, like The Three Little Pigs. The pig that puts in the most work builds the strongest house. So, the allegorical message is that if you work hard, you will see the rewards.

George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'

George Orwell's famous allegorical novel "Animal Farm" is an example of allegory. 


Definition of  Onomatopoeia:

Onomatopoeia refers to phrases which sound like that which they describe. Onomatopoeia creates a vivid studying experience, There are a few examples of onomatopoeia:

For Example: 

The explosion erupted with a boom!

The horses clip-clopped throughout the street.

Fall leaves rustled in the whistling.


Definition of  Hyperbole:

Hyperbole refersto an exaggerated statement or idea meant.  Hyperbole exaggerates certain elements of ideas or things for comedic or dramatic effects. Here are a couple of samples of hyperbole:

For Example: 

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

I’d kill for a glass of Coca-Cola.

Definition of  Metaphor:

A metaphor, a figurative language, generally refers to a direct and vivid COMPARISON between two objects. 

Here are a few Examples of Metaphor:

Her smile is the sun.

He’s a black sheep.

All the world’s a stage.

Srabonti is a red rose.

Usain Bolt is a horse. 


Definition of  Allusion:

Allusion is a historical, fictional character, incidents, place, mythology, religion, literature or art.  


For Example:

"You’re performing like such a Scrooge!"

A reference to Dickens’s "A Christmas Carol". This line tells that the character is being  selfish, like the persona Scrooge from the story.


Definition of  Satire:

Satire refers to a  criticism with humor and irony.  Writer uses it to criticize the idea or absurdity of a person, institution or society. The writer aims to correct them through  comedy, irony, mockery and exaggeration. 

Jon Stewart’s 'The Daily Show' which generally satirizes information media.


Definition of  Parody:

Parody refers to a kind of poem which imitated the style of epic poems with mockery and mild comedy.

Examples of Parody:

Your little sister put on your father’s huge shoes saying, “I want to make a commercial enterprise call. I am a very busy, very vital businessman!”


In this example, the lady is parodying her very own father who she is aware of works as a businessman. She makes the remark that many business people are serious and self-important.

Examples of Parody in Literature:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen:

It refers to a single man in possession of a fortune, ought to be in favor of a wife.


Definition of  Ambiguity:

Ambiguity (pronounced ‘am-bih-GYOO-ih-tee’) refers to a word or statement which has double meaning.


Types of Ambiguity: 

There are many sorts of ambiguity. There are a few of the most important:

Semantic Ambiguity: 

Semantic Ambiguity is a figure of speech has more than one meaning. This is referred to as “polysemy.” Most of the words in English are polysemous. It means that many sentences have this kind of ambiguity. The phrase ‘play’ is an excellent instance of polysemy. You can play a role, play a guitar, play a game, or play the idiot.

Syntactic Ambiguity:  

Syntactic ambiguity refers to the shape of the sentence.


For example:

“The assassin killed the pupil with a book.” 


Narrative Ambiguity: 

 It is a  plotline that should imply many things; the storyteller doesn’t let you be aware. For example, a relationship between two characters ought to be ambiguous if it’s  not clear .


Examples of Ambiguity:

I went out in the woods and observed a bat. Was it a little furry winged creature? Or a baseball bat? Because the phrase “bat” is polysemous, it gives us a very easy instance of semantic ambiguity. 


Definition of Climax:

Climax refers to a specific point in a narrative at which the conflict or anxiety hits the highest point. It is a structural phase of a plot, and is at times referred to as a “crisis.”  A climax is the point at which a conflict or crisis reaches its peak. In a five-act play, the climax is close to the conclusion of act three. 


Later, in the nineteenth century, the dramatists  changed five-act performs through three-act plays. They  positioned the climax close to the conclusion or at the end of the play.

Examples of Climax in Literature:

Let us analyze a few climax examples in literature:

Romeo and Juliet By William Shakespeare:

In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, the story reaches its climax in Act three. In the first scene of the act, Romeo challenges Tybalt to a duel after he (Tybalt) killed Mercutio:


“And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!

Now, Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again

That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio’s soul

Is but a little way above our heads …”


As soon as he killed Tybalt, Romeo says:


“O! I am Fortune’s Fool!”

He realizes that he has killed his wife’s cousin. This turning point  in  the play is a climax. Here, the target audience wonders how Romeo would get out of this horrible situation.  It is a climax. The narrator  resolves all the prior conflicts begin to, and mysteries unfold themselves.  Hence, he transferred the story towards its logical conclusion throughout the coming scenes. 

Definition of  Protagonist: 

A protagonist is the central persona or main character in poetry, narrative, or novel. A protagonist is often a “hero” to the target audience or readers. The word got here from the Greek language, in Greek drama it refers to the character who led the chorus. Later on, the word began using as a term for the first actor in order of performance.

Examples of Protagonist from Literature:

Hamlet by William Shakespeare:

In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the protagonist experiences horrible activities for him. It troubles him while murdering his evil uncle. So, Hamlet’s war in dealing with the antagonist is what precedes the story.

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray:

A protagonist can be very controversial due to the fact of some evil traits. Becky Sharp from William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair is the best example.  He is sometimes very manipulative  to get her personal interests.

Protagonist Examples from Cinema
'Star Wars' by George Lucas:

George Lucas develops the character of Luke Skywalker in the film Star Wars. He performs as a farm boy. Luke desires a existence different from his monotonous existence. After his uncle and aunt’s demise, he has no other desire but to be a part of forces with Obi-wan Kenobe. Luke later matures to apprehend the customs of The Force. 


Definition of  SONNET: 

The word 'SONNET' is an Italian word “SONNETTO” which means a “little song” or small lyric. In poetry, a sonnet is a special kind of poem having 14 lines, and written in iambic pentameter. Each line has 10 syllables. It has a particular rhyme scheme, and a Volta, or a unique turn.

Generally, sonnets are different groups based on the rhyme scheme they are as follows. The rhyme scheme in English is generally abab–cdcd–efef–gg, and in Italian abba–abba–cde–cde.

Types of Sonnet:

Sonnets are six most important types:

  1. Italian or Petrarchan Sonnet 
  2. Shakespearean Sonnet
  3. Spenserian Sonnet
  4. Miltonic Sonnet
  5. Terza Rima Sonnet
  6. Curtal Sonnet 

Example Sonnet in Literature:
‘Visions’ by Francesco Petrarch:
Italian or Petrarchan Sonnet

Italian poet Francesco Petrarch  introduced Italian or Petrarchan sonnet 14th century.

“Being one day at my window all alone,

So manie strange things happened me to see,

As much as it grieveth me to thinke thereon.

At my right hand a hynde appear’d to mee,

So faire as mote the greatest god delite;

Two eager dogs did her pursue in chace.

Of which the one was blacke, the other white:

With deadly force so in their cruell race

They pincht the haunches of that gentle beast,

That at the last, and in short time, I spide,

Under a rocke, where she alas, opprest,

Fell to the ground, and there untimely dide.

Cruell death vanquishing so noble beautie

Oft makes me wayle so hard a desire.”

Octet is the primary/ first eight lines of the rhyme scheme of a Petrarchan sonnet. It rhymes as abba–abba–cdc–dcd.  A Sestet is the remaining six lines, and may need a variety of rhyme schemes. 


Definition of Diction:

Diction (pronounced DIK-shun) refers to word preference and phrasing in any written form. It is additionally relevant in spoken text. In fact, each writer has developed a special diction style! Actually, every book, report, novel, drama, ever written is an example of diction. But right here are a few especially fascinating examples.


For for Example:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: 

 for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." (Psalms 23:4)

The King James Bible has a very different diction, the usage of words like “yea” and “thy.” Many of these terms were well-known at the time the King James version. They are recognizable these days as “biblical” diction.

Types of Diction:

There are as many sorts of diction as there are writers, and there will never be an entire listing of them. Some of them are-

Definition of Formal Diction:

If everyone needs to write an essay, dissertation, enterprise letter, or different formal writing, he/she has to use formal diction. That is, you have to keep away from the shrunk shape of phrases (isn’t, don’t) and colloquialisms (slang).

Definition of Informal Diction:

In many contexts, it’s exceptional to use casual diction. This consists of non-public emails to humans you comprehend well, and positive innovative projects. Informal diction is now and again referred to as “vernacular,” which capability “everyday speech.”

The Importance of Diction:

Diction is the most important aspect that sets the tone of a piece. If the writer's diction is formal, the piece will come throughout as formal. In novels and stories, diction can additionally assist him/her craft a portrait of his/her characters. Good authors use this to their benefit in character-creation. 



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