For an extended introduction to this sometimes bewildering school of thought. List of literary techniques technique description allusion a reference to a recognized literary work, person, historic event, artistic achievement, etc. The silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain. Abstract languagelanguage describing ideas and qualities rather than observable or specific things, people, or places. Reading resources reading skills teaching reading learning kids reading school tool school.
Types of writing, a section that explains the notion of genres and 14 of the most common genres, elements of a story different literary terms that students will need to analyze a fictionbased text and literary devices techniques authors use. The course deals with literary theory with respect to british and american literature. To find the exposition of a literary term or phrase, always look it up in the index of. Literary theory is devoted to, in a way, figuring out how to do this systematically in a way that its not just random. Repetition of a vowel sound in a line of poetry, as in the following example from poes the raven. Systematically taking in theory, genre and literary history, klarer provides easytounderstand descriptions of a variety of approaches to texts. The theme is the main idea or message a literary work conveys. Ap literature list of literary terms windham high school. An introduction to literary studies an introduction to literary studies provides the beginner with an accessible and comprehensive survey of literature. Venice high school student handbook of literary terms. An allegory generally teaches a lesson by means of an interesting story. The informative practical the literary aesthetic the purpose of literature. A glossary of literary terms free pdf, doc, epub, txt.
This guide is as stimulating and instructive an introduction to literary theory as any reader might wish for. Guide to literary terms hyperbole an overstatement or exaggeration that can be used for dramatic effect or to help paint a word picture. In 32 short chapters they focus on a range of familiarlooking terms character. Alliteration the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words. Understanding literary terms literary device meaning example alliteration the repetition of sounds, most often consonant sounds, at the beginning of the words winning ways win a wave onomatopoeia the use of a word or phrase that imitates or suggests the sound of what it describes. The routledge dictionary of literary terms is a twentyfirst century update of roger. Introduction to hayden white, university of california at. Archaism the use of an older or obsolete word or phrase that is no longer recognized or popular in the.
First published over fifty years ago, a glossary of literary terms remains an essential text for all serious students of literature. It offers instead to clarify those thousand terms that are most likely to cause the student or general reader some doubt or bafflement in the context of literary criticism and other discussion of literary works. Introduction to literatureintroduction to literature. A very short introduction jonathan culler has always been about the best person around at explaining literary theory without oversimplifying it or treating it with polemical bias. All the key terms are highlighted in bold and explained in the glossary at the end of the worksheet. Students are able to dissect break down a literary work into its smaller aesthetic elements.
Quick list of common literary terms terms most applicable to ap literature are in bold. This lecture sheet is designed as a theoretical background for any novel study. To discuss and analyze literature it is important to know some of the basic terms and expressions used within the subject area. A practical glossary by brian moon captured his personal detachment from the immense new force. Literary terms and devices are a collection of universal artistic structures that are typical of all works of literature frequently employed by the writers to give meanings and a logical framework to their works through language.
The short texts below introduce the key literary terms which are used to talk about the above five elements. The where can be a real place like the city of new york, or it can be an imagined location, like middle earth in j. They both address ways of looking at literature beyond the typical plotthemecharactersetting studies. Characters are the people, animals, or beings in a work. They are excellent replacements for be verbs and instrumental in the formulation of thesis and theme statements. It is an indispensable asset for understanding such concepts as deconstruction, russian formalism, feminist criticism, psychoanalytic. To find a literary word or phrase, always look it up in the index of terms at the end of this volume. The purpose of the course is improvement of students abilities of literary analysis. Shakespeare if you take his parking place, you can expect world war ii all over again. Setting is the time and place in which the events of a literary work occur. The observable or physical is usually described in concrete language. This term traditionally referred to such literary devices as simile.
Simply being able to identify the devices and knowing the terms is not enough. Theory often deals with subjects that seem at best only peripherally. General literary terminology the following terms describe the different types and elements of literature. Choose from 500 different sets of glossary of literary terms flashcards on quizlet. Glossary of literary terms, or in the online sources listed above. John kenny, centre for the study of human settlement and historical change, national university of ireland, galway a readers guide to contemporary literary theory fifth edition selden, widdowson, brooker cover image. A glossary of literary terms, seventh edition english literature. When such works are read by readers, they ultimately recognize and appreciate these literary structures. Learn glossary of literary terms with free interactive flashcards. Bringing together original entries written by such celebrated theorists as. After spending all of her money, a person might say. The metrical rhythm is thus the pattern of stressed and. Contact with antony confirmed more with bekoffs years, over two japanese american average, they realise that prompts wistful reflections on the geisha. This is a poetic description of abe lincoln by edwin markham.
Although the individual entries in th glossarye are in the alphabetic order of their title terms, the large number r. Similarly, the when can be a real time period past or present or imagined the future. Unlike traditional books of this type, however, it takes an expanded view of the term literary. Simply put, an allegory is a narrative that has a symbolic meaning. He edited the oxford book of gothic tales 1992, and is the author of in frankensteins shadow 1987, criticism and literary theory 1890 to the present 1996, and other works of literary history. Tis a word too great for any mouth of this ages size. Venice high school student handbook of literary terms abstract is the opposite of concrete. The introduction of a topic not related to the subject at hand. Identify the setting, plot, point of view, theme, and main characters of a realistic fiction selection. The concise oxford dictionary of literary terms chris baldick is professor of english at goldsmiths college, university of london. The distinctive way that a writer uses language including such factors as word choice, sentence length, arrangement, and complexity, and the use of figurative language and imagery. In this case, anything can be literature, and anything can stop being literature. With strategies for writing essays about literature barton, edwin, hudson, glenda a. A glossary of literary terms, 11th edition cengage.
Perfect as a core text for introductory literary theory or as a supplement to any literature course, this classic work is an invaluable reference that students can continue to use. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory 5th edition. Great worksheet for drawing and writing in order to understand these literary terms. Literary terms the routledge dictionary of literary termsis a twentyfirst century update of roger fowlers seminal dictionary of modern critical terms. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. It is a generalization about human beings or about life. Likewise, literary language is partly determined by the fact that we want to read it as literary.
Perhaps something is literary because the text is the kind of writing we like to read. Literary terms and criticism this book is designed for everyone who studies literature, either for examination or pleasure. If there is such a thing as literary theory, then it would seem obvious that there is something called literature which it is the theory of. Try one of the apps below to open or edit this item. Guide to literary terms apostrophe a form of direct address spoken by a character to an inanimate object or a person who does not appear. An introduction to key concepts and literary terms macmillan. A feeling of excitement, curiosity, or expectation about what will happen. Climax the crisis or high point of tension that becomes the storys turning pointthe point at which the outcome of the. Basic literature guide an introduction to literary terms. Abstract terms and statements describe ideas or refer to general qualities of persons or things such as goodness and honesty. Pdf dictionary of literary terms rozina qureshi academia. This book helps guide one on how to respond and understand the text, so that you can develop your own critical voice.
Over the years, literary terms has been revised and enlarged as professors beckson and ganz have added new entries from recent literary theory and scholarship, bringing the total number of entries to over 900. Although the individual entries in th glossarye are in the alphabetic order of their title terms, the large number r of terms are discussed withi texn tht oef thes ene. This indispensable, authoritative, and highly affordable reference covers terms useful in discussing literature and literary history, theory, and criticism. One cause of this expansion is the new way of talking about and teaching literature that has emerged since the late 1960s under the general heading of theory. But as the entries themselves indicate, academic discourse has. It also includes expanded essays on postcolonial literature and 20thcentury literature and a. Idiom an expression peculiar to a particular culture that conveys a meaning beyond its mere words. Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place.
Mar 08, 2017 over the years, literary terms has been revised and enlarged as professors beckson and ganz have added new entries from recent literary theory and scholarship, bringing the total number of entries to over 900. The terms literary theory and critical theory refer to essentially the same fields of study. Metre refers to the rhythmic structure of lines of verse. Types of writing, a section that explains the notion of genres and 14 of the most common genres, elements of a story different literary terms that students will need to analyze a fictionbased text and literary devices techniques authors use to make their storytelling more effective. The exercises that follow each text will help you use the terms. To make a man to meet the mortal need a man to match the mountains and the sea.
Literary terms diagnostic each term will be used only once,so cross out the words as you go. In clear, concise, and userfriendly language, the text highlights its entries with contemporary, multicultural examples. Context can be thought of as the physical or notional circumstances surrounding a word, phrase, or idea. Bennett and royle approach their subject by way of literary works themselves a poem by emily dickinson, a passage from shakespeare, a novel by salman rushdie, rather than by way of abstract theoretical ideas and isms. Examples include, gullivers travels, the faerie queene, pilgrims progress, and paradise lost. Reading and literature a glossary of literary terms 2 style. That is, the whole story, its plot, characters and often setting, are all elements that. This edition has been expanded to make it more relevant to the needs of todays students, offering a comprehensive guide to english poetry, drama and the novel. A contemporary guide to literary terms only 1 left in stock order soon. A line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on stage. Literary terms printable 4th 7th grade teachervision. These verbs will be especially effective when the subject is the author or a character.
Students are able to give examples of literary works belonging to certain genres poetry, fiction, drama 3. With strategies for writing essays about literature. Literary terms and definitions n carsonnewman college. This list and the terms included in it can help you begin to identify central concerns or elements in a work that might help facilitate your interpretation. Students are able to characterize the structural principles governing each literary genre. You cant say anything about a text, but if you can back it up in certain.
Now fully updated to reflect the latest scholarship on recent and rapidly evolving critical theories, the eleventh edition contains a complete glossary of essential literary terms presented as a series of engaging. The majority of english verse since chaucer is inaccentualsyllabic metre, which consists of alternating stressed and unstressed syllables within a fixed total number of syllables in each line. Introduction to literary forms linkedin slideshare. Narrative techniques, narrative devices, resources of language prose. Stanislav kola r the course deals with literary theory with respect to british and american literature. Reading resources reading skills teaching reading learning kids reading school tool school stuff literary terms authors purpose.
The students are introduced to various literary terms whose knowledge will be useful for them in their courses of british and american literature. A very short introduction is an exemplary work in this genre. Introduction to literary terms sample pdf created date. The important implication is that we dont get to decide what is literature because our parents, teachers, exams. All terms will be discussed throughout the year and students are responsible for knowing every term listed in this packet for the final exam. In this chapter, we sh all present a f ew key term s essential f or f urther deliberations a bout. Literary terms and criticism by john peck goodreads. Oxford abbreviations abc of music literary terms local and family history. Bringing together original entries written by such celebrated theorists as terry eagleton and malcolm bradbury with new definitions of current terms and controversies, this is the essential. A causal and brief reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event. The following glossary covers the most widely used terms. Simile a figure of speech using like or as to compare. Dictionary of literary terms and literary theory pdf.
483 1004 989 1373 441 1138 112 12 472 1547 778 108 1487 837 976 1331 963 1310 1640 187 164 1003 166 387 659 161 3 468 1164