Literary Terms 2

Literary Terms – Quiz 9/22/06

1. Critique: a critical review or commentary especially dealing with works of art and literature.
2. Description: a process of describing or a statement or picture in words or account that describes discriptive representation.
3. Diatribe: a prolonged discourse, a bitter and abusive speech or writing, and ironic or satirical criticism.
4. Dialogue: a written composition in which two or more characters are represented as conversing, a conversation between two or more persons; also: a similar exchange between a person and something else, an exchange of ideas and opinions, a discussion between representative of parties to a conflict that is aimed at resolution, the conversational element of literary or dramatic composition
5. Didactic: an adjective meaning skillful in teaching; it is used to describe a piece of writing that conveys instruction or teaches a moral lesson.
6. Dream vision: a narrative poem where the main character falls asleep and experiences events that have some kind of significance. This style of writing can be especially found in Medieval literature.
7. Encomium: a prose or poetic work in which a person, thing, or abstract idea is glorified. Originally an encomium was a Greek choral song honoring the hero of the Olympic Games and sung at the victory celebration at the end of the Games. The Greek writers Simonides of Ceos and Pindar wrote some of the earliest of these original encomia. The term later took on the broader meaning of any composition of a laudatory nature. Verse forms of the encomium include the epinicion and the ode.
8. Episode: a usually brief unit of action in a dramatic or literary work; (2) the part of an ancient Greek tragedy between two choric songs; (3) a developed situation that is integral to but separable from a continuous narrative; (4) one of a series of loosely connected stories or scenes.
9. Exclamation: (1) the use of an exclamatory phrase, as in “O tempora! O mores!”; (2)The act of exclaiming; loud complaint or protest; outcry
10. Etymology: (1) the derivation or a word; an account of the history of a particular word purpose: the study of the true meanings and values of words
11. Fable: (1) a short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals or inanimate objects as characters; apologue: the fable of the tortoise and the hare, Aesop's fables; (2) a story not founded on fact; (3) a story about supernatural or extraordinary persons or incidents; (4) legend: the fables of gods and heroes.
12. History: a drama representing historical events; (2) the record of past events and times, especially in connection with the human race; (3) a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account
13. Homage: special honor or respect shown or expressed publicly
14. Jeremiad: a bitter lament or righteous prophecy of doom
15. Journal-like: Writing style characteristic of a journal in topic, style, and structure, and often includes instances, records, facts or observations.
16. Journalistic: Relating to or dealing with the collection, verification, declaration, and analysis of information.
17. Lecture: (1) a speech read or delivered before an audience or class, esp. for instruction or to set forth some subject; (2) a speech of warning or reproof as to conduct; a long, tedious reprimand.
18. Lesson: (1) something to be learned or studied; (2) a reproof or punishment intended to teach one better ways; (3) to admonish or reprove.
19. Meditation: a contemplation of some physical object as a way of reflecting upon some larger truth, often (but not necessarily) a spiritual one.
20. Memoir: a form of autobiographical writing dealing usually with the recollections of one who has been a part of or has witnessed significant events. However, it differs from a traditional autobiography because it is more concerned with other people’s personalities and actions instead of the author’s. Since the term “autobiography” didn’t come into use until the nineteenth century, some works that we call now “autobiography” were called memoirs by their author. Ex: Benjamin Franklin.