Lit Terms #2

circumlocution: a roundabout or evasive speech or writing, in which many words are used but a few would have served
ex. Saying "The animal that has a pouch and jumps" instead of kangaroo

classicism: art, literature, and music reflecting the principles of ancient Greece and Rome: tradition, reason, clarity, order, and balance
ex. Homer

cliche: a phrase or situation overused within society
ex. Think outside the box

climax: the decisive point in a narrative or drama; the pint of greatest intensity or interest at which plot question is answered or resolved
ex. The climax of Looking For Alaska is when she dies.

colloquialism: folksy speech, slang words or phrases usually used in informal conversation
ex. That's tight.

comedy: originally a nondramatic literary piece of work that was marked by a happy ending; now a term to describe a ludicrous, farcical, or amusing event designed provide enjoyment or produce smiles and laughter
ex. Doll House by Henrick Ibsen

conflict: struggle or problem in a story causing tension
ex. The conflict in Safe Haven is Katie trying to get away from her violent husband.

connotation: implicit meaning, going beyond dictionary definition
ex. "Mother" has a more negative connotation than "mom"

contrast: a rhetorical device by which one element (idea or object) is thrown into opposition to another for the sake of emphasis or clarity
ex. The contrast between boys and men.

denotation: plain dictionary definition
ex. The definition of example: a pattern or model

denouement: loose ends tied up in a story after the climax, closure, conclusion
ex. The denoument in Safe Haven is when her violent husband dies.

dialect: the language of a particular district, class or group of persons; the sounds, grammar, and diction employed by people distinguished from others.
ex. The main dialect in the United States is English.

dialectics: formal debates usually over the nature of truth.
ex.

dichotomy: split or break between two opposing things.
ex. the dichotomy between right and wrong.

diction: the style of speaking or writing as reflected in the choice and use of words.
ex. Diction changes between formal (interviews) and informal(casual).

didactic: having to do with the transmission of information; education.
ex. Some boring classes are said to be too didactic

dogmatic: rigid in beliefs and principles.
ex. Everyone who dislikes Obama is republican.

elegy: a mournful, melancholy poem, especially a funeral song or lament for the dead, sometimes contains general reflections on death, often with a rural or pastoral setting.
ex. Laureate Natasha wrote an elegy about her father's passing.

epic: a long narrative poem unified by a hero who reflects the customs, mores, and aspirations of his nation of race as he makes his way through legendary and historic exploits, usually over a long period of time (definition bordering on circumlocution).
ex. The Epic of Gilgamesh

epigram: witty aphorism.
ex. There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.

epitaph: any brief inscription in prose or verse on a tombstone; a short formal poem of commemoration often a credo written by the person who wishes it to be on his tombstone.
ex. Beyond is the infinite morning of a day without tomorrow (W.S. Abbott)

epithet: a short, descriptive name or phrase that  may insult someone’s character, characteristics

euphemism: the use of an indirect, mild or vague word or expression for one thought to be coarse, offensive, or blunt.
ex. to say "passed away" instead of "died"

evocative: a calling forth of memories and sensations; the suggestion or production through artistry and imagination of a sense of reality.