A definition is an explanation of a word’s meaning, in this case, in regard to how it’s used in literature. With each of the terms defined, you can find detailed information regarding it, as well as examples in literature.
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- AbjectionAbjection is a literary term that refers to subjective horror, or someone’s reaction to physically or emotionally disturbing subject matter.
- AbridgmentAn abridgment is a condensed or shortened version of a book. It contains the most important details and removes any digressions.
- AcatalecticAcatalectic refers to a line of poetry that has a complete number of syllables in the final foot.
- ActantThe word “actant” is used in relation to the actantial model. This is a model that defines the roles of characters and objects.
- Act (drama)An act is a primary division of a dramatic work, like a play, film, opera, or other performance. The act is made up of shorter scenes.
- AffectiveThe word “affective” is used to refer to the emotional qualities of a literary work.
- AfflatusThe word afflatus is defined as a burst of sudden inspiration. A writer, artist, musician, or other creator is powerfully inspired.
- AgonThe word “agon” refers to the conflict between two characters in a literary work. It is used to describe the protagonist and antagonist.
- AlazonThe alazon is one of the three traditional characters in Greek comedy. They have an inflated sense of worth and often boast.
- AleatoryAleatory refers to art that’s created through random chance. This kind of writing involves the author making random choices in regard to style, content, and characters.
- AlterityAlterity is a term used to refer to anything that’s different or “other.” It’s often used today to describe something, someone, or a group that does not conform to expected or traditional norms.
- Amoebean VerseAmoebean verse is poetry that uses alternating speakers. The writer creates two distinct voices that alternate speaking on a regular basis.
- Anagogical Anagogical is a term used to describe a spiritual interpretation of ideas, statements, literature, events, and more. It is most commonly used when describing the scriptures.
- AnagramAn anagram is a rearrangement of the letters in a word or phrase to create a new word or phrase.
- AnaptyxisAnaptyxis is the inclusion of one or more vowel sounds, especially at the beginning or the end of a word for the ease of pronunciation.
- AnatomyIn literature, anatomies are the division of a literary work or idea into parts. This is done so that a reader might better analyze the individual pieces.
- AngstThe term “angst” is usually described as a feeling of apprehension or anxiety about anything. It was first used by Kierkegaard in the 1800s.
- AnthologyAn anthology is a collection of literary works that were chosen by a single compiler, a group of people, or an institution of some kind.
- AntimasqueThe antimasque is a type of masque that occurs before the main masque and is usually presented to great contrast.
- AntiphonAn antiphon is a short chant that is usually used as part of a Christian ritual. These chants are sung as refrains, or repeated sections of verse.
- Anti-Stratfordian“Anti-Stratfordian” is a blanket term given to all those who subscribe to a theory of alternative authorship in regard to the works ascribed to William Shakespeare.
- AntonomasiaAntonomasia is the practice of replacing a proper name with a word or phrase. This is usually something that describes the person or type of person.
- AppositiveAn appositive occurs when a word, sometimes a noun, is followed by another noun or phrase that names or changes it in some way.
- ArcadiaArcadia, in poetry, is a term that refers to an idealized, unspoiled natural landscape. It is a utopia and perfect in every way.
- Art for Art’s SakeThe phrase “Art for Art’s Sake” dates back to the early 19th century. It’s used to describe an approach to literature, visual arts, music, and more.
- AsclepiadAn asclepiad is a line of poetry that is built around a choriamb and that dates back to Ancient Greece. In Latin, it is written as “Asclepiadeus.”
- Automatic WritingAutomatic writing occurs when someone with a claimed psychic ability writes without consciously deciding which words to put down on paper.
- Avant-gardeIn literature, the term avant-garde refers to poetry or prose that pushes the boundaries and is experimental.
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- BardThe term “bard” is used to describe a professional story teller. They could also be a musician, oral historian, genealogist, or another writer.
- BestiaryA bestiary is a compendium of beasts that originated in the ancient world.
- BiasBias is undue favor or support to a particular person, group, race, or one argument over another.
- BibliographyA bibliography is a list of books an author has consulted in their creation of a novel, essay, short story, or any other written work that required research.
- BibliomancyBibliomancy is a literary divination practice. It uses a sacred text, such as the Bible, as a method to predict the future.
- BrechtianThe term “Brechtian” is used to describe literature that relates to the work of Bertolt Brecht, a famed German playwright and poet during the early 1900s.
- Broken RhymeBroken rhyme is an interesting type of rhyme that occurs when a poet cuts a word in half to create rhyme.
- ByronicThe term “Byronic” is used to describe anything that exhibits the characteristics of Lord Byron’s writing or evokes the type of life he led.
- Byronic HeroThe Byronic hero is a type of character inspired by the life and work of George Gordon, better known as Lord Byron.
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- CanonA literary canon is a collection of materials that are considered to represent a specific period or genre.
- ChapbookA chapbook is a small book that’s published with around 40 pages. The tradition arose in 16th century Europe, and it's still popular today.
- Chorus in LiteratureThe term “chorus” refers to a group of performers responsible for summarizing (sometimes through song and/or dance) the events of a play. The term is also used to describe the section of text they read/sing.
- ClichéA cliché is a trite, overused expression that can be found in writing and everyday life.
- ClimaxThe climax is the point at which the main character is forced to contend with the central conflict of the story.
- Closed CoupletA closed couplet is a pair of lines that are grammatically complete, or at least logically complete, on their own. They also usually rhyme.
- Close ReadingClose reading is a style of analysis that is commonly used in schools and among lovers of literature around the world. There are five steps to close readings that you can explore below.
- ClosureIn literature, closer is defined as a feeling of resolution that a reader may or may not experience at the end of a story, poem, novel, etc.
- CodaA coda is an epilogue that concludes a story. This could be an entire chapter, a few paragraphs, lines, or a single sentence.
- Commonplace BookA commonplace book is an informal collection of notes, information, recipes, aphorisms, facts, and more. These books are personal and kept by individuals for their own purposes.
- ConnotationA connotation is the feeling a writer creates through their word choice. It’s the idea a specific word or set of words evokes.
- Contemporary PeriodThe term “contemporary literature” refers to written works that were created after World War II. Prior to this, was the modernist period.
- ContextThe context is the setting in which a story, poem, novel, play, or other literary work is situated.
