Climax Definition Climax, a Greek term meaning “ladder,” is that particular point in a narrative at which the conflict or tension hits the highest point. It is a structural part of a plot, and is at times referred to as…
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Antimetabole
Antimetabole Definition Antimetabole is derived from a Greek word which means “turning about.” It is a literary term or device that involves repeating a phrase in reverse order. For example: “You like it; it likes you.” “Fair is foul and…
Anachronism
Anachronism Definition Anachronism is derived from the Greek word anachronous, which means “against time.” Therefore, an anachronism is an error of chronology or timeline in a literary piece. In other words, anything that is out of time and out of…
Verisimilitude
Verisimilitude Definition In a literary work, verisimilitude is likeness to the truth, such as the resemblance of a fictitious work to a real event, even if it is a far-fetched one. Verisimilitude ensures that even a fantasy must be rooted…
Understatement
Understatement Definition An understatement is a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is. For example, you win 10 million dollars in a lottery. When you tell a…
Antagonist
Antagonist Definition In literature, an antagonist is a character, or a group of characters, which stands in opposition to the protagonist, which is the main character. The term “antagonist” comes from the Greek word antagonistēs, which means “opponent,” “competitor,” or…
Malapropism
Malapropism Definition Malapropism finds its origins in the French phrase mal a propos, which means “inappropriate.” It is the use of an incorrect word in place of a similar-sounding word, which results in a nonsensical and humorous expression. The word…
Inversion
Inversion Definition Inversion, also known as “anastrophe,” is a literary technique in which the normal order of words is reversed, in order to achieve a particular effect of emphasis or meter. Inversion Techniques Inversion is achieved by doing the following:…
Epilogue
Epilogue Definition An epilogue, or “epilog,” is a chapter at the end of a work of literature, which concludes the work. Epilogue, Prologue, and Afterword Epilogue is the opposite of prologue, which is a piece of writing at the beginning…
Stanza
Definition of Stanza In poetry, a stanza is a division of four or more lines having a fixed length, meter, or rhyming scheme. Stanzas in poetry are similar to paragraphs in prose. Both stanzas and paragraphs include connected thoughts, and…
Prologue
Prologue Definition Prologue comes from the Greek term prologos, which means “before word,” is an opening of a story that establishes the setting, and gives background details. Generally speaking, the main function of a prologue tells some earlier story, and…
Portmanteau
Portmanteau Definition Portmanteau is a literary device in which two or more words are joined together to coin a new word, which refers to a singe concept. The coinage of portmanteau involves the linking and blending of two or more…
Epithet
Epithet Definition Epithet is a descriptive literary device that describes a place, a thing, or a person in such a way that it helps in making its characteristics more prominent than they actually are. Also, it is known as a…
Cacophony
Cacophony Definition If we speak literally, cacophony points to a situation in which there is a mixture of harsh and inharmonious sounds. In literature, however, the term refers to the use of words with sharp, harsh, hissing, and unmelodious sounds…
Synesthesia
Synesthesia Definition In literature, synesthesia refers to a technique adopted by writers to present ideas, characters, or places in such a manner that they appeal to more than one sense, like hearing, sight, smell, and touch at a given time.…
Nemesis
Nemesis Definition Nemesis is a literary device that refers to a situation of poetic justice, where the good characters are rewarded for their virtues, and the evil characters are punished for their vices. The term nemesis comes from Nemesis –…
Motif
Motif Definition Motif is an object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work. Motif and Theme In a literary work, a motif can be seen as an image, sound, action, or other figures that has a symbolic significance,…
Connotation
Connotation Definition Connotation refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly. Words carry cultural and emotional associations or meanings, in addition to their literal meanings or denotations. For instance, “Wall…
Syntax
Syntax Definition Syntax is a set of rules in a language. It dictates how words from different parts of speech are put together in order to convey a complete thought. Syntax and Diction Syntax and diction are closely related. Diction…
Doppelganger
Doppelganger Definition Doppelganger, a German word meaning “look-alike,” or “double walker,” originally referred to a ghost, or shadow of a person; but in modern times it simply refers to a person that is a look-alike of another person. Types of…