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Cliche
is a word or phrase, often a figure of speech, that has become lifeless because of overuse
Colloquialism
a word or phrase in everyday use in conversation and informal writing but is inappropriate for formal situations
Comic Relief
the use of a comic scene to interrupt a series of intense dramatic moments
Conflict
the struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story
External Conflict
conflicts can exist between two people, between a person and nature or a machine, or between a person and a whole society
Internal Conflict
a conflict can be internal, involving opposing forces within a person’s mind
Connotation
the associations and emotional overtones that have become attached to a word or phrase, in addition to its strict dictionary definition
Consonance
repetition of internal or ending consonant sounds of words close together in poetry
Deus Ex Machina
improbable resolution involving the intervention of some outside force
Denotation
literal dictionary definition of a word
Dialect
a way of speaking that is characteristic of a certain social group or of the inhabitants of a certain geographical area
Diction
a speaker or writer’s choice of words
Explication
act of interpreting or discovering the meaning of a text, usually involves close reading and special attention to figurative language
Euphemism
word consciously chosen for its pleasant connotations – passed away instead of died
Fable
a very short story told in prose or poetry that teaches a practical lesson about how to succeed in life
Farce
a type of comedy in which ridiculous and often stereotyped characters are involved in silly, far-fetched sitiuations
Figurative Language
words which are inaccurate if interpreted literally, but are used to describe. Similes and metaphors are common forms
Flashback
a scene that interrupts the normal chronological sequence of events in a story to depict something that happened at an earlier time
Foil
a character who acts as a contrast to another character. Often a funny side kick to the dashing hero, or a villain contrasting the hero
Foreshadowing
the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot
Hamartia
tragic flaw which causes a character’s downfall
Hyperbole
a figure of speech that uses an incredible exaggeration or overstatement, for effect
Hubris
tragic flaw of overwhelming pride
Idiom
an expression whose meaning is not understood from the literal translation – it is raining cats and dogs
Imagery
the use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, a thing, a place, or an experience
In Media Res
beginning in the middle of the action
Inversion
the reversal of the normal word order in a sentence or phrase
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