Lit Terms #6

simile-a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared

soliloquy-an utterance or discourse by a person who is talking to himself or herself or is disregardful of or oblivious to any hearers present (often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermost thoughts)

spiritual-of, pertaining to, or consisting of spirit; incorporeal

speaker-a person who speaks formally before an audience; lecturer; orator.

stereotype-a set form; convention

stream of consciousness-thought regarded as a succession of ideas and images constantly moving forward in time

structure-the relationship or organization of the component parts of a work of art or literature

style-a particular, distinctive, or characteristic mode of action or manner of acting

subordination-the act of placing in a lower rank or position

surrealism-a style of art and literature developed principally in the 20th century, stressing the subconscious or nonrational significance of imagery arrived at by automatism or the exploitation of chance effects, unexpected juxtapositions, etc.

suspension of disbelief-a willingness to suspend one's critical faculties and believe the unbelievable; sacrifice of realism and logic for the sake of enjoyment

symbol-a letter, figure, or other character or mark or a combination of letters or the like used to designate something

synesthesia-a sensation produced in one modality when a stimulus is applied to another modality, as when the hearing of a certain sound induces the visualization of a certain color.

synecdoche-a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special

syntax-the study of the rules for the formation of grammatical sentences in a language

theme-a unifying or dominant idea, motif, etc., as in a work of art

thesis-a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections

tone-a particular quality, way of sounding, modulation, or intonation of the voice as expressive of some meaning, feeling, spirit, etc

tongue in cheek-to talk, especially idly or foolishly; chatter; prate

tragedy-a dramatic composition, often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction.

understatement-the act or an instance of understating, or representing in a weak or restrained way that is not borne out by the facts

vernacular-expressed or written in the native language of a place, as literary work

voice-the faculty or power of uttering sounds through the mouth by the controlled expulsion of air; speech

zeitgeist-the spirit of the time; general trend of thought or feeling characteristic of a particular period of time

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