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- 1. Open EndedForeshadowing: the presentation of material in such a way that the reader is prepared for what is to come later in the work
- 2. Open EndedFrame Story: a lengthy flashback comprising more than half of the text, a frame story is the portion outside the flashback
- 3. Open EndedAllusion: a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize
- 4. Open EndedPersonification: representing an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature
- 5. Open EndedSymbol: something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible
- 6. Open EndedSimile: a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as')
- 7. Open EndedMetaphor: a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity
- 8. Open EndedPersonification: A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes
- 9. Open EndedForm: the shape or structure of a literary work.
- 10. Open EndedSimile: a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as')
- 11. Open EndedHyperbole: a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor
- 12. Open EndedImagery: The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, thing, place, or experience
- 13. Open EndedMonologue: a long utterance by one person (especially one that prevents others from participating in the conversation)
- 14. Open EndedMood: the feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage
- 15. Open EndedNarrator: the person telling the story. A narrator can be in 1st , 2nd, or 3rd Person
- 16. Open EndedSarcasm: a comic technique that ridicules through caustic language. Tone and attitude may both be described as sarcastic in a given text if the writer employs language, irony, and wit to mock or scorn.
- 17. Open EndedSentence Structure: when an essay question asks you to analyze sentence structure, look at the type of sentences the author uses. Remember that the basic sentence structures are simple, compound, and complex, and variations created with sentence combining. Also consider variation or lack of it in sentence length, any unusual devices in sentence construction, such as repetition or inverted word order, and any unusual word or phrase placement. As with all devices, be prepared to discuss the effect of the sentence structure. For example, a series of short, simple sentences or phrases can produce a feeling of speed and choppiness, which may suit the author's purpose.
- 18. Open EndedSetting: arrangement of scenery and properties to represent the place where a play or movie is enacted
- 19. Open EndedSlang: common, casual, conversational language that is inappropriate in forma speaking or writing. Slang often serves to define social groups by virtue of being a private, shared language not understood by outsiders. Slang changes constantly and is therefore always dated. For that reason alone, it is wise to avoid using slang in serious writing.
- 20. Open EndedSyntax: the grammatical structure of prose and poetry.
- 21. Open EndedTone: the author's attitude toward his subject.
- 22. Open EndedVoice: can refer to two different areas of writing. One refers to the relationship between a sentence's subject and verb (active voice and passive voice). The second refers to the total "sound" of a writer's style.
- 23. Open EndedUnity: is a oneness in which all of the individual parts of a piece of writing work together to form a cohesive and complete whole. It is best achieved by having a clearly sated purpose and thesis against which every sentence and paragraph can be tested for relevance.
- 24. Open EndedUnderstatement: the opposite of hyperbole; it is a deliberate minimizing done to provide emphasis or humor. In William Least Heat Moon's "Nameless, Tennessee" (p. 164), Miss Ginny Watts explains how she asked her husband to call the doctor unless he wanted to be "shut of" (rid of) her. Her husband, Thurmond, humorously uses understatement in his reply: "I studied on it."
- 25. Open EndedTopic Sentence: a single sentence in a paragraph that contains a statement of subject or thesis. The topic sentence is to the paragraph what the thesis statement is to an essay.
- 26. Open EndedTheme: the underlying ideas the author illustrates through characterization, motifs, language, plot, etc.
- 27. Open EndedTransition: a word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.
- 28. Open EndedSymbol: something in a literary work that stands for something else. (Plato has the light of the sun symbolize truth in "The Allegory of the Cave.")
- 29. Open EndedCharacter Voice: helps you inhabit who they are; match physical to the verbal; dialogue reveals character traits
- 30. Open EndedSyllogism: the format of a formal argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.
- 31. Open EndedSubject: what a piece of writing is about.
- 32. Open EndedStanza: a unit of a poem, similar in rhyme, meter, and length to other units in the poem.
- 33. Open EndedSlang: common, casual, conversational language that is inappropriate in forma speaking or writing. Slang often serves to define social groups by virtue of being a private, shared language not understood by outsiders. Slang changes constantly and is therefore always dated. For that reason alone, it is wise to avoid using slang in serious writing.
- 34. Open EndedSentence Structure: when an essay question asks you to analyze sentence structure, look at the type of sentences the author uses. Remember that the basic sentence structures are simple, compound, and complex, and variations created with sentence combining. Also consider variation or lack of it in sentence length, any unusual devices in sentence construction, such as repetition or inverted word order, and any unusual word or phrase placement.
- 35. Open EndedSarcasm: a comic technique that ridicules through caustic language. Tone and attitude may both be described as sarcastic in a given text if the writer employs language, irony, and wit to mock or scorn.
- 36. Open EndedRepetition: the duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern. When repetition is poorly done, it bores, but when it's well done, it links and emphasizes ideas while allowing the reader the comfort of recognizing something familiar.
- 37. Open EndedPurpose: involves intent, the reason why a writer writes. Three purposes are fundamental: to entertain, to inform, or to persuade. These are not necessarily separate or discrete; they can be combined. An effective piece of writing has a well-defined purpose.
- 38. Open EndedPun: a play on words that often has a comic effect. Associated with wit and cleverness. A writer who speaks of the "grave topic of American funerals" maybe be employing an intentional or unintentional pun.
- 39. Open EndedPremise: in logic is a proposition: a statement of a truth-that is used to support or help support a conclusion.
- 40. Open EndedPoint-of-View: the perspective from which a story is told
- 41. Open EndedPerson: a grammatical term used to refer to a speaker, the individual being addressed, or an individual being referred to. English has three persons: first (I or we), second (you), and third (he, she, it, or they).
- 42. Open EndedOxymoron: a figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms
- 43. Open EndedMood: this term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. The first meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speaker's attitude. The indicative mood is used for only factual sentences. For example, "Joe eats too quickly." The subjunctive mood is used for a doubtful or conditional attitude. For example, "If I were you, I'd get another job." The imperative mood is used for commands. For example, "Shut the door!" the second meaning of mood is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the mood. In this usage, mood is similar to tone and atmosphere.
- 44. Open EndedMetanoia: qualifies a statement by recalling it (or part of it) and expressing it in a better, milder, or stronger way.
- 45. Open EndedLogic: the process of reasoning
- 46. Open EndedIrony: incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs
- 47. Open EndedHomily: this term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.
- 48. Open EndedExposition: background information presented in a literary work.
- 49. Open EndedExemplum: citing an example; using an illustrative story, either true or fictitious.
- 50. Open EndedEuphemism: a more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable. "He went to his final reward" is a common euphemism for "he died." Euphemisms are also often used to obscure the reality of a situation. The military uses "collateral damage" to indicate civilian deaths in a military operation.
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