Lit Terms: List 5

parallelism - noun similarity by virtue of corresponding
parody - noun humorous or satirical mimicry; verb make a spoof of or make fun of; make a parody of
pathos - noun a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow); a style that has the power to evoke feelings; a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
pedantry - noun an ostentatious and inappropriate display of learning
personification - noun the act of attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas etc.; representing an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature; a person who represents an abstract quality
plot -  the story that is told in a novel or play or movie etc.; a chart or map showing the movements or progress of an object
poignant - adj. keenly distressing to the mind or feelings; arousing affect
point of view - a particular attitude or way of considering a matter
postmodernism - noun genre of art and literature and especially architecture in reaction against principles and practices of established modernism
prose - noun ordinary writing as distinguished from verse; matter of fact, commonplace, or dull expression
protagonist - noun the principal character in a work of fiction; a person who backs a politician or a team etc.
pun - noun a humorous play on words; verb make a play on words
purpose - noun an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions; the quality of being determined to do or achieve something; what something is used for; verb reach a decision; propose or intend
realism - noun the attribute of accepting the facts of life and favoring practicality and literal truth; an artistic movement in 19th century France; artists and writers strove for detailed realistic and factual description; the state of being actual or real
refrain - noun the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers; verb resist doing something; choose not to consume
requiem - noun a Mass celebrated for the dead; a musical setting for a Mass celebrating the dead; a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
resolution - noun finding a solution to a problem; a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner; something settled or resolved; the outcome of decision making; a statement that solves a problem or explains how to solve the problem
restatement - noun a revised statement
rhetoric - noun study of the technique and rules for using language effectively (especially in public speaking); using language effectively to please or persuade; loud and confused and empty talk; high-flown style; excessive use of verbal ornamentation
rhetorical question - a figure of speech in the form of a question that is asked in order to make a point, rather than to elicit an answer.
rising action - a series of related incidents builds toward the point of greatest interest. The rising action of a story is the series of events that begin immediately after the exposition (introduction) of the story and builds up to the climax.
romanticism - noun impractical romantic ideals and attitudes; an exciting and mysterious quality (as of a heroic time or adventure); a movement in literature and art during the late 18th and early 19th centuries that celebrated nature rather than civilization
satire - noun witty language used to convey insults or scorn
scansion - noun analysis of verse into metrical patterns
setting - noun the context and environment in which something is set; the physical position of something; the state of the environment in which a situation exists; arrangement of scenery and properties to represent the place where a play or movie is enacted