Literary terms are words used in, and having specific meaning in discussion, review, criticism and classification of literary works such as stories, poetry, drama, and essays. There is no authorized list of such words. Words that are used frequently for the purposes described above come to be recognized as literary terms. Literary terms are words such as personification, simile, hyperbole, metaphor, and so on.
Meaning of Literature Literature can be defined as written works that are considered to be of high artistic merit. It can take many forms, including poetry, novels, plays, and short stories. One of the main characteristics of literature is that it is meant to be read and enjoyed for its aesthetic and creative qualities, rather…
What is Couplet? In poetry, a couplet is a pair of lines with the same metre. It is typically composed of two rhymed lines with the same metre. While couplets generally rhyme, not all of them do. If couplets do not rhyme, a poem may use white space to separate them. Couplets with an iambic…
What is Assonance? Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds to create internal rhyming within phrases or sentences, and it, along with alliteration and consonance, is one of the building blocks of verse. For example, in the phrase “Do you like blue?”, the /u:/ is repeated within the sentence and is assonant. Assonance is more…
What is Blank Verse ? Blank verse is unrhyming verse written in iambic pentameter lines. This means that the rhythm is skewed toward a pattern in which an unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed one (iambic), and that each normal line has ten syllables, five of which are stressed (pentameter). It has been described…
What is Mock Epic Poetry? Mock epic poetry is a type of poetry that satirises serious epic literature. It mocked not only this kind of poetry, but also epic subjects and themes in order to caustically address a slew of other major themes. Mock epic poetry deviates from the strictures of serious epic poetry. It…
What is comedy of manners? A comedy of manners, sometimes known as a Restoration comedy, was a dramatic form that satirised period social manners, particularly those of the upper class. Horace’s Satires, written circa 35 BCE, and Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, written in 1598, are regarded as early examples of the comedy of manners…
The Victorian Novel and its Characteristics Introduction The Victorian era is generally agreed to stretch through the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901). Victorian England saw great expansion of wealth, power, and culture.It was a tremendously exciting period when many artistic styles, literary schools, as well as, social, political and religious movements flourished. Culturally,…
What is Ballad? Meaning The ballad’s name is most likely derived from mediaeval French dance songs or “ballares” (from which we also get ballet), as did the alternative rival form that became the French Ballade. They may have originated in theme and function from Scandinavian and Germanic storytelling traditions, as seen in poems such as…
Different Types of Poems You Should Know About While some poets may argue passionately that poetry isn’t true poetry unless it adheres to the rules of classical form, there are times when a well-used poetry form can go stale for you. Knowing that there are many more different types of poems and poetry, may lights…
What is a Novel? The novel is one of the many possible prose narrative forms. It shares with other narratives, like the epic and the romance, two basic characteristics: a story and a storyteller. The epic tells a traditional story and is a combination of myth, history, and fiction. Its heroes are gods and goddesses…
Similes and Metaphors Similes and metaphors are confused with each other because they are very much similar and readers have trouble differentiating between them. Go through this article to understand the difference between both and how they are used for comparisons in a very interesting way. Simile refers to a figure of speech used for…
Aristotle’s Concept of Tragedy Aristotle has thrown sufficient light on tragedy in his epoch- making book poetics. He has reposed more faith in tragedy which requires special treatment.. He was a great admirer of Greek tragedians Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschelus. They championed the art of drama elevating tragedy to the high pedestal which helped Aristotle…
