Wednesday 9 January 2013

"GENERAL" helpful tips to know about literature


   LITERATURE

Literature is a term use to describe written or spoken material. The term is most commonly used to refer to words of the creative imagination including works of poetry, drama, fiction and non-fiction. Literature is the art of written works. It is the body of written works of a language period or culture                      

NOVEL

A fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters. A novel can also be defined as a long story which tells of the relations or behavior of a number of people the actions may last for a short time or extend over a period of time

                      POETRY

Poetry is an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through meaning, sound, and rhythmic language choices so as to evoke an emotional response. It is also a literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm

                     DRAMA
A composition in prose or verse presenting in dialogue or pantomime a story involving conflict or contrast of character, especially one intended to be acted on the stage.
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word "dran" meaning "action"

                    ESSAY     
A short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author. An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition of an essay is vague, overlapping with those of an article and a short story. Almost all modern essays are written in prose, but works in verse have been dubbed essays.
                              STORYYou +1'd this publicly. Undo
An account or recital of an event or a series of events, either true or fictitious, as: a. An account or report regarding the facts of an event or group of events.
Story is a tale that is made up for entertainment or a retelling of something that occurred or a piece of gossip that is being spread.


                       PLOT
Plot is a literary term defined as the events that make up a story, particularly as they relate to one another in a pattern, in a sequence, through cause and cause. A plot structure is the way in which the story elements are arranged. Writers vary structure depending on the needs of the story.

                    THEME
A theme is the central idea or ideas explored by a literary work. In contemporary literary studies, a theme is the central topic, subject, or concept the author is trying to point out, not to be confused with whatever message, moral, or commentary it may send or be interpreted as sending regarding said concept.

                      CHARACTER

A character is a person or animal in a narrative work of art (such as a novel, play, or film) Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr, the English word dates from the restoration.

                       CHARACTERIZATION

Characterization or characterization is the art of creating characters for a narrative, including the process of conveying information about them.

                                TONE

Tone is a literary technique that is a part of composition, which encompasses the attitudes toward the subject and toward the audience implied in a literary work. The tone of a literary work is also the perspective or attitude that the author adopts with regards to a specific character, place or development.

                     ACTION

An action is the sequence of events that follow the climax and end in the resolution. It is also the part of a literary plot that occurs after the climax has been reached and the conflict has been resolved.

                 COUNTER-ACTION

to oppose, neutralize, or mitigate the effects of by contrary action. Or action intended to nullify the effects of some previous action.

                   CONFLICT

 Conflict is the struggle between the opposing forces on which the action in a work of literature                           depends. Conflict is an inherent incompatibility between the objectives of two or more characters or forces. Conflict creates tension and interest in a story by adding doubt as to the outcome.

                         RESOLUTION

Resolution is the part of the story's plot line in which the problem of the story is resolved or worked out. The outcome of the conflict in a play or story. The resolution concludes the falling action.

                      DENOUEMENT

The final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or novel denouement refers to the resolution of the complications of a plot in a work of fiction, generally done in a final chapter or section (often in the epilogue). The denouement generally follows the climax, except in mystery novels, in which the denouement and the climax may occur at the same time.
                    MOOD
The literary definition of mood refers to the atmosphere that a character is in. It is the atmosphere that the writer is trying to convey to his or her readers. Mood is the dominant impression or emotional atmosphere evoked by the text.

                  IMAGERY        

Imagery is an author's use of descriptive and figurative language to create a picture in the reader's mind. An author uses a word or phrase to stimulate your memory of those senses. These memories can be positive or negative which will contribute to the mood of your poem (We'll get to that later!). Be careful what you write about.

                       METAPHOR

Metaphor is a figure of speech in which two unlike things or ideas are compared directly, without the use of the word "like" or as.
              ALLEGORY
Prose or verse in which the objects, events or people are presented symbolically, so that the story conveys a meaning other than and deeper than the actual incident or characters described. Often, the form is used to teach a moral lesson.

                SYMBOLISM

Any object, person, place, or action that has a meaning in itself and that also stands for something larger than it does, such as a quality, an attitude, a belief, or a value. For instance, a rose is often a symbol love and beauty while a skull is often a symbol of death.

                SETTING

The time and place of action in a narrative. In short stories, novels, poetry, and nonfiction, setting is generally created by description. In drama, setting is usually established by stage directions and dialogue. Setting can be of great importance in establishing not only physical background but also mood or emotional intensity. In turn, the mood contributes to the plot and theme of the narrative.

            LEGEND

Is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude. It’s a Latin word legenda meaning (things to be read).

        FOLKTALES

An account, legend, or story that is passed along orally from generation to generation. Folk talks are of unknown authorship.

          FOLKLORE

Folklore is a collection of fictional tales about people and/or animals. The traditional beliefs, practices, customs, stories, jokes, songs (etc.) of a people, handed down orally or behaviorally from individual to individual

     FOLKSONG

It is used to refer to a narrative song that uses traditional melodies to speak on a particular topic. Often, topical folk songs address social and political issues such as work, war, and popular opinion.

PROVERB

A proverb (from Latin: proverbium) is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim.

STYLE

Style, to a fiction writer, is basically the way you write, as opposed to what you write about (though the two things are definitely linked). It results from things like word choice, tone, and syntax.

CATHARSIS

Catharsis is a term in dramatic art that describes the effect of tragedy (or comedy and quite possibly other artistic forms) principally on the audience (although some have speculated on characters in the drama as well). It is also an emotional relief mostly on a tragedy work and release of tension from the audience.

NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE

Is also referred to as literary technique, is the way a writer uses tools and techniques in their literary works to develop the story.

        ALLITERATION

The repetition of the initial letter or sound in two or more closely associated words or stressed syllables. Alliteration is not restricted to poetry. A pattern of sound that includes the repetition of consonant sounds. The repetition can be located at the beginning of successive words or inside the words. Poets often use alliteration to audibly represent the action that is taking place

            RHYME

The repetition of sounds in two or more words or phrases that usually appear close to each other in a poem. For example: river/shiver, song/long, leap/deep. If the rhyme occurs at the ends of lines, it is called end rhyme.

   RHYTHM

The arrangement of stressed an unstressed syllables into a pattern. Rhythm is most apparent in poetry, though it is part of all good writing.

  GENRES

Category or class of artistic endeavor having a particular form, technique, style, or content. Some current genres are the novel, short story, essay, epic, tragedy, comedy, satire, and lyric.

ANTAGONIST

A character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works again the main character, or protagonist, in some way. The antagonist doesn’t necessarily have to be a person. It could be death, the devil, an illness, or any challenge that prevents the main character from living “happily ever after." In fact, the antagonist could be a character of virtue in a literary work where the protagonist represents evil

PROTAGONIST

A protagonist is considered to be the main character or lead figure in a novel, play, story, or poem. It may also be referred to as the "hero" of a work. Over a period of time the meaning of the term protagonist has changed. The word protagonist originated in ancient Greek drama and referred to the leader of a chorus. Soon the definition was changed to represent the first actor onstage.

       ARTHETYPE

The original model or pattern from which copies are made or from which something develops. It is also a symbol, theme, setting, or character that is thought to have some universal meaning and recurs in different times and places in myth, literature, folklore, dreams, and rituals. The term is from the Greek archetupon, meaning “pattern” or “model.”

STYROTYPE

An author's method of treating a character so that the character is immediately identified with a group. A character may be associated with a group through accent, food choices, style of dress, or any readily identifiable group characteristic.

POINT OF VIEW

Is a way the events of a story are conveyed to the reader, it is the “vantage point” from which the narrative is passed from author to the reader. The point of view can vary from work to work.  The vantage point from which a narrative is told.

AUTHOR

An author is broadly defined as "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility for what was created, A writer of a book, article, or report.

AUTHORIAL VOICE

The voices or speakers used by authors when they seemingly speak for themselves in a book. The use of this term makes it clear in critical discussion that the narration or presentation of a story is not necessarily to be identified with the biographical and historical author

INCIDENCE

. It can also be define as an occurrence or event that took place in a literary work like play or drama. A distinct piece of action, or an episode, as in a story or play

                         EPIC

A long narrative poem that relates the deeds of a hero. Epics incorporate myth, legend, folk tale, and history, and usually reflect the values of the society from which they originate.

                           DIRGE

A dirge is a somber song or lament expressing mourning or grief, such as would be appropriate for performance at a funeral. The word is also commonly used to describe singing in an un-tuneful manner

CRITICISM

Criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals. Though the two activities are closely related, literary critics are not always, and have not always been, theorists.

CRITIC

A person who expresses an unfavorable opinion of something. Is a person that criticizes something

CRITIQUE

Is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature

LITERARY CRITIC

A person who expresses an unfavorable opinion of literary works or someone that criticizes literary work 

                        POET

A person that writes a poem it is under the branch of literature called poetry

                       NOVELIST

A person that writes a novel or a prose

                     PLAYWRIGHT

A person that writes a play or drama

                         IDIOM

An idiom is an expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its individual words. A speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements

                            SIMILIE

a simile is a type of figurative language, language that does not mean exactly what it says, that makes a comparison between two otherwise unalike objects or ideas by connecting them with the words "like" or "as."

      IRONY

a literary term referring to how a person, situation, statement, or circumstance is not as it would actually seem. Many times it is the exact opposite of what it appears to be. There are many types of irony, the three most common being verbal irony, dramatic irony, and cosmic irony.

           PERSONIFICATION

A figure of speech where animals, ideas or inorganic objects are given human characteristics. Or when human attribute are given to animal or inanimate. E.g. the sun is laughing

  HYPERBOLE

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that is a grossly exaggerated description or statement. In literature, such exaggeration is used for emphasis or vivid descriptions. In drama, hyperbole is quite common, especially in heroic drama

    LITOTES

is a figure of speech in which understatement is employed for rhetorical effect For example, rather than saying that something is attractive (or even very attractive), one might merely say it is "not unattractive".

       PARADOX

The paradox is an anomalous juxtaposition of incongruous ideas for the sake of striking exposition or unexpected insight. It functions as a method of literary composition - and analysis - which involves examining apparently contradictory statements and drawing conclusions either to reconcile them or to explain their presence

               SARCASM

Sarcasm is "a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter gibe or taunt usually conveyed through irony or understatement [The word comes from the Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmos) which is taken from the word σαρκάζειν meaning "to tear flesh, gnash the teeth, speak bitterly. A mocking, often ironic or satirical remark, usually intended to wound as well as amuse.

              ODE

A lyrical verse in praise of, or dedicated to someone or something which captures the poet's interest or serves as an inspiration. It is a poem of praise

        DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE

literary device that is used when a character reveals his or her innermost thoughts and feelings, those that are hidden throughout the course of the story line, through a poem or a speech. This speech, where only one character speaks, is recited while other characters are present onstage. This monologue often comes during a climactic moment in a work and often reveals hidden truths about a character, their history and their relationship

    DRAMATIC IRONY

This type of irony is the device of giving the spectator an item of information that at least one of the characters in the narrative is unaware of (at least consciously), thus placing the spectator a step ahead of at least one of the characters. Dramatic irony has three stages—installation, exploitation, and resolution (often also called preparation, suspension, and resolution.

    SOLILOQUY

is a device often used in drama when a character speaks to himself or herself, relating thoughts and feelings, thereby also sharing them with the audience. It is a Latin word meaning talking by oneself.

         POETIC DICTION

 It is the term used to refer to the linguistic style, the vocabulary, and the metaphors used in the writing of poetry.

POETIC JUSTICE


Is a literary outcome in which bad characters are punished and good characters are rewarded. Or The fact of experiencing a fitting or deserved retribution for one's actions.

  POETIC LICENCE

The  liberty taken by an artist or a writer in deviating from conventional form or fact to achieve a desired effect,  or liberty taken by a poet, prose writer, or other artist in deviating from rule, conventional form, logic, or fact, in order to produce a desired effect.

   FARCE

a farce is a comedy that aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humor of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases, culminating in an ending which often involves an elaborate chase scene

COMIC RELIEF

Comic relief usually means a releasing of emotional or other tension resulting from a comic episode interposed in the midst of serious or tragic elements in a drama. Comic relief often takes the form of a bumbling, wisecracking sidekick of the hero or villain in a work  of fiction.

METRE

is the basic rhythmic structure of a verse or lines in verse. The study of metres and forms of versification is known as prosody

ASIDE

An aside is a dramatic device in which a character speaks to the audience. By convention the audience is to realize that the character's speech is unheard by the other characters on stage. An aside is, by convention, a true statement of a character's thought; a character may be mistaken in an aside, but may not be dishonest.

EPILOGUE

An epilogue or epilog is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature or drama, usually used to bring closure to the work. It is presented from the perspective of within the story;

PROLOGUE

is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details of the book.

DIALOGUE

The conversation between characters in a drama or narrative.  Or it is known as the process of communication between characters in a literary works

SATIRE

Satire is a genre of literature, and sometimes graphic and performing arts, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement.[1] Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon.

NARRATOR

Is a personal or impersonal entity who tells the story to the audience. When the narrator is also a character within the story, he or she is sometimes known as the first person or first-person narrator. The narrator is constructed by the author and may be presented as distinct from, or the same as, the author, depending upon the author's construction. The narrator is one of three entities responsible for story-telling of any kind. The others are the author and the audience (the latter called the "reader" when referring specifically to literature)

RHETORIC

Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations

CAST

To be assign a part in a play, movie, or other production to act

COSTUME

A distinctive forms of clothing, including official or ceremonial attire such as ecclesiastical vestments, coronation robes, academic gowns, armor, and theatrical dress.

MASK

A covering for all or part of the face, worn to conceal one's identity.

PERFORMANCE ART

Performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation

RITUAL

A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.

SCENE

It is the place where some action or event occurs in literary works mostly drama or play.

HERO

In literature, a hero is courageous. A hero, or protagonist, is the principal character of a story, who may be known for special achievements. The hero may risk or sacrifice his or her life for the greater good. A hero is usually recognized in a work of literature as someone with great courage and strength

HEROINE

The principal female character in a novel, poem, or dramatic presentation or a woman noted for courage and daring action

ANTICISM

is a counter-proposition and denotes a direct contrast to the original proposition. In setting the opposite, an individual brings out a contrast in the meaning

EUPHEMISM

A mild or indirect word or expression for one too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. Or an act of putting a serious situation in a mild way.

EXCLAMATION

A sudden cry or remark, esp. expressing surprise, anger, or pain.
Often spoken with extra force or emphasis E.g. Hoe wonderful
often spoken with extra force or emphasis: How wonderful!

CLIMAX

meaning turning point of a narrative work is its point of highest tension or drama or when the action starts in which the solution is given

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