Literary Words
A quote or piece of text from a story that provides context to one's analysis. It is the 'proof' (evidence) of one's interpretation and analysis.
Evidence can be indirect or direct (a reference vs. a direct quote).
Ex Sentence: Within Hamlet, this quote shows the literary device of foreshadowing to set up tension with the reader when Hamlet says, "quote".
Analysis
Examining and scrutinizing literary features, elements, devices and other literary means, in order to understand and infer meaning, significance, and connection to a story, and how the language, story, or author use language to create an effect on readers.
Ex sentence: 1) Thomas' analysis needed more evidence to support the claim he made in the thesis statement.
2) A proper analysis includes evidence from the story that supports the writer's unique critical thoughts and elaborates on how that decision was reached.
Thesis
An argumentative statement of one's essay, that takes a stance, provides an insight, position, or otherwise guides the rest of the paper to support your claim.
Stanza
A group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse.
Ex: Banquo admits his fears in this stanza, where he uses the same words as the witches, but in a satirical way.
Interpretation
The detailed examination and interpretation of literary works to understand themes, techniques, characters, and the author's craft and purpose.
Ex sentence: 1) While analysis helps student answer the "what is being said," interpretation can be said to answer the "why is it being said", i.e. what is your interpretation of this stanza?
2) A proper analysis will also have a student's interpretation of the text, inferring to why and how a text is meaning something.
Archetype
An archetype is a universally recognized pattern or model of character, theme, symbol, or situation that recurs in stories across cultures and time periods, and in the archetype, help reveal and explore human nature through those literary means.
A line of verse composed of ten syllables arranged in five metrical feet (iambs), each of which consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.
Pentameter (Iambic)
Elaborate
Expanding on one's ideas, concepts, interpretations, and analysis.
Usually involves delving further into analysis by providing more evidence, context, or expanding on the definitions and interpretations of one's meaning of the work.
ex sentence: Having three or five paragraphs will help elaborate on my thesis by breaking the thesis into three subtopics.
Trope
A commonly used theme, device, or convention in storytelling, a recognizable pattern that audiences understand, allowing writers to build on existing expectations.
Archetype vs Trope: Tropes can change and evolve over time, based on and can be subjected to a singular time or culture and interpretations; while archetypes remain relatively stable across different narratives and mediums and are considered universally understood.
A literary genre that is characterized by the matter-of-fact inclusion of fantastic or mythical elements in an otherwise seemingly normal reality. This literary genre is most popularized by Latin authors and explores themes of humanity.
Magical Realism
Reference
A piece of evidence that the student adds in their work to support their argument/thesis.
Indirect reference or direct reference: Direct reference is a direct quote, while indirect reference is a synopsis or quick context or blurb about the story. Indirect references still need to be cited!
Paraphrase
To express the meaning of (the writer or speaker or something written or spoken) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity.
IT IS NOT A SUMMARY: a summary repeats what happened while a paraphrase phrases what happened in your own words.
A literary genre encompassed by a style that explores profound philosophical questions – existence, knowledge, identity, time, and space – often through surprising and unconventional imagery.
Metaphysical Literature
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of using language to persuade, motivate, or inform an audience via writing or speech. This is also known as the art of discourse. The goal of rhetoric is to move the audience to action through effective arguments.
Ex sentence: How does the character's language and action be a reflection of the author's rhetoric?
Topic Sentence
The first sentence of a paragraph. It presents the main concept discussed in the paragraph. It must contain sufficient information to support the thesis.