a word free from limitations or qualifications (“best,” “all,” “unique, “perfect”)

a familiar proverb or wise saying

an argument attacking an individual’s character rather than his or her position on an issue

a literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions

The repetition of initial sounds in successive or neighboring words

A reference to something literary, mythological, or historical the author assumes the reader will recognize

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way

The repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences

a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event

the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers

a statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced

a concise statement that expresses succinctly a general truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance

A figure of speech in which one directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or some abstraction

A detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response

a statement of the meaning or main point of a literary work

a construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions

A sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other to emphasize a contrast

insincere or overly sentimental quality of writing/speech intended to evoke pity

A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed (“Susan walked in, and out rushed Mary”)

An expression that has been overused to the extent that its freshness has worn off

the point of highest interest in a literary work

informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

A sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause

A sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses, often joined by one or more conjunctions

a fanciful, particularly extended metaphor

details that relate to or describe actual, specific things or events

The implied or associative meaning of a word

A sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases

A sentence that makes a statement or declaration

Reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case (The sun rises every morning; therefore, the sun will rise on Tuesday morning.)

The literal meaning of a word

a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation, often associated with a particular geographical region

conversation between two or more people

the word choices made by a writer

having the primary purpose of teaching of instructing

a situation that requires a person to decide between two equally attractive or equally unattractive alternatives

harsh, inharmonious, or discordant sounds

A formal poem presenting a meditation on death or another solemn theme

the omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context (“Some people prefer cats; others, dogs”)

a long narrative poem written in elevated style which presents the adventures of characters of high position and episodes that are important to the history of a race or nation.

a brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying

a saying or statement on the title page of a work, or used as a heading for a chapter or other section of a work.

a moment of sudden revelation or insight

an inscription on a tombstone or burial place

a term used to point out characteristics of a person.

(Homeric epithets are often compound adjectives that become an almost formulaic part of a name. Epithets can be abusive or offensive but are not so by definition. For example, athletes may be proud of their given epithets)

a formal speech praising a person who has died.

an indirect, less offensive way of saying, something that is considered unpleasant

a sentence expressing strong feeling, usually punctuated with an exclamation mark

an interjection to lend emphasis; sometimes, a profanity

a brief story that leads to a moral, often using animals as characters

a story that concerns on an unreal world or contains unreal characters (a fantasy may be merely whimsical, or they may present a serious point)

language employing one or more figures of speech (similes, metaphors, imagery, etc.)

the insertion of an earlier event into normal chronological order of a narrative

a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story

the presentation of material in such a way that the reader is prepared for what is to come later in the work

a story within a story, An example is Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, in which the primary tales are told within the “frame story” of the pilgrimage to Canterbury.

a major category or type of literature

a sermon, or moralistic lecture

excessive pride or arrogance that results in the down fall of the protagonist of a tragedy

intentional exaggeration to create effect

a question that raises a hypothesis, conjecture, or supposition

an expression in given language that cannot be understood from the literal meaning the words in the expressions or, a regional speech or dialect

the uses of figures of speech to create vivid images that appeal to one of the senses

A suggestion an author or speaker makes (implies) without stating it directly.(Note: the author/speaker implies, the reader/audience infers.)

deriving general principles from particular facts or instances (“Every cat I have ever seen has four legs; cats are 4-legged animals.)

a conclusion one draws (infers) based on premises or evidence

an intensely vehement, highly emotional, verbal attack

the uses of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs

the specialized language or vocabulary of a particular group or profession.

placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast.