Often abstract diction is the kind of language new-comers to poetry most commonly associate with poetic writing. It can sound lofty, unreachable, and sometimes hard to understand. In some cases, this is done intentionally, in others this is simply because the poet is reaching for something that...
In speech or writing,vaguenessis the imprecise or unclear use of language. Contrast this term withclarityandspecificity. As an adjective, the word becomesvague. Although vagueness often occurs unintentionally, it may also be employed as a deliberaterhetorical strategyto avoid dealing with an issue or...
Uncountable nouns like air, water, and information are commonly used within the English language and of course, there are rules involved with their use. It is
authors who use allegory do so in the form of an exaggerated metaphor. In English language, the word allegory was first used in the year 1382. This definitely does not mean that there were no examples of allegory in literature prior to the fourteenth century, but there was...
Cacophony is a literary device that refers to the use of harsh, discordant, or jarring sounds in language, often for artistic effect. It involves intentionally using words or phrases that create a harsh or grating sound when spoken, such as words with harsh consonants, repeated syllables, or ...
Archetypes originated with the Greek philosopherPlatoin his writings about idealized forms. He theorized that all humanity is imbued with an understanding of an abstract idea (the archetype); and the physical formation of the idea is a representation of the perfect archetype. Therefore, a desk is...
Ametaphoris a type of figurative language that describes something using a comparison. Here are some common examples of simple metaphors that you might hear every day: “Time is money.” “I’m a diamond in the rough.” “Laughter is the best medicine.” ...
Types of genres are categories of literature that are generally determined by technique, length, tone, and content. When we list literary forms in broader terms, they can be more abstract, flexible, and loosely defined. However, as we get more specific and into subcategories, the distinctions ...
is from, or where she intended her speaker to be from, reveal a lot. The use of the word “posh” in the second line means the speaker has been influenced, in some way, by British culture. The word would not appear in the common language of American or Candian English-speaking youth...
"The history ofsymbolismshows that everything can assume symbolic significance: natural objects (like stones, plants, animals, men, mountains and valleys, sun and moon, wind, water, and fire), or man-made things (like houses, boats, or cars), or even abstract forms (like numbers, or the...