Types of Literary Genres Poetry Poetry is a genre of literature that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language—such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre — to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, the literal or mundane meaning. Poetry has a very long history, dati...
One of these stories will be made up of literal interpretations that we see at face value, populated by people and creatures from the author’s imagination in an entirely fictitious world; beneath it, a second, deeper story conveys the underlying message the author is really trying to send. ...
Connotationrefers to what an author or speaker implies through the use of a particular word. It’s usually non-literal, and up to the reader to interpret. Example:The connotation of the word “miserly” is quite negative, and evokes the image of a Grinch hoarding money, while “frugal” ...
Irony is a literary device where the chosen words are intentionally used to indicate a meaning other than the literal one. Irony is often mistaken for sarcasm. Sarcasm is actually a form of verbal irony, but sarcasm is usually intentionally insulting. When you say, "Oh, great!" after your ...
Bastard is arguably yet another colloquialism, since its use here as a catch-all derogatory word is different from the word's literal meaning of a child born out of wedlock. Colloquialism in A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan In A Visit From the Goon Squad, washed-up, alcoholic...
In casual writing, that tone can be indicated by using both a question mark and an exclamation point at the end of the sentence: What on earth were you thinking?! We get to go on a field trip tomorrow?! How am I supposed to know the answer to that?! As long as there has been ...
Examples of Metaphors Using Non-Literal Words Metaphors are not always easy to spot as they do not always appear in the form [one thing] equals [something that it isn't]. Metaphors are also commonly created with "non-literal" words (especially adjectives and verbs) that appear mid-sentence...
Tropes: The primary and traditional meaning of "trope" refers to a figurative, as opposed to literal, use of a word or expression. However, in recent years "trope" has also come to refer to "building block" plot devices or character traits that commonly appear in narrative art such as te...
Denotation refers to the literal or dictionary definition of a word, without any additional connotation or associated meanings. It is the objective and factual meaning of a word, rather than its emotional, cultural, or symbolic significance. Denotation can be used deliberately by authors to create ...
To recognize themes in writing and literature, look at what’s going on beyond the story’s literal action. Ask what the characters are thinking and feeling and what might be motivating their actions. Authors often use bothdirect characterizationandindirect characterizationto create three-dimensional ...