All Quiet on the Western Front Literary Terms

Apostrophe Not to be confused with the popular punctuation! Act of addressing some thing, person, or abstraction (idea) that is not physically present. Examples: "Where, O death, thy sting? where, O death, thy victory?" – 1 Corinthians 15:55 "O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?" –Romeo and Juliet

Liturgical Prose Language with a spiritual tone Uses antiquated words like “thee” and “art”

Allusion A casual reference in literature to a person, place, event, or another passage of literature, often without explicit identification. “We learned that a bright button is weightier than four volumes of Schopenhauer.”

Personification Giving nonhuman or inanimate objects the qualities associated with humans or living creatures. Examples: The clock frowned at me as I dashed out the door. Human or living quality: The puppies played and giggled with one another.

Symbol Something that on the surface is its literal self but which also has another meaning or even several meanings. For example, a sword may be a sword and also symbolize justice. A symbol may be said to embody an idea.

Grim Humor Humor about serious matters; things not usually involved in joking

Euphemism Using a mild or gentle phrase instead of a blunt, embarrassing, or painful one Choosing words with an overly positive connotation. “My grandfather passed away.” “Five workers were give the mandatory opportunity to seek new employment opportunities.

Rhetorical devices Used to effectively argue, explain, or persuade a point

Parallelism Balance of two or more similar words, phrases or clauses “…that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth." -Abraham Lincoln “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” -John F. Kennedy

Parallel Structure? I need to grab my Spanish book, turn in my homework, and to borrow Sarah’s notes.

Parallel Structure? The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game.

Parallel Structure? The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.

Repetition Repeating a key word or phrase for emphasis “And miles to go before I sleep. And miles to go before I sleep.” – Robert Frost

Antithesis Using opposite phrases in close conjunction “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” –Matthew 5:17 "One small step for a man, one giant leap for all mankind.” –Neil Armstrong Different than oxymoron