Literary Terms.

 Here is an introductory list of literary terms for you to think about when reading Latin poetry. Observing an author’s use of such techniques can help you understand how the author achieves an effect. These definitions begin with Webster's Dictionary, ) and move out from there):

Irony--the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning;...an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected; incongruity; an objectively sardonic utterance, disposition, quality, etc. < Latin ironia < Greek eironeia -feigned ignorance, false modesty = eiron--one who hides his or her true knowledge or capabilities + eia.

Sardonic--characterized by scornful derision or bitter irony; mocking; cynical; said to derive from the Latin word for a Sardinian plant which, when eaten, was supposed to produce convulsive laughter ending in death!

Pathos--the quality or power in life or art of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion.(end of definition). pathos in Greek is an experience, often of suffering, and in Greek tragedy it is an experience of a character in the play which leads to some recognition, some critical understanding. It is also the term applied to the experience of the audience who learns from the same experience of the character, and at the same time, but without having to suffer the same consequences as the character. We 'sympathy' and 'empathy' from this word.

Simile--a figure of speech in which two distinct things are compared by using 'like' or 'as.'

Metaphor-- the application of a word or phrase to an object or concept it does not literally denote, suggesting comparison to that object or concept, as in "A Mighty Fortress is our God." In Prague School terms, we can say that metaphor brings meaning to an immediate context by substitution. Metaphor takes the mind’s eye to another locale, thereby inviting comparison between the immediate context and the metaphorical one.

Metonymy-- the use of the name of one object or concept for that of another to which is related or of which it is a part as 'scepter' for 'sovereignty.' Again, in Prague School terms, we can say that metonomy adds meaning to an immediate context by connection to another one.

Metonym --the connecting expression used in metonymy, 'scepter' in the example above.

Anaphora-- the repetition of a word or words at the beginning of two or more successive phrases, verses, clauses, or sentences.

Asyndeton-- the omission of conjunctions as in 'the good, the bad, the beautiful.'

Hendiadys-- a figure of speech in which an idea is expressed by two nouns connected by and instead of a noun and modifier, as in 'to look with eyes and envy' instead of 'to look with envious eyes.'

Onomatopoeia--the formation of a word by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent, e.g. hiss, cuckoo (bird), boom; the use of such imitative words.

Oxymoron-- a figure of speech that uses apparent contradictions like Augustus saying 'festina lente,' i.e., 'make haste slowly' or what one of my teachers quotes as a favorite example for anti-war students during the Vietnam protest years, 'military intelligence.'