Literary Terms English BA Sem 2 RTMNU Nagpur University
Introduction to Literary Terms -English Literature
RTMNU BA Englis
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1. Iambic Pentameter :
What is an iamb - It is a literary device and in simple words means a foot containing unstressed and short syllable followed by a long stressed syllable.
Example - Destroy - De - is unstressed short weak syllable
story- is stressed long strong syllable
The combination of weak and strong syllable( Unstressed - Stressed) is imab.
Pentameter - Penta means Five.
Meter - rhythm of sentence
So Imabic Pentameter means - a line with 5 iambs ( 5 times unstressed - stressed syllable in a line)is called imabic pentameter.
2. Conceit - is a comparison of two different things. In Conceit two different things, ideas are linked together with simile or metaphor. Two dissimilar things/when are compared in sentence it's a conceit.
Example - John Donne -A Valediction Forbidden
"Mourning compares two lovers with legs of the compass"
Comparison - Lover compared to compass
Always remember a conceit is an extended metaphor which is used for the purpose of comparing two different things. A conceit always has a surprise item/element because the author wants to create parallel meanings between two things whose unlikeness the readers already know. The objective to use conceit is to draw or bring the readers attention to the matter of fact that the two things are dissimilar and thus enhance or enlarge the understanding of the readers. Conceit as a literary device was very common during the Renaissance and is usually attached with metaphysical poets because metaphysical poets used conceit in their work/writings.
Example -John Donne's poem 'The Flea"
'Oh! stay three lives in one flea spare
Where we almost, yea more than married are.
This flea is you and I and his,
Our meeting-bed and marriage temple is......'
3.Allegory - is a simple story/poem in which a writer wants to tell a hidden/deep meaning through the use of images, figures, actions, symbols or events to convey a moral, spiritual meaning. It is story with two meanings, one is surface meaning other is deeper meaning. Writer is concerned with deeper meaning.
The word 'allegoria' means 'speaking otherwise'. Allegory is not much similar to a fable or a short story because Allegory has layers of meaning in the story. The superficial meaning on the surface is different on the deep meaning which the writer wants to convey. Writers use allegory to explain difficult, complex and unfamiliar thoughts by creating parallel ideas which the readers already know.
John Bunyan's ' Pilgrims Progress' published in 1678 tells the story of a man who travels from his home town called the city of destruction to search and reach the 'Celestial City' . The journey is long and difficult and he meets people who help him in his journey also who hinder his journey. Some people are helpful and some are hinderance in his journey. The religious allegory in Joh Bunyan's story is easy to read, the main character Mr. Christian is an common man and his journey represent a journey of soul of human from physical world to heavenly spiritual world. In his journey he is helped by characters names Goodwill, Charity, Piety and so on .
George Orwells novel 'Animal Farm' published in 1945 is a political allegory. On the superficial level it is a story of some farm animals who drive away the humans who run and install their own government, which over the time gets corrupt. On the deeper level it is the story of Russian Revolution.
4. Blank Verse - It is literary term. It is a poetry written in which there is no rhyme but lines are metered. Most blank verse are written in iambic pentameter ( unstressed -stressed syllable pattern which appears five times in a line).
No rhyming words can be found in blank verse poem but the poem has metered lines.
Blank Verse is a poetry written in an unrhymed iambic pentameter lines. It sounds very much like an ordinary spoken English. Some of the great poets have used blank verse are William Wordsworth, Robert Browning, and W. H Auden.
5. Heroic Couplet - A couplet is nothing but a stanza of two lines. Herioc Couplet means two rhyming lines of iambic pentameter which contains complete thought. In simple words it means two successive lines which rhyme together written in iambic pentameter style and conveys a complete meaning to the readers. Last letter of first line rhymes with last letter of second line.
What is couplet - it means two successive lines that usually rhyme and
written one after another.
Example - William
Blake
Tiger, Tiger burning
bright,
In the forest of the
night.( Rhyme)
Example from Alexander
Pope’s The Rape of the Lock
The fair ones feels such
Maladies as these
When each new Night-Dress gives a new Disease.
6. Comedy of Manners - It is a type of comedy a genre of satirical & realistic comedy This kind of comedy of manner was dominant genre of drama during restoration period. It is a play with satirizes the manners , affections, of the modern people and society.
7. Paradox - It is a literary term. Paradox is logical self contradictory statement that contradicts itself . In simple words the paradox is a proposition or statement that looks or seems self contradictory or absurd or untrue but actually expresses a possible truth.
Example -
It was the beginning of the end.
Conclusion:
So literary terms are ways/style/ techniques of writing used by the writers to convince or persuade the readers. are 7 literary terms are in BA English Literature Semester 2 RTMNU University 2023 and carry 10 marks in RTMNU BA English Literature Exam.
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