Mr. A's Glossary
This glossary contains definitions for words used throughout the website. If you have a suggestion of a word that should be included here, please e-mail me at tim@mr-anderson.com.
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caesuraa natural break or pause in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line, usually marked by punctuation. | |
capitonymA word which changes its meaning and pronunciation when
capitalized Examples:
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catalexisdropping an unstressed syllable from the end of a trochaic or dactylic line. | |
charactera person (or animal or inanimate object that acts like a human) portrayed in an artistic piece, such as a drama, novel, poem, or play | |
characterizationThe method an author uses to create the appearance and personality of imaginary characters in a piece of fiction; often developed by describing a character's physical appearance, by revealing a character's nature through the character's speech, thoughts, feelings or actions, by using the speech, thoughts, feelings or actions of other characters and by using direct comments from the narrator. | |
chronologicalAn organizational structure of text in which events are placed in the order they occur in time. | |
climaxthe turning point in a plot or dramatic action, a moment of great or culminating intensity in a narrative or drama, especially at the conclusion of a crisis | |
coherenceThe quality of a piece of writing in which the ideas are clearly arranged so a reader can follow the progression from one idea to the next. | |
comparison and contrastAn organizational structure of text in which a description of similarities and differences among two or more things occurs. | |
compound sentenceA sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses but no dependent clause (e.g., George talked, and Harry listened). | |
compound wordA combination of two or more words that function as a single unit of meaning (e.g., bookkeeper or downtrodden). | |
comprehensionThe process in which a reader constructs meaning through interaction with text; accurately understanding what is written or said. | |
concrete imageWhen a speaker or writer uses words that induce audiences to call up "pictures" in their minds by appealing to their senses of taste, smell, hearing, touch and sight. | |
conflictThe struggle between opposing forces that brings about the action within a story or drama; can be internal (within a character) or external (between a character and an outside force). Types of Conflict
Man versus Man
Man versus Nature
Man versus Society
Man versus Self | ||
connotationThe attitudes and feelings associated with a word as opposed to a word's literal meaning. | |
consonanceThe repetition of identical consonant sounds before and after differing vowel sounds (e.g., stoke/luck). | |
constructThe process of understanding what is read through the interaction meaning with text. | |
consumer documentsNonfiction works such as warranties, product information and instructional materials designed to help one with daily tasks. | |
context cluesInformation a reader may obtain from a text that helps confirm the meaning of a word or group of words. There are nine common categories of context clues:
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conventionsThe accepted rules of written and spoken language. | |
counter-argumentA point or statement in opposition to the argument being made in a written document or speech. | |
credibilityThe quality or state of offering reasonable grounds for being believed. | |
cuesHand, body or facial gestures that communicate meaning with little or no use of language. | |
cutawayA drawing or model of something with part of its outside removed to give a view of the inside. | |