Literary Terms: Pl - R

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Plot –

the sequence of events in the main action in a piece of literature

Poem –

non-prose use of words to express a feeling or idea usually associated with repetition of sounds, patterned sequences of words and/or lines, figurative language and other poetic devices, and has a highly focused purpose either to tell a story or express an emotion or idea.

Poetic devices –

ways of using language such as imagery, figures of speech, irony, symbolism, allusion, fantasy, point of view, rhyme, rhythm, and theme; used in poetry to compress meaning into fewer words and more intense expression.

Poetic language –

focused use of language which is not bound by Standard English to create an image or arouse a particular emotion

Poetic liberty –

taking the liberty for the purpose of creating an image, feeling, or idea to stray from standard language usage including spelling, definition, and grammar and even linear placement of letters or words; does not have to be only in a poem although that is the most frequent acceptable use.

Poetic license –

use of non-standard grammar and punctuation 

Poetry –

use of language in non-everyday ways such as repetition of sounds and rhyme or focus on an observation or feeling using figures of speech and imagery and other devices to compress meaning resulting in more intense communication.

Point of view –

the perspective from which an author tells a story point of view

Pop fiction –

a type of fiction with exciting or thrilling plots designed for popular audiences characterized by suspenseful plots, usually flat characters, and focus on a swift-moving action.

Postmodernism –

a literary movement that began in the 1960s characterized by introspection, disengagement of conventions and standardization, focus on popular themes of the day such as anti-establishment ideology and personal freedom, exploration, and determination.

Prologos –

the prologue; in Ancient Greek tragedy, the opening section where an actor gives a background or introduction to the play

Prose poem –

is poetry written in prose instead of using verse but preserving poetic qualities such as heightened imagery and emotional effect; an open-form of poetry that is presented as prose.

Prose –

a style of writing generally used in a variety of settings for communication and record keeping and characterized by non-poetic elements; follows standard grammar and other conventions of writing; non-poetic style of language

Protagonist –

the main character, not necessarily the “good” character

Quatrain –

a poem or stanza of four lines

Rap –

vocal style of performing hip-hop verse

Realism –

an artistic movement from about 1865 to 1910 characterized by an attempt to portray life as it actually was

Renaissance –

French for rebirth - a period ranging from the mid-1400s to the mid-1500s which had a renewed interest in science, philosophy, and arts including literature. William Shakespeare wrote during this period.

Resolution (denouement) –

the end; the result of the conflict, sometimes left for the reader to interpret

Revenge tragedy –

revenge tragedy – a genre of tragedy which later evolved where the main theme is to avenge a perceived wrong such as in Hamlet.

Rhyme royal –

a poetic form using seven line stanzas in iambic pentameter with a rhyme pattern of ababbcc.

Rhyme –

the repetition of similar sounds

Rhythm –

is the movement of sound in a recurrent pattern; the beat

Rising action –

the building of conflict and suspense prior to the climax

Rising meter –

movement from unstressed to stressed meter

Romance –

as a literary genre, romance fiction began in the Middle Ages and involved high adventure of noble heroes often with super-human qualities pursuing a righteous quest, included some supernatural aspect, and did not necessarily involve a love situation. The modern usage or the term is a fiction which includes a romantic element.

Romanticism –

a poetic movement beginning in the 1700s characterized by emotion and appreciation for nature and the supernatural and mysterious along with a return to using first-person lyric form

Round character – 

a character whose personality is multi-dimensional; a complicated character as distinguished from a flat character whose personality is not described in detail.  Stock characters and caricatures are types of flat characters since their personalities generally have a single, dominant characteristic.

Run-on line/enjambment – 

the continuation of a sentence or thought onto the next line