Literary Analysis Terms

noun a discussion involving differing points of view; debate

• The two scholars engaged in a heated argument over the interpretation of the ancient text.
• I overheard an argument between two coworkers about whose turn it was to clean the break room.
• I got into a big argument with my friend last night, but we made up this morning.
• The argument between light and darkness raged on, each side fighting for dominance.

noun a spoken or written discussion in which people express opinions or give explanations about something

adjective relating to or providing commentary

• The documentary included insightful commentary from experts in the field.
• I always enjoy reading the sports commentary in the newspaper.
• Did you hear the juicy commentary on the latest celebrity gossip?
• Her artwork was a commentary on society's obsession with technology.

adjective showing the relationship between two things by comparing them

adverb used to show how one thing is similar to another or how one thing is different from another

• The company's profits were comparatively higher this quarter than last quarter.
• This phone is comparatively cheaper than the one you were looking at.
• I think this restaurant is comparatively better than the one down the street.
• Her success in the competition was comparatively like a shining star in the night sky.

noun a list or index of words or topics that are typically found in a book or other text, along with the locations where they can be found

• The concordance of the data sets confirmed the accuracy of the results.
• The concordance between their stories was uncanny.
• Their concordance on the issue was on point.
• The concordance of their voices created a beautiful harmony.

adjective relating to or involving conjecture; hypothetical or speculative

• The scientist presented a series of conjectural hypotheses based on limited data.
• I'm not sure if it's true or not, it's all just conjectural at this point.
• All that talk about aliens is just pure conjectural nonsense.
• Her dreams of becoming a famous singer were purely conjectural until she landed a record deal.

noun an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information

verb to form an opinion or supposition without sufficient evidence

• The scientist presented a conjecture based on the data collected from the experiment.
• I heard a wild conjecture about the new project at work.
• Don't listen to those baseless conjectures going around the office.
• Her conjecture about the future of the company turned out to be surprisingly accurate.

noun a method of reasoning or argumentation that seeks to uncover the truth by embracing and reconciling contradictions

• The study of dialectics in philosophy involves examining the contradictory aspects of a concept in order to reach a deeper understanding.
• We had a lively debate about dialectics in our philosophy class yesterday.
• I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this dialectics stuff, it's pretty confusing.
• The dialectics of life often present us with opposing forces that we must navigate in order to find balance.

adjective deserving to be execrated; detestable; abominable; hateful

• The quality of the product was deemed execrable by the critics.
• I can't believe how execrable that movie was.
• The service at that restaurant was absolutely execrable.
• Her behavior towards her colleagues was nothing short of execrable.

adjective relating to or characterized by exposition; explanatory

• The expositive essay provided a thorough analysis of the historical event.
• I found the expositive presentation to be very informative.
• That expositive video really broke down the complicated topic for me.
• Her expositive storytelling painted a vivid picture of the protagonist's journey.

verb to explain in detail; to present or set forth systematically and in detail

• The professor took the opportunity to expound on the complexities of quantum physics.
• She loves to expound on her theories about aliens whenever she gets the chance.
• He's always expounding on his conspiracy theories, it's really annoying.
• The author used the character of the wise old man to expound on the deeper meaning of life.

noun a note of reference, explanation, or comment usually placed below the text on a printed page

• The author included a footnote at the bottom of the page to provide additional information.
• I always skip over the footnotes when reading a book.
• I added a little footnote at the end of my essay just to be extra.
• The footnote in his speech hinted at a deeper meaning behind his words.

noun the first book of the Bible, which describes the creation of the world

• The genesis of the project can be traced back to a research study conducted in 2015.
• The genesis of our friendship was when we both volunteered at the animal shelter.
• The genesis of the party was when Jake decided to throw a spontaneous get-together.
• The genesis of her success story began with a single idea that blossomed into a thriving business.

noun a brief explanation or translation of a difficult or technical expression

verb to provide a gloss for a word or text

• The gloss on the magazine cover made the colors pop.
• I love how the gloss on this lipstick gives it a shiny finish.
• Check out the gloss on that car - it's so shiny!
• She tried to gloss over the mistake, but everyone noticed.

noun a person who has or is considered to have superior intellectual or cultural tastes and interests

adjective appealing to or associated with people who have superior intellectual or cultural tastes and interests

• The highbrow literary magazine only publishes works by established authors.
• She always feels out of place at those highbrow art galleries.
• I can't stand those highbrow snobs who think they're better than everyone else.
• His taste in music is quite highbrow, always seeking out the most sophisticated compositions.

noun the quality or fact of being historical

• The historian emphasized the importance of analyzing the historicity of the ancient manuscript.
• We should look into the historicity of that old building before buying it.
• I don't trust the historicity of that story, it sounds too far-fetched.
• The historicity of his claims can be compared to a house of cards, easily toppled with scrutiny.

noun the study of symbols and icons in art and culture

• The study of iconology involves analyzing the symbols and imagery used in art and culture.
• Iconology is all about deciphering the hidden meanings behind symbols in art.
• I'm diving deep into iconology to understand the symbolism in this painting.
• Iconology is like decoding a secret language in art.

verb to deduce or conclude information based on evidence or reasoning

• Based on the data provided, we can infer that there is a correlation between income and education level.
• From the way she was acting, I can infer that she's not happy with the situation.
• I can infer from his tone that he's not into the idea.
• The dark clouds gathering in the sky made me infer that a storm was approaching.

noun a sly, suggestive, or malicious look or grin

verb to look or gaze in an unpleasant, malicious, or lascivious way

• The professor gave a stern leer to the student who was talking during the lecture.
• She shot him a flirty leer from across the room.
• The guy at the bar kept giving me creepy leers all night.
• The painting seemed to leer at me from the wall, its eyes following me around the room.

noun a specific detail or idea that is central to a topic or argument

• The main point of the presentation was to highlight the financial projections for the upcoming quarter.
• So basically, the main point of the meeting was to talk about our sales goals.
• The main point of the discussion was to figure out who's bringing the snacks to the party.
• In the novel, the main point of the story is to emphasize the importance of family bonds.

noun a faulty construction or structure

• The misconstruction of the law led to a lengthy court battle.
• There was a misconstruction of the instructions, so we had to redo the project.
• The misconstruction of the plan totally messed things up.
• Her misconstruction of his intentions caused unnecessary drama.

noun a part or portion of something

verb to assemble or construct by fitting parts together

adverb in a manner that involves assembling or constructing parts together

• The detectives were able to piece together the evidence to solve the case.
• I'm trying to piece together what happened last night, but my memory is a bit fuzzy.
• Let's piece together all the clues and figure out who stole the cookies.
• It took me a while to piece together the meaning of the poem, but I finally understood it.

verb to examine or study carefully and in detail

• The researchers will pore over the data to find any patterns or trends.
• I like to pore over magazines at the doctor's office to pass the time.
• We spent all night poring over the new video game, trying to beat the final level.
• She would pore over his words, trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind them.

noun a slight objection or criticism

verb to argue or raise objections about a trivial matter

• The lawyers spent hours quibbling over the exact wording of the contract.
• Let's not quibble about who should do the dishes, just pick one and get it done.
• Stop quibbling and just go with the flow.
• She always finds a way to quibble about everything, even when it's not necessary.

noun a word or phrase that refers to or stands for something else

adjective relating to or containing references or allusions

• In academic writing, it is crucial to use referential language to cite sources properly.
• When writing your essay, make sure to include referential information from reliable sources.
• Yo, don't forget to drop some referential quotes in your paper to back up your arguments.
• Her paintings are highly referential to classical art movements, showcasing her deep knowledge and appreciation for art history.

adjective relating to or characteristic of scholarship, learning, or academic achievement; showing academic knowledge or learning

• The scholarly paper was published in a prestigious academic journal.
• She's always reading scholarly articles to expand her knowledge.
• I'm not into all that scholarly stuff, I prefer more casual reading.
• His writing style is so scholarly, it's like reading a work of art.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'self-contradictory' describes something that contradicts itself.

• The statement he made was self-contradictory as it contained two conflicting ideas.
• I don't get how his argument can be self-contradictory like that.
• Her logic is totally whack, it's self-contradictory and makes no sense.
• His actions were self-contradictory, like trying to walk in two opposite directions at the same time.

noun a light placed at the side of an object or area to provide illumination or highlight

adjective relating to or located at the side of something

• The sidelight on the stage illuminated the actor's face perfectly.
• I love how the sidelight in this room gives off a cozy vibe.
• Check out the cool sidelight in that car, it's so sleek!
• The new evidence shed a sidelight on the ongoing investigation.

verb A verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. In this case, 'studied' is a verb indicating the action of learning or examining something.

• She studied diligently for her final exams and achieved excellent grades.
• I studied all night for that test and still didn't do well.
• I totally studied my butt off for that presentation and nailed it.
• He studied the situation carefully before making a decision.

adjective not characteristic of a scholar or scholarship; lacking in scholarly qualities

• His unscholarly approach to the research project was evident in the lack of proper citations and academic rigor.
• She got a bad grade on her paper because of her unscholarly writing style.
• Dude, your essay is so unscholarly, you need to put more effort into it.
• The politician's unscholarly behavior during the debate turned off many voters.

verb to walk through water or another liquid or soft substance that makes movement difficult or laborious

• The researchers had to wade through hundreds of pages of scientific literature to find relevant studies for their review.
• I had to wade through all my old emails to find the one with the attachment.
• I had to wade through a ton of junk to find that one meme you sent me.
• After the storm, the streets were flooded and it felt like we were wading through a river to get home.

adjective describing something as heavy or having a lot of importance or influence

• The professor presented a weighty argument in favor of his hypothesis.
• She dropped some weighty news on us during lunch.
• I can't believe you're still carrying around that weighty bag.
• The decision to move to a new city was a weighty one for the couple.

noun the quality or state of being scholarly

• Her scholarly approach to the topic was evident in the depth of her research and analysis.
• His scholarliness really shines through when he starts talking about ancient history.
• Dude, her scholarliness is off the charts - she knows everything about that subject!
• The scholarliness of the old library was palpable, as if the books themselves held centuries of knowledge within their pages.

noun a long or elaborate essay or discussion on a particular subject

• The scholar presented a detailed disquisition on the history of ancient civilizations.
• I couldn't follow his disquisition on quantum physics, it was too complex.
• I zoned out during her disquisition about makeup trends, I'm not really into that stuff.
• His disquisition on love was so poetic, it felt like he was painting a picture with words.

noun the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts

• The study of biblical hermeneutics is crucial for understanding the teachings of the Bible.
• She's really into hermeneutics and loves analyzing different texts.
• I don't get all that hermeneutics stuff, it's too deep for me.
• In a way, hermeneutics is like decoding the hidden messages in literature.

verb to bring into focus or make clear and distinct

adjective having a focal point or central position

• It is important to focalize your efforts on the main objectives of the project.
• Make sure to focalize on what really matters in this task.
• Dude, just focalize on getting the job done.
• She tried to focalize her thoughts amidst the chaos of the situation.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or a state of being

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used to indicate whether a noun is specific or unspecific

• When looked at one way, the data suggests a positive trend in sales. However, when looked at another way, it shows a concerning pattern of customer retention.
• If you look at it one way, the party was a huge success. But if you look at it another way, it was a total disaster.
• I mean, if you look at it one way, she's totally into you. But if you look at it another way, she's just being friendly.
• The painting can be interpreted in many ways - looked at one way, it's a peaceful landscape; looked at another way, it's a chaotic mess.

noun a branch of psychology that focuses on character development and traits

• Characterology is the study of different personality traits and characteristics.
• I find characterology fascinating because it helps me understand people better.
• I'm really into that characterology stuff, it's like reading people's minds.
• In a way, characterology is like decoding the hidden messages within a person's behavior.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

• In studying literature, one can learn about the culture and society of a particular time period; ab uno disce omnes.
• If you want to understand how things work around here, just watch how one person does it; ab uno disce omnes.
• You can tell a lot about a group of people by observing just one member; ab uno disce omnes.
• By understanding the behavior of one individual, you can make assumptions about the group as a whole; ab uno disce omnes.

verb to make something more academic or scholarly in nature

• The research paper was heavily academicized with complex language and references.
• She academicized her essay by using big words to sound smarter.
• The professor academicized the lecture by throwing in some fancy jargon.
• The artist academicized their work by incorporating deep symbolism and references.

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to provide more information about when, how, or to what extent something is done

• The study analyzed the data acontextually, focusing solely on the numbers.
• She tends to approach problems acontextually, without considering the bigger picture.
• I just do things acontextually, without worrying about the consequences.
• He viewed the situation acontextually, as if it existed in a vacuum.

noun the quality of being admirable or worthy of admiration

• The admirability of her work ethic is truly impressive.
• I can't help but admire his admirability when it comes to solving problems.
• Her admirability is off the charts, she's just so cool.
• The admirability of his courage was like a shining beacon in the darkness.

verb to allow or permit

preposition a word used before a noun or pronoun to show its relationship with other words in a sentence

• The policy admitted of no exceptions.
• The rules admitted of some flexibility.
• The plan admitted of a few workarounds.
• Her argument admitted of no rebuttal.

verb to allow or make possible

preposition indicating that something is possible or capable of happening

• The scientific method is a systematic process admitting of no shortcuts.
• She has a strict rule admitting of no exceptions when it comes to punctuality.
• His style is very particular, admitting of no criticism from anyone.
• The painting was a masterpiece, admitting of no flaws in its composition.

noun Aesthesis refers to the ability to perceive and appreciate beauty or art through the senses.

• The study of aesthetics involves understanding aesthesis and its impact on art and beauty.
• I appreciate the aesthesis of this painting; it really speaks to me.
• That outfit has some serious aesthesis going on - you look amazing!
• The aesthesis of her words painted a vivid picture in my mind.

noun Truth is a noun that refers to the quality or state of being true, accurate, or in accordance with fact or reality.

adjective Aesthetic is an adjective that describes something related to beauty, art, or design.

• The pursuit of aesthetic truth in art often involves deep analysis and interpretation.
• Some people just don't get the whole idea of aesthetic truth in art.
• Finding the aesthetic truth in that painting is like trying to crack a code.
• In a world full of chaos, finding aesthetic truth can be like finding a hidden gem.