Literary Criticism Terminology

noun a word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• I would like to comment upon the recent changes in the company's policy.
• I want to say something about the new rules at work.
• I gotta give my two cents on the way things are going down.
• Let me shed some light on the situation and provide my commentary.

verb present participle of the verb displease

adjective causing annoyance or dissatisfaction

• The artwork received mixed reviews, with some finding it displeasing.
• I find the new dress style displeasing, it just doesn't suit me.
• The movie was so displeasing, I wanted to walk out of the theater.
• Her constant negativity is displeasing to those around her.

noun a boring or dull person or thing

adjective boring or dull in character or appearance

• The professor's lecture was so dryasdust that half the class fell asleep.
• I couldn't get through that dryasdust book without nodding off.
• That movie was straight up dryasdust, I almost walked out of the theater.
• Her personality was as dryasdust as the desert sands.

noun foolishness or stupidity

adjective relating to or characterized by foolishness or stupidity

• The professor was shocked by the student's fatuity during the exam.
• I can't believe the fatuity of some people in this class.
• What a total fatuity move that was!
• His decision to invest all his money in that risky venture was a display of pure fatuity.

noun a person who adheres strictly to a particular form, especially in the arts

adjective relating to or characteristic of formalism, especially in the arts

• The formalist approach to literary criticism focuses on the structure and form of a text.
• Some people find formalist analysis of literature to be too rigid and limiting.
• I'm not really into all that formalist stuff when it comes to analyzing movies.
• She approached the problem with a formalist mindset, breaking it down into its basic components.

adjective relating to or characterized by strict adherence to prescribed forms or rules

• The judge criticized the lawyer for his formalistic approach to the case.
• The teacher doesn't like how formalistic the new curriculum is.
• I can't stand how formalistic my boss is about punctuality.
• His formalistic thinking was like a rigid wall, blocking any creative solutions.

noun a person who supports or practices imperialism

adjective relating to or supporting imperialism

• The imperialist policies of the colonial powers led to the exploitation of many indigenous populations.
• Some people think the imperialist countries are just trying to take over everything.
• The imperialist jerks are always trying to control other countries.
• His imperialist attitude towards his employees shows his desire for power and control.

adjective lacking in nutritive value; lacking substance or interest; dull

• The professor found the student's thesis to be quite jejune, lacking depth and originality.
• I thought the movie was pretty jejune, with a predictable plot and shallow characters.
• That new video game is so jejune, it's like they didn't even try to make it interesting.
• Her speech was jejune, failing to inspire or engage the audience in any meaningful way.

noun a person who has conventional or middle-of-the-road taste or opinions

adjective relating to or characteristic of a person with conventional or middle-of-the-road taste or opinions

• The book club focused on middlebrow literature, appealing to a wide range of readers.
• She's not into highbrow stuff, but she enjoys middlebrow movies.
• I think middlebrow music is just average, nothing special.
• His taste in art is quite middlebrow, sticking to popular and easily accessible pieces.

noun a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning

• The pedant in the group always corrected people's grammar during meetings.
• Don't be such a pedant about the details, just enjoy the story.
• The pedant kept nitpicking everything I said, it was so annoying.
• Her perfectionism made her a pedant when it came to decorating her house.

noun the quality of being pedantic

• His constant pedantry regarding grammar rules made it difficult to have a conversation with him.
• I can't stand his pedantry when it comes to correcting people's pronunciation.
• Stop being such a pedant with all your grammar pedantry!
• Her attention to detail bordered on pedantry, but it always resulted in flawless work.

adjective having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty

• The novel was criticized for its prosaic writing style, lacking any poetic or imaginative elements.
• I found the movie to be quite prosaic, nothing special or exciting about it.
• The party was so prosaic, I was bored out of my mind the whole time.
• Her dreams were once vivid and colorful, but now they seemed prosaic and dull.

adjective a term used to describe something that is dull, tedious, or overly long-winded in writing or speech

• The speaker's prosy speech failed to captivate the audience.
• I couldn't stay awake during that prosy lecture.
• His prosy writing is a total snooze fest.
• The prosy nature of the meeting made it feel like time was standing still.

noun a person who uses satire, a literary technique that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock people, ideas, or institutions

• The renowned satirist delivered a scathing critique of societal norms in his latest novel.
• The satirist really knows how to poke fun at politicians in a clever way.
• That satirist is always roasting people with his sharp wit.
• The satirist's words were like a sword, cutting through hypocrisy and exposing the truth.

adjective a descriptive word that modifies a noun, indicating a feeling of being uncomfortable due to lack of fresh air or ventilation

• The conference room felt stuffy due to the lack of ventilation.
• I hate going into that stuffy old bookstore, it always makes me sneeze.
• I can't stand being in this stuffy classroom, it's so hot and uncomfortable.
• His mind felt stuffy with all the stress and worries weighing him down.

adjective an adjective describes a noun or pronoun; 'unconsidered' describes something that has not been carefully thought about or taken into account

• The decision to proceed without further analysis was unconsidered and hasty.
• She made an unconsidered choice without thinking it through.
• Going with the first option that comes to mind is totally unconsidered.
• His unconsidered actions led to unforeseen consequences.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun, such as 'unliterary' which means not literary or not related to literature

• The professor criticized the student's paper for being too unliterary in its approach.
• I couldn't get into that book because it was just too unliterary for my taste.
• I'm not a fan of those unliterary novels that everyone seems to be reading.
• Her writing style was so unliterary, it was like reading a grocery list.

adjective describing something that is not melodious or pleasant to listen to

• The unmelodious sound of the construction work next door was disrupting the peace and quiet of the neighborhood.
• I can't stand that unmelodious music blaring from your room, can you please turn it down?
• That unmelodious racket is giving me a headache, can we do something about it?
• Her unmelodious laughter echoed through the empty room, a stark reminder of the loneliness she felt inside.

adjective describing something that lacks poetic qualities or characteristics

• His writing style was often criticized for being unpoetical and lacking in artistic expression.
• I never really enjoyed reading his unpoetical poems, they just didn't resonate with me.
• Her unpoetical prose was a real snooze-fest, I couldn't even finish the first page.
• The city's skyline looked unpoetical in the harsh light of day, devoid of any romantic charm.

adjective having read extensively and possessing a wide range of knowledge

adverb in a manner that shows a deep understanding and familiarity with a variety of literature

• She is well-read in various subjects, including history and literature.
• My friend is super well-read; she's always recommending great books to me.
• I heard that new professor is hella well-read, dude.
• Being well-read is like having a library in your mind, full of knowledge and wisdom.

adjective relating to or characteristic of the works of Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, known for his complex and labyrinthine storytelling

• The Borgesian nature of the narrative structure in the novel was evident through its intricate layers and metafictional elements.
• I never understood the Borgesian twist at the end of the story - it was so confusing!
• The Borgesian vibe of that movie was trippy, man.
• Her mind was a Borgesian labyrinth of interconnected ideas and illusions.

noun a term used to describe something that is showy or flashy, often in a superficial or ostentatious way

• The paddywhackery of the play's dialogue was criticized by many theater critics.
• I can't stand the paddywhackery in that TV show, it's just too over-the-top.
• The comedian's paddywhackery had the audience rolling with laughter.
• The politician's paddywhackery during the debate was a desperate attempt to win over voters.

adjective describing a sexual attraction or behavior towards individuals of the opposite sex

• The novel explores themes of heteroerotic desire and forbidden love.
• Some people find heteroerotic relationships more exciting than same-sex ones.
• I heard that movie has some steamy heteroerotic scenes.
• The tension between the two characters was palpable, filled with heteroerotic energy.

adjective not limited or restricted; giving or given without restraint; generous

• The company received unstinted support from its shareholders during the financial crisis.
• She always gives unstinted praise to her friends for their accomplishments.
• I can't believe he's unstinted with his money when it comes to buying drinks for everyone.
• His love for her was unstinted, flowing freely and without reservation.

adverb modifying a verb, adjective, or other adverb to indicate time, manner, place, or degree

• The lecturer adumbratively explained the complex theory to the students.
• She adumbratively outlined the plan for the project during the meeting.
• He adumbratively spilled the tea about what happened at the party last night.
• The artist adumbratively depicted the emotions of the characters in his painting.

adjective relating to or characteristic of Aesop, the ancient Greek storyteller known for his fables with moral lessons

• The aesopian fable of 'The Tortoise and the Hare' teaches us the importance of perseverance.
• I love reading aesopian stories because they always have a moral lesson at the end.
• That movie had an aesopian twist that I did not see coming!
• The aesopian nature of his speech made it clear that he was trying to convey a deeper message.