Literary Terminology

noun a poet or musician who composes and recites epic or heroic poems, often while playing a musical instrument

verb to compose or recite poems or songs as a bard

• The bard recited an epic poem at the royal court.
• The bard sang a catchy tune at the tavern last night.
• That bard is always spitting fire with his rhymes.
• She was a bard of emotions, weaving words into beautiful songs.

noun a category of writing that is valued for its aesthetic qualities and literary style rather than its informative content

• The professor's expertise in belles-lettres is evident in her insightful analysis of classic literature.
• I enjoy reading belles-lettres in my spare time to relax and unwind.
• I never really got into that whole belles-lettres thing, I prefer more modern literature.
• Her writing style is like a beautiful tapestry, weaving together elements of belles-lettres with contemporary themes.

verb to make someone very drunk or infatuated with someone or something

• The young man was besotted with the idea of becoming a doctor since he was a child.
• She's completely besotted with her new puppy, carrying him everywhere she goes.
• I can't believe he's still besot over that breakup, it's been months.
• The artist was besotted with creativity, constantly seeking new inspiration for his work.

noun a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers.

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• The library has a vast collection of books on various subjects.
• I love browsing through books at the bookstore.
• I scored some cool books at the thrift store.
• Books are the windows to the world, allowing us to explore new ideas and perspectives.

noun a body of principles, rules, standards, or norms

• The canon law of the Catholic Church governs the practices and beliefs of its members.
• In the world of photography, Canon is known for its high-quality cameras.
• That movie is definitely not canon with the original book series.
• The author's latest work is considered a new canon in the genre of science fiction.

noun a main division of a long poem

• The epic poem is divided into multiple cantos, each telling a different part of the story.
• I can't wait to read the next canto of the poem, it's getting really interesting!
• The rapper's new track has a sick canto that everyone is talking about.
• Each canto of life presents its own challenges and lessons to be learned.

noun a main division of a book, typically with a number or title

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• The final chapter of the book tied up all loose ends and provided a satisfying conclusion.
• I can't wait to read the next chapter of this series, it's getting so good!
• Dude, did you see that last chapter? It was lit!
• Starting a new job feels like turning the page to a new chapter in life.

noun a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables, as in 'poetry'

adjective relating to or consisting of dactyls

• The dactyl is a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.
• I learned about the dactyl in my poetry class - it's like a stressed, unstressed, unstressed rhythm.
• I can't get the hang of writing dactyls in my poems, it's so tricky!
• Her fingers moved like dactyls across the piano keys, creating a beautiful melody.

verb to remove feathers or plumes from something, especially a bird

• The ornithologist carefully deplumed the bird for research purposes.
• I watched a tutorial on how to deplume a chicken before cooking it.
• I can't believe she tried to deplume her own eyebrows and ended up with a bald spot.
• The scandal deplumed his reputation in the community.

noun a person who writes essays, especially as a literary genre

• The essayist presented a well-researched argument in their latest publication.
• I heard that the essayist is working on a new piece about climate change.
• That essayist really knows how to write a killer essay!
• The essayist's words painted a vivid picture of the struggles faced by marginalized communities.

verb to compose or write, especially in a literary or artistic manner

• The writer was asked to indite a formal letter to the board of directors.
• I'll indite a quick note to remind everyone about the meeting tomorrow.
• I'm going to indite a rap about my life and struggles.
• Her poetry has the power to indite the emotions of the reader.

adjective relating to or characteristic of Samuel Johnson, an English writer and lexicographer known for his wit and literary style

• The scholar's writing style is often described as Johnsonian, with its careful attention to detail and precise language.
• I really like that author's Johnsonian way of writing - it's so clear and easy to understand.
• Her Johnsonian prose is totally on point - it's like she knows exactly what she's talking about.
• The chef's Johnsonian approach to cooking resulted in a perfectly balanced dish that was a work of art.

verb past tense of the verb 'letter', meaning to write or inscribe letters or words on something

adjective describing a person or object that has letters or words written on it

• The sign outside the building was elegantly lettered in gold leaf.
• The menu at the restaurant was beautifully lettered by hand.
• I saw a cool graffiti piece on the wall that was expertly lettered.
• Her emotions were lettered all over her face, making it clear how she felt.

noun a handwritten or typed piece of writing, such as a book or document

• The author submitted his manuscript to the publisher for review.
• I finally finished writing my manuscript, dude!
• Check out this sick manuscript I wrote, it's fire!
• His life story was like a manuscript, filled with ups and downs.

noun a derogatory term used to refer to a white person, especially in Native American contexts

• The term 'paleface' is considered derogatory and should not be used in formal settings.
• I heard someone refer to a fair-skinned person as a paleface the other day.
• Hey paleface, you need some sunscreen for that skin tone?
• In the wild west movies, the cowboys often referred to the settlers as palefaces.

noun a piece of writing in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by particular attention to diction (sometimes involving rhyme), rhythm, and imagery

• The poet recited a beautiful poem at the literary event.
• I wrote a short poem for my friend's birthday card.
• My friend dropped some sick rhymes in his latest poem.
• Her dance was like a living poem, flowing with grace and beauty.

noun a person who writes poems or verses

• The poet's use of imagery and symbolism in his work is truly remarkable.
• I heard that new poet is gaining popularity on social media.
• That poet's rhymes are straight fire!
• The poet's words painted a vivid picture in my mind.

noun a prosaic statement or expression

• The essay was criticized for its use of prosaicism and lack of creativity.
• I found his speech to be full of prosaicisms and quite boring.
• Her writing is so basic, it's just full of prosaicisms.
• The artist's work was a breath of fresh air in a sea of prosaicism.

noun a person who recites or sings epic poems, especially one of a rhapsodic nature

• The rhapsodist delivered a moving performance of ancient poetry at the cultural event.
• I heard that rhapsodist guy reciting some old poems at the park last night.
• That rhapsodist dude really knows how to spit some lyrical fire!
• She was a rhapsodist of emotions, weaving words together to create a beautiful tapestry of feelings.

noun a movement in the arts and literature that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual

• Romanticism was a cultural movement that emphasized emotion and individualism.
• I love reading about romanticism in literature class.
• Romanticism is so old-school, but I kind of dig it.
• Her love for him was like a wave of romanticism washing over her heart.

noun a business establishment that offers beauty treatments, hair styling, and similar services

• The salon offers a range of beauty treatments and services.
• I'm thinking of getting a haircut at the salon later.
• Let's go get pampered at the salon.
• The art exhibition turned into a lively salon of ideas and discussions.

noun a piece of written or printed material

verb to send a text message

adjective related to written or printed material

preposition used to indicate the content or subject matter of a written work

• The professor asked the students to analyze the text and identify the main themes.
• Can you please send me the text of the article so I can read it?
• I'll just shoot you a text when I'm ready to meet up.
• Her actions spoke louder than any text she could have sent.

adjective describing or relating to written or printed material

adverb used to modify a verb, adjective, or other adverb, often indicating manner or degree

• The professor emphasized the importance of analyzing the textual evidence in the research paper.
• I always struggle with understanding the textual references in the novel we're reading.
• I skimmed through the textbook and found the textual examples to be pretty straightforward.
• The artist used textual elements in his painting to convey a deeper meaning.

verb The word 'titled' is a past tense verb that means to give a title or name to something.

• The book is titled 'The Art of War' and has been widely acclaimed for its strategic insights.
• I just finished watching a movie titled 'The Avengers' and it was so good!
• Have you heard the new song titled 'Savage Love'? It's been stuck in my head all day.
• The painting, titled 'Dreams of Tomorrow', captures the essence of hope and imagination.

adjective relating to or constituting a title or titles

• The titular character in the novel is a young prince.
• The main character in the movie is the titular hero.
• The rapper's new album features the titular track that everyone is talking about.
• The company's CEO is the titular head, but the real decision-making power lies with the board of directors.

verb to form letters, words, or symbols on a surface such as paper with a pen, pencil, or typewriter

• I need to write a detailed report on the company's financial performance.
• I have to write a quick email to confirm our meeting time.
• I gotta write up this assignment before the deadline.
• She knew she had to write the next chapter of her life with purpose and determination.

noun a person who writes books, stories, or articles as a job or occupation

• The writer was awarded a prestigious literary prize for her latest novel.
• I heard that the writer is working on a new book.
• That writer is totally killing it with their writing skills.
• The writer's words painted a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

noun a shortened or condensed version of a written work

• The abridgement of the novel made it easier to read for students.
• The shortened version of the book was much better.
• I found the abridged version of the story way more interesting.
• The abridgement of the play captured the essence of the original production.

noun a person who shortens or condenses a written work by omitting parts of it

• The abridger was tasked with condensing the lengthy novel into a shorter version.
• The abridger had to cut out all the boring parts of the movie script.
• The abridger really hacked up that book, cutting out all the good stuff.
• He was like an abridger of conversations, always getting straight to the point.

noun a metrical variation in which the normal rhythmic sequence is interrupted by the omission of a syllable from a metrical line

• The poet's use of acatalexis in his sonnet added a unique rhythmic pattern to the verse.
• I'm not sure what acatalexis means, but it sounds like a fancy word for poetry stuff.
• Acatalexis is like when a poem has a cool flow, you know what I mean?
• In the dance routine, the acatalexis of the movements created a mesmerizing effect on the audience.

noun a member of a group of early 20th-century Russian poets who sought to create a pure form of poetry based on the concrete imagery of the world

• The acmeist poets of the early 20th century focused on clarity, precision, and economy of language in their works.
• I just learned about this group of poets called the acmeists - they were all about using simple and clear language in their poems.
• Those acmeist poets were all about keeping it real with their words, no fluff or fancy stuff.
• In a world full of flowery language, the acmeists were like a breath of fresh air with their straightforward approach to poetry.