1
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Abstract
|
theoretical without reference to specifics
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2
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Absurd
|
contrary to logic, but sometimes artistically viable
|
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3
|
Accusatory
|
charging of wrong doing
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4
|
Acerbic
|
harsh/ severe; bitter
|
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5
|
Affected
|
assuming a false manner or attitude to impress others
|
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6
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Aggressive
|
forceful; tending towards unprovoked offensiveness, angry/indignant
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7
|
Ambiguous
|
open to more than one interpretation/ doubtful or uncertain
|
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8
|
Amused/Amusing
|
agreeable, pleasing, entertaining, cause pleasure
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9
|
Analytical
|
inclined to examine things by studying their contents or parts
|
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10
|
Anecdotal
|
involving short narratives of interesting events
|
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11
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Apathetic
|
emotionless; not interested/ concerned; indifferent; unresponsive
|
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12
|
Apologetic
|
expressing remorse, regret, sorrow for having failed, injured,
insulted or wronged another
|
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13
|
Apprehensive
|
anxious, fearful, uneasy about the future
|
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14
|
Archaic
|
in the style of an earlier period
|
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15
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Argumentative
|
type of discourse in which one debates a topic in a logical way
|
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16
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Arrogant
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having of displaying a sense of overbearing self-worth or importance
|
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17
|
Atmosphere
|
the pervasive mood or tone of a literary work.
|
||
18
|
Attitude
|
the author's viewpoint regarding his subject matter. attitude can usually
be detected in author's tone.
|
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19
|
Audacious
|
fearless, often recklessly daring, bold
|
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20
|
Awe
|
solemn wonder
|
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21
|
Bantering
|
good-humored, playful
|
||
22
|
Baroque
|
a grand and exuberantly ornamental style
|
||
23
|
Belligerent
|
aggressively hostile; bellicose
|
||
24
|
Biased
|
favoring one thing/person/group over another for personal reasons.
|
||
25
|
Bizarre
|
unusually
strange or odd
|
||
26
|
Bland
|
non-disturbing, unemotional, uninteresting
|
||
27
|
Bombastic
|
pretentious and pompous
|
||
28
|
Breezy
|
quick-paced, but sometimes superficial
|
||
29
|
Callous
|
unfeeling; insensitive to feelings of others
|
||
30
|
Candid
|
unprejudiced,
impartial, open & sincere
|
31
|
Caustic
|
intense use of sarcasm; stinging; biting; acerbic
|
32
|
Childish
|
immature (when applied to adults or writing)
|
33
|
Choleric
|
hot-tempered, easily angered
|
34
|
Cinematic
|
having the qualities of a motion picture
|
35
|
Classical
|
formal, enduring, and standard, adhering to certain traditional
methods
|
36
|
Classification
|
organization wherein the writer explains the relationships between
terms or concepts
|
37
|
Colloquial
|
characteristic or ordinary and informal conversation
|
38
|
Comic
|
humorous, light, funny (there are many levels)
|
39
|
Commiserating
|
feeling/ expressing sorrow for; empathizing with; pity
|
40
|
Condescending
|
patronizing; showing/implying patronizing descent from dignity/
superiority
|
41
|
Confessional
|
characterized by personal admissions of faults
|
42
|
Confused
|
unable to think with clarity or act with intelligence
|
43
|
Connotation
|
the range of further associations that a word or phrase suggests in
addition to its straightforward dictionary meaning.
|
44
|
Contemplative
|
studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue
|
45
|
Contemptuous
|
expressing contempt/ disdain ; showing or feeling that something is
worthless or lacks respect
|
46
|
Contented
|
satisfied with things the way they are.
|
47
|
Convention
|
a device of style of subject matter so often used that it becomes a
recognized means of expression.
|
48
|
Conventional
|
lacking spontaneity, originality and individuality
|
49
|
Convoluted
|
very complicated or involved (as in the case of sentences with many
qualifiers, phrases, and clauses)
|
50
|
Critical
|
finding fault
|
51
|
Cynical
|
displaying a belief that people are always self-seeking and never
altruistic in their actions
|
52
|
Decadent
|
marked by a decay in morals, values, and artistic standards
|
53
|
Denotation
|
the precise literal meaning of a word, without emotional associations
or overtones.
|
54
|
Depressing
|
sad, gloomy (without any of the redeeming qualities of true tragedy)
|
55
|
Derisive
|
unkind and displaying contempt ; ridiculing, mocking
|
56
|
Detached
|
separated, disconnected, aloof or impartial
|
57
|
Detached
|
disinterested, unbiased, emotionally disconnected
|
58
|
Dialect
|
the version of a language spoken by people of a particular region or
social group.
|
59
|
Dialogue
|
the conversation of two or more people as represented in writing.
|
60
|
Diatribe
|
violently bitter verbal attack
|
61
|
Diction
|
the
choice of words used in a literary work
|
62
|
Didactic
|
author attempts to educate or instruct the reader
|
63
|
Diffident
|
reserved in manner; timid
|
64
|
Digression
|
a portion of a written work that interrupts or pauses the development
of the theme or plot.
|
65
|
Discursive
|
moving pointlessly from one subject to another; rambling
|
66
|
Disdainful
|
scornful
|
67
|
Disparaging
|
speak slightingly; depreciating; belittling
|
68
|
Dogmatic
|
asserting opinions in an arrogant manner; imperious; dictatorial
|
69
|
Dramatic Irony
|
a situation in which the audience knows more about the character's
situation than the character does.
|
70
|
Dreamlike
|
having the characteristics of a dream
|
71
|
Earnest
|
intense, a sincere state of mind
|
72
|
Earthy
|
realistic, rustic coarse, unrefined, instinctive, animalize
|
73
|
Effeminate
|
soft, delicate, unmanly
|
74
|
Elegiac
|
expressing sorrow for that which is irrecoverably past
|
75
|
Elegiac
|
expressing sorrow or lamentation
|
76
|
Emotional
|
much given to strong feelings
|
77
|
Emotional
|
easily affected by feelings actuated by experiencing love, hate, fear
and the like
|
78
|
Epigraph
|
the use of a quotation at the beginning or a work that hints at its
theme.
|
79
|
Epistolary
|
a novel written as a series of documents. the usual form is letters,
although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other
|
documents are sometimes used
|
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80
|
Erudite
|
learned, polished, scholarly
|
81
|
Ethical
|
dealing with principles of morality; honest; righteous
|
82
|
Eulogistic
|
involving formal praise in speech or writing, usually in honor of
someone dead
|
83
|
Euphemistic
|
substitution of mild, indirect or vague expression for one thought to
be offensive, harsh or blunt
|
84
|
Evocative
|
having the ability to call forth memories or other responses
|
85
|
Expository
|
type of discourse in which one explains or describes
|
86
|
Expressionistic
|
stressing the subjective and symbolic is art and literature
|
87
|
Facetious
|
amusing, but light, unserious, frivolous
|
88
|
Factual
|
real, provides facts
|
89
|
Fanciful
|
using the imagination
|
90
|
Farcical
|
humorous but in a light way, comedy with high exaggeration
|
91
|
Fatalistic
|
believing that everything that happens is destined and therefore out
of the hands of the individual
|
92
|
Flamboyant
|
conspicuously
bold or colorful
|
93
|
Flashback
|
a way of presenting scenes or incidents that took place before the
opening scene.
|
94
|
Flippant
|
disrespectful levity or casualness, pert.
|
95
|
Forthright
|
directly frank without hesitation
|
96
|
Gloomy
|
darkness, sadness, rejection
|
97
|
Grandiose
|
more complicated/ elaborated than necessary; pompous
|
98
|
Haughty
|
proud and vain to the point of arrogance
|
99
|
Horrific
|
terrifying
|
100
|
Humanistic
|
evincing keen interest in human affairs, nature, welfare, values
|
101
|
Humorous
|
funny and amusing
|
102
|
Hyperbole
|
a bold overstatement or extravagant exaggeration used either for
serious or comic effect.
|
103
|
Idiomatic
|
peculiar to or characteristic of a given language
|
104
|
Illustration
|
organization wherein the topic sentence is stated and then followed by
the details
|
105
|
Imagery
|
language that evokes sensation as opposed to an abstract idea.
|
106
|
Impartial
|
unprejudiced, not biased
|
107
|
Incendiary
|
causing strong feelings
|
108
|
Indignant
|
marked by anger; aroused by justice
|
109
|
Inference
|
a conclusion the reader can draw based upon details presented by the
author.
|
110
|
Insolent
|
presumptuous and insulting in manner or speech, arrogant,
disrespectful, rude, impertinent
|
111
|
Intimate
|
very familiar
|
112
|
Introspective
|
consider one's own internal state of feelings
|
113
|
Invective
|
direct denunciation or name-calling.
|
114
|
Irate
|
extremely angry, enraged
|
115
|
Irony
|
in its broadest sense, the incongruity or diff between reality and
appearance
|
116
|
Irreverent
|
showing disrespect for things that are usually respected or revered
|
117
|
Jargon
|
the special language of a profession or group
|
118
|
Jovial
|
happy, jolly, full of good humor
|
119
|
Judgmental
|
authoritative and often having critical opinions
|
120
|
Juxtaposition
|
the side by side comparison of two or more object
|
121
|
Laudatory
|
praising; extolling; applauding
|
122
|
Local Color
|
the use of the physical setting, dialect, customs, and attitudes in a
region
|
123
|
Lugubrious
|
mournful, dismal, gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous
degree
|
124
|
Lyrical
|
expressing
a poet's inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like
|
125
|
Malapropism
|
the comic substitution of one word for another similar in sound but
different in meaning
|
126
|
Malicious
|
purposely hurtful
|
127
|
Matter Of Fact
|
accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional
|
128
|
Metaphor
|
a direct comparison that does not use "like" or
"as."
|
129
|
Metaphorical
|
having the characteristics of melodrama in which emotions are plot are
exaggerated and characterization is shallow
|
130
|
Mocking
|
treating with contempt or ridicule
|
131
|
Mood
|
the prevailing emotional attitude in a literary work
|
132
|
Morose
|
gloomy, sullen, sourly, despondent
|
133
|
Motivating
|
impelling; inciting
|
134
|
Mournful
|
sorrowful, sadness, melancholy
|
135
|
Mundane
|
ordinary or common, as in everyday matters ("his mind was filled
with mundane matters")
|
136
|
Narrative Pace
|
the speed at which an author tells a story
|
137
|
Naturalistic
|
tending to present things in art and literature as they appear in
nature or actuality
|
138
|
Nostalgic
|
inclined to long for or dwell on things of the past; sentimental
|
139
|
Objective
|
an unbiased view - able to leave personal judgments aside
|
140
|
Obsequious
|
fawning; showing servile complaisance; flattering; deferent ; polite
and obedient in order to gain something
|
141
|
Ominous
|
menacing, threatening
|
142
|
Optimistic
|
hopeful, cheerful
|
143
|
Parody
|
a satirical imitation of something serious, such as a comic takeoff of
Romeo and Juliet (the parody must have enough
|
elements of the original for it to be recognized)
|
||
144
|
Patronizing
|
air of condescension; haughty; looking down upon
|
145
|
Pedantic
|
overly concerned with minute details or formalisms,
|
146
|
Pedestrian
|
lacking vitality, imagination, distinction
|
147
|
Personification
|
the attribute of human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract
ideas.
|
148
|
Persuasive
|
intended or having the power to induce action or belief
|
149
|
Pessimistic
|
seeing the worst side of things
|
150
|
Philosophical
|
interested in the study of basic truths of existence and reality
|
151
|
Picturesque
|
strikingly expressive or vivid
|
152
|
Pious
|
having or displaying a reverence for god and religion; sometimes used
pejoratively, when the display is excessive and overly
|
righteous
|
||
153
|
Poetical
|
having the qualities of poetry, such as pleasing rhythms or images
|
154
|
Poignant
|
affecting
or moving the emotions
|
155
|
Pompous
|
displaying one's importance in an exaggerated way; sometimes this
quality is found in comic characters
|
156
|
Populist
|
egalitarian; pertaining to the characteristics of common people/
working class
|
157
|
Provincial
|
limited in perspective; narrow and self centered
|
158
|
Provocative
|
inciting; stimulating; irritating; vexing
|
159
|
Prurient
|
preoccupied with lewd and lustful thoughts
|
160
|
Pseudonym
|
pen name, alias
|
161
|
Puritanical
|
strict or severe in matters of morality
|
162
|
Quizzical
|
odd, eccentric, amusing
|
164
|
Realistic
|
inclined to represent things as they really are
|
165
|
Reflective
|
illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions
|
166
|
Regretful
|
sorrowful because of what is lost, gone, or done
|
167
|
Restrained
|
held-back, deprived, checked
|
168
|
Reverent
|
treating a subject with honor and respect
|
169
|
Ribald
|
offensive in speech or gesture
|
170
|
Ridiculing
|
slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of
|
171
|
Romantic
|
fanciful; impractical; unrealistic; extravagant; exaggerated
|
172
|
Sanguineous
|
optimistic, cheerful
|
173
|
Sarcasm
|
harsh cutting personal remarks not necessarily ironic
|
174
|
Sarcastic
|
harsh, bitter derision; taunting; sneering; cutting remarks
|
175
|
Sardonic
|
scornfully and bitterly sarcastic
|
176
|
Satire
|
any form of literature that blends ironic humor and wit with
criticism. seeks to correct through ridicule
|
177
|
Satirical
|
ironical; taunting; human folly held up to scorn/ derision/ ridicule ;
ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point or to
|
teach
|
||
178
|
Sentimental
|
resulting from or colored by emotion rather than reason or realism
|
179
|
Simile
|
a comparison using "like" or "as."
|
180
|
Sincere
|
without deceit or pretense, genuine
|
181
|
Situational
|
the contrast between what is intended or expected and what actually
occurs.
|
Irony
|
||
182
|
Skeptical
|
doubtful, apprehensive in agreement
|
183
|
Solemn
|
deeply earnest, tending towards sad reflection
|
184
|
Soliloquy
|
a speech delivered while the speaker is alone, calculated to inform
the audience of the character's thoughts.
|
185
|
Speculative
|
theoretical
rather than practical; thoughtful; reflective; hypothetical
|
186
|
Stream-Of-
|
a technique that allows the reader to see the continuous chaotic flow
of half formed thoughts
|
Consciousness
|
||
187
|
Subjective
|
relying on one's own inner impressions, as opposed to being objective
|
188
|
Surrealistic
|
stressing imagery and the subconscious and sometimes distorting
ordinary ideas in order to arrive at artistic truths
|
189
|
Technical
|
using terminology or treating subject matter in a manner peculiar to a
particular field, as a writer or a book
|
190
|
Terse
|
effectively concise, brief
|
191
|
Timorous
|
funny, witty
|
192
|
Tone
|
the reflection in a work of the author's attitude toward his or her
subject
|
193
|
Trite
|
lacking power to evoke interest through overuse or repetition;
hackneyed
|
194
|
Turgid
|
excessively ornate or complex in style or language; grandiloquent
|
195
|
Unity
|
the quality of oneness in a literary work
|
196
|
Urbane
|
sophisticated, socially polished
|
197
|
Veneration
|
admiration, wonder
|
198
|
Verbal Irony
|
a contrast between what is said and what is meant
|
199
|
Vexed
|
distressed, annoyed, perplexed
|
200
|
Victorian
|
prudish, stuffy, and puritanical (qualities associated with queen
victoria's reign)
|
201
|
Vitriolic
|
full of anger and hatred
|
202
|
Vituperative
|
cruel and angry criticism
|
203
|
Voice
|
the sense a written work conveys to a reader of the writer's attitude,
personality and character
|
204
|
Whimsical
|
odd, strange, fantastic
|
205
|
Wry
|
devious in course or purpose; misdirected
|
