Creative Writing
absolute -correct answers a word free from limitations or qualifications ("best," "all,"
"unique," "perfect")
adage -correct answers a familiar proverb or wise saying ad hominem
argument -correct answers an argument attacking an individual's character rather than
his or her position on an issue
allegory -correct answers a literary work in which characters, objects, or actions
represent abstractions
alliteration -correct answers the repetition of initial sounds in successive or neighboring
words
allusion -correct answers a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical
that the author assumes the reader will recognize
analogy -correct answers a comparison of two different things that are similar in some
way
anaphora -correct answers the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of
consecutive lines or sentences
anecdote -correct answers a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event
antecedent -correct answers the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers
antithesis -correct answers a statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced
aphorism -correct answers a concise statement that expresses succinctly a general
truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance
apostrophe -correct answers a figure of speech in which one directly addresses an
absent or imaginary person, or some abstraction
archetype -correct answers a detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in
literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and
to evoke a response argument
asyndeton -correct answers a construction in which elements are presented in a series
without conjunctions
, balanced sentence -correct answers a sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses
are set off against each other to emphasize a contrast
bathos -correct answers insincere or overly sentimental quality of writing/speech
intended to evoke pity
chiasmus -correct answers —a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the
second part is structurally reversed ("Susan walked in, and out rushed Mary")
cliché -correct answers an expression that has been overused to the extent that its
freshness has worn off
climax -correct answers the point of highest interest in a literary work
colloquialism -correct answers informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in
formal writing
complex sentence -correct answers a sentence with one independent clause and at
least one dependent clause
compound sentence -correct answers a sentence with two or more coordinate
independent clauses, often joined by one or more conjunctions
conceit -correct answers a fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor
concrete details -correct answers details that relate to or describe actual, specific things
or events
connotation -correct answers the implied or associative meaning of a word
cumulative sentence -correct answers a sentence in which the main independent clause
is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases
declarative sentence -correct answers declarative sentence—a sentence that makes a
statement or declaration
deductive reasoning -correct answers reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by
stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case (The sun
rises every morning; therefore, the sun will rise on Tuesday morning.)
denotation -correct answers the literal meaning of a word
dialect -correct answers a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar
or pronunciation, often associated with a particular geographical region
dialogue -correct answers conversation between two or more people
absolute -correct answers a word free from limitations or qualifications ("best," "all,"
"unique," "perfect")
adage -correct answers a familiar proverb or wise saying ad hominem
argument -correct answers an argument attacking an individual's character rather than
his or her position on an issue
allegory -correct answers a literary work in which characters, objects, or actions
represent abstractions
alliteration -correct answers the repetition of initial sounds in successive or neighboring
words
allusion -correct answers a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical
that the author assumes the reader will recognize
analogy -correct answers a comparison of two different things that are similar in some
way
anaphora -correct answers the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of
consecutive lines or sentences
anecdote -correct answers a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event
antecedent -correct answers the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers
antithesis -correct answers a statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced
aphorism -correct answers a concise statement that expresses succinctly a general
truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance
apostrophe -correct answers a figure of speech in which one directly addresses an
absent or imaginary person, or some abstraction
archetype -correct answers a detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in
literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and
to evoke a response argument
asyndeton -correct answers a construction in which elements are presented in a series
without conjunctions
, balanced sentence -correct answers a sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses
are set off against each other to emphasize a contrast
bathos -correct answers insincere or overly sentimental quality of writing/speech
intended to evoke pity
chiasmus -correct answers —a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the
second part is structurally reversed ("Susan walked in, and out rushed Mary")
cliché -correct answers an expression that has been overused to the extent that its
freshness has worn off
climax -correct answers the point of highest interest in a literary work
colloquialism -correct answers informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in
formal writing
complex sentence -correct answers a sentence with one independent clause and at
least one dependent clause
compound sentence -correct answers a sentence with two or more coordinate
independent clauses, often joined by one or more conjunctions
conceit -correct answers a fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor
concrete details -correct answers details that relate to or describe actual, specific things
or events
connotation -correct answers the implied or associative meaning of a word
cumulative sentence -correct answers a sentence in which the main independent clause
is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases
declarative sentence -correct answers declarative sentence—a sentence that makes a
statement or declaration
deductive reasoning -correct answers reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by
stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case (The sun
rises every morning; therefore, the sun will rise on Tuesday morning.)
denotation -correct answers the literal meaning of a word
dialect -correct answers a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar
or pronunciation, often associated with a particular geographical region
dialogue -correct answers conversation between two or more people
