A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z   <<  >>

Terms for subject Literature (1061 entries)

dactyl	A three syllable foot which is accented on the first syllable. An example of this would be the word "merrily," which is spoken: MER - ri - ly
Daniel Defoe	Born around 1659, Defoe died on the 24 April 1731. Originally Daniel Foe, this English writer and journalist was crucial to the success of the novel form. He achieved great success through his novel Robinson Crusoe.
dark lady sonnets	A number of sonnets written by Shakespeare (sonnet numbers 127-152) addressing a dark lady (a reference due to her colouring) It is unknown whether she is an actual person, someone Shakespeare knew or a fictional character.
dative	A grammatical case.
dead language	An extinct language where there are no longer native speakers of the language.
Dearborn Dynamic Toastmasters Club	D2
Dearborn Dynamic Toastmasters Club	DD
declension	A grammatical term referring to the inflection of certain words for number and case.
deconstruction	The approach whereby any text is unfolded and meticulously investigated for its meaning, to the point where the base of the text is exposed as unstable. The term was coined by French philosopher Jacques Derrida.
deep structure	A linguistic term which refers to the underlying structure of a sentence, which the surface representation or meaning is derived from.
denotation	The direct or explicit meaning of a word, or a string of words.
denouement	The final resolution of a plot, especially in drama or narrative.
description	Passages of writing, most often in prose, which are descriptive of places, people, objects, social manners and so forth.
poetic	description of persons, objects, or ideas that connect to the soul of the beholder
descriptive writing	This is creative writing, which can be both fictional and non-fictional. Important to creating descriptive writing are the five senses, description, literary devices and abstract language.
detective fiction	Fiction in which the mystery is solved by a detective.
deuteragonist	An actor whose character is next in line of importance after the protagonist.
deux ex machina	A device, either artificial or unlikely, which is suddenly introduced into a plot to provide a resolution.
device	Describes any literary technique, for example metaphors or alliteration.
diachronic	Changes which occur within a linguistic system between specified points in time.