English ⇄ thesaurus

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Terms for subject Literature (1001 entries)

story	A succession of events, which become a plot once the events are structured into a narrative.
story within a story	This is a narrative technique where there is a principal story, within which there is another major fictive narrative, generally told by the characters of the principal story.
stress	In linguistics, stress is the emphasis, length and loudness that characterise one syllable as more prominent than another. In poetry, see meter and sonnets.
stressed	A syllable that has a heavy distinction from other syllables when spoken aloud. See unstressed, foot and meter.
structuralism	This theory suggests that no text has any meaning independently, but only makes sense when thought of as part of a complete language system. Furthermore, it is argued that all writing is comprised of an arrangement of signs, codes and conventions. This turns away fromthe traditional view that literaturereflects reality, and thus creates a connection between the writer and reader. Structuralists reject both these ideas and argue the writer creates a persona, which is a literary construction, creating a barrier to the access of the actual writer. Roland Barthes (1915-80) was a key structuralist during the theory’s rise in the 1960s. The discourse has now been outdated by post-structuralism.
structure	The general organisation of writing.
style	The distinguishing way writers employ language and their words choice to accomplish certain effects. A significant ingredient of interpreting and understanding fiction is paying attention to the way the author uses words. Syntax, structure and narrative technique are also important.
sub-plot	a second plot in a play or narrative that adds to or parallels the main plot.
subject matter	The issue or topic that is the focus of a discussion or text.
Subject Occasion Audience Purpose Speaker	SOAPS
subversion	when a concept or text aims to undermine an established idea.
Sun Life Speakers Corner Toastmasters Club	SLCC
suspense	A sentiment that is often created within plays and stories to engage the reader. Suspense is the eagerness to know what will happen.
suspension of disbelief	An explanation for incredible or unrealistic elements in a work of literature. First suggested by Coleridge as a way of accepting the implausible in a story.
Sustaining Membership Enrollment	SME
syllabary	In writing, a set of symbols which roughly equate to a syllable. This is seen in a language such as Chinese.
syllables	The smallest unit of speech spoken with one single sound.
Sylvia Plath	An American poet and writer. She is the author of The Bell Jar. She was married to Ted Hughes and committed suicide.
symbol	A word, place, character, or object that signifies something beyond what it is on the surface, and represents a broader concept. Symbols can be contextual, cultural, or personal.
symbolic character	Characters whose chief literary purpose is symbolic, although the character may have common or realistic qualities.