English Literary Terms

English Literary terms

Directions: For each term given, record its definition and find examples in the lyrics or excerpts provided. Make sure to keep this packet filed in the vocabulary section of your binder all year.

Allusion:

“Eden” by 10,000 Maniacs

We are the roses in the garden, beauty with thorns among our leaves. To pick a rose you ask your hands to bleed. What is the reason for having roses when your blood is shed carelessly? It must be for something more than vanity.

Believe me, the truth is we're not honest, not the people that we dream. We're not as close as we could be. Willing to grow but rains are shallow. Barren and wind-scattered seed on stone and dry land, we will be. Waiting for the light arisen to flood inside the prison. And in that time kind words alone will teach us, no bitterness will reach us. Reason will be guided another way.

All in time, but the clock is another demon that devours our time in Eden, in our Paradise. Will our eyes see well beneath us, flowers all divine? Is there still time? If we wake and discover in life a precious love, will that waking become more heavenly?

Circle any allusions that you find.
To what work(s) does the allusion(s) refer?
What is the context of the allusion in the song?

Apostrophe:

“Candle in the Wind” by Elton John

Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude
Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe

Circle the lyrics that are examples of apostrophe.
Who or what is being addressed?
How does this qualify as an apostrophe?

Ballad:

“Rocky Raccoon” by the Beatles

Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye Rocky didn’t like that
He said I’m gonna get that boy
So one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon.
Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon’s bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy.
Her name was Magill and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy.
Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a showdown
But Daniel was hot-he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner.
Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, doc it’s only a scratch
And I’ll be better I’ll be better doc as soon as I am able.
Now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon’s bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky’s revival.

Relate the series of events in your own words.

Carpe Diem:

“I Wanna Go Too Far” by Trisha Yearwood

Everything in moderation, that's the way it's always been
Never gettin' out of control - never hanging it out
Always reelin' it in
I saved my money for a rainy day
But now I've had enough of playin' it safe

I wanna go too far, I wanna go too fast
Somebody draw the line so I can blow right past
I wanna spend too much, I wanna stay too late
I'm gonna roar too loud, I'm gonna be that way
I wanna play too hard, I wanna go too far
I'm the one they all depend on
Sensible, predictable, and strong
But every now and then,
I feel like I've played that role too long
I need to rock the boat, I need to speak my mind
Just this once let it all unwind
I wanna go too far, I wanna go too fast
Somebody draw the line so I can blow right past
I wanna spend too much, I wanna stay too late
I'm gonna roar too loud, I'm gonna be that way
I wanna play too hard, I wanna go too far
I've gotta set this spirit free
That's hiding here inside
I feel like a bird in a cage
It's time for me to fly

How do the lyrics demonstrate the idea of carpe diem?

Conceit:

“Seeds” by Kathy Mattea

Sometimes I stop on my way home
And watch the children play
And I wonder if they wonder
What they'll be some day
Some will dream a big dream
And make it all come true
While others go on dreaming
Of things they'll never do
(Chorus)
We're all just seeds
In God's hands
We start the same
But where we land
Is sometimes fertile soil
And sometimes sand
We're all just seeds
In god's hands
I saw a friend the other day
I hardly recognized
He'd done a lot of living
Since I'd last looked in his eyes
He told his tale of how he'd failed
The lessons he'd been taught
But he offered no excuses
And he left me with this thought
(Repeat Chorus)
And as I'm standing at a crossroads once again
I'm reminded we're all the same when we begin
And in the end?
(Repeat Chorus)
(Tag)
We're all just seeds
In god's hands

What two seemingly dissimilar things are being compared?

What is the point the song is trying to make based on the comparison?

Connotation:

Denotation:

“That’s Life” by David Lee Roth

That's life, THAT'S LIFE
that's what all the people say.
You're riding high on Monday,
shot down in May.
But I, I ain't never gonna change my tune
when I'm back on top in the month of June.
I said, that's life. THAT'S LIFE
And as funny as it may seem,
some people get their kicks
stompin' on a dream.
But I, I don't never let it get me down
'cause that big ol' world keeps spinnin' 'round.
Been a puppet, pirate, a poet, a pauper, a pawn and a king.
Been up and down and over and out and I know one thing:
each time that I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race.
That's life. THAT'S LIFE
And I can't deny it,
many times I thought of quitting, babe,
but my heart wouldn't buy it.
If I didn't think it was worth one try
I'd jump right on a big bucket and fly.
Been a puppet, poet, pirate, pauper; now I'm a king.
Been up, down, I know one thing:
each time that I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race.
That's life. THAT'S LIFE
And I can't deny it,
many times I thought of quitting, babe,
but my heart wouldn't buy it.
If I didn't think it was worth one try
I'd just roll myself up in a big ball and fly

Make a list of the underlined words and put the literal definition next to each.

Why would the author select these words to describe different phases of life?

Dialect:

“Cotton-Eyed Joe,” traditional v. modern

Listen closely to the musical characteristics of each version. In the chart below, list those characteristics that contribute to each version’s unique style. This can include discussion of instrumentation, tempo, dynamics, vocals, etc.

Traditional

Modern

Text from “His Grandfather’s Old Ram” by Mark Twain

I don’t reckon them times will ever come again. There never was a more bullier old ram than what he was. Grandfather fetched him from Illinois–got him of a man by the name of Yates–Bill Yates–maybe you might have heard of him; his father was a deacon–Baptist–and he was a rustler, too; a man had to get up ruther early to get the start of old Thankful Yates; it was him that put the Greens up to jining teams with my grandfather when he moved west. Seth Green was prob’ly the pick of the flock; he married a Wilkerson–Sarah Wilkerson–good cretur, she was–one of the likeliest heifers that was ever raised in old Stoddard, everybody said that knowed her. She could heft a bar’l of flour as easy as I can flirt a flapjack. And spin? Don’t mention it! Independent? Humph!

9. Dramatic Monologue:

“Are You Lonesome Tonight” by Elvis Presley

Are you lonesome tonight,
do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray to a brighter sunny day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?
Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?
I wonder if you're lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world's a stage
And each must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart.
Act one was when we met, I loved you at first glance
You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue
Then came act two, you seemed to change and you acted strange
And why I'll never know.
Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
And I had no cause to doubt you.
But I'd rather go on hearing your lies
Than go on living without you.
Now the stage is bare and I'm standing there
With emptiness all around
And if you won't come back to me
Then make them bring the curtain down.
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight

Whom do you think is being addressed?

Summarize the message you think the speaker is trying to communicate.

10. Elegy:

“In My Life” by John Lennon

There are places I'll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more

Who or what do you believe is being mourned?

What are three specific things he mentions that he misses about what he is mourning?

11. Epiphany:

“How Bizarre” by OMC

Brother Pele's in the back, sweet Seena's in the front
Cruising down the freeway in the hot, hot sun
Suddenly red blue lights flash us from behind
Loud voice "all will please step out onto the line"
Pele breathes words of comfort, Seena just hides her eyes
Policeman taps his shades, Is that a Chevy 69?
How bizarre, how bizarre, how bizarre
Destination unknown, as we pull in for some gas
A freshly pasted poster reveals a smile from the pack
Elephants and acrobats, lions next monkey
Pele speaks righteous, Sister Seena says funky
How bizarre, how bizarre, how bizarre
Ooh baby, (ooh baby), it's making me crazy,

Every time I look around, (look around)
Every time I look around, every timeI look around
It's in my face
Ringmaster steps up, says the elephants left town
People jump and jive, and the clowns inch back around
T.V. news and cameras, there's choppers in the sky
Marines, police, reporters, ask the where, for and why
Pele yells "we're outta here", Seena says "right on"
Make your moves and starting grooves, before they knew we're gone
Jump into the Chevy, headed for big lights,
Wanna know the rest? Hey, buy the rights
How bizarre, how bizarre, how bizarre
Refrain (3x)

Summarize two things that the singer characterizes as bizarre.

12. Epithet:

“Run-Around Sue” by Dion and the Belmonts

Here's my story, its sad but true
It's about a girl that I once knew
She took my love then ran around
With every single guy in town
Ah, I should have known it from the very start
This girl will leave me with a broken heart
Now listen people what I'm telling you
A-keep away from-a Runaround Sue
I miss her lips and the smile on her face
The touch of her hair and this girl's warm embrace
So if you don't wanna cry like I do
A-keep away from-a Runaround Sue
Ah, she likes to travel around
She'll love you but she'll put you down
Now people let me put you wise
Sue goes out with other guys
Here's the moral and the story from the guy who knows
I fell in love and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say
Keep away from-a Runaround Sue
She likes to travel around
She'll love you but she'll put you down
Now people let me put you wise
Sue goes out with other guys
Here's the moral and the story from the guy who knows
I fell in love and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say
Keep away from-a Runaround Sue

What are the qualities of Sue that earned her the epithet?

13. Irony:

“Ironic” by Alanis Morissette

An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day
Its a black fly in your chardonnay
Its a death row pardon two minutes too late
Isn’t it ironic... don’t you think?
Chorus:
Its like rain on your wedding day
Its a free ride when you’ve already paid
Its the good advice that you just didn’t take
Who would’ve thought... it figures
Mr. play it safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought
Well isn’t this nice...
And isn’t it ironic... don’t you think?
Repeat chorus
Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything’s okay and everything’s going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think everything’s gone wrong and everything blows up
In your face
A traffic jam when you’re already late
A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
Its like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
Its meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn’t it ironic... don’t you think?
A little too ironic... and yeah I really do think...
Repeat chorus
Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out

A. List THREE examples of ironic situations from the song and explain why EACH is ironic.

14. Paradox:

“Blinded by Rainbows” by the Rolling Stones

Did you ever feel the pain
That he felt upon the cross
Did you ever feel the knife
Tearing flesh that's oh so soft
Did you ever touch the night
Did you ever count the cost
Do you hide away the fear
Put down paradise as lost
Yeah you're blinded by rainbows
Watching the wind blow
Blinded by rainbows
Do you dream at night
Do you sleep at night
I doubt it
Did you ever feel the blast
As the semtex bomb goes off
Do you ever hear the screams
As the limbs are all torn off
Did you ever kiss the child
Who just saw his father shot
Do you ever shed a tear
As the war drags on and on
Do you ever touch the night
Or is it just another job
Do you feel the final hours
Put down paradise as lost

Yeah you're blinded by rainbows
And faces in windows
Blinded by rainbows
Do you dream at night
Do you sleep at night
I doubt it
Do you ever fear the night
Could it be the war is lost
Do you fear the final hour
Do you kneel before the cross
You're blinded by rainbows
And watching the wind blow
Blinded by rainbows
Do you dream at night
Do you scream at night
Do you smell of fear
Is your conscience clear
Are you caked in sweat
Are your clothes all wet
Do you see the light
Is the end in sight
See the face of Christ
Enter paradise
I doubt it