Lit. Terms - Oct. 2

Paradox ~ A statement whose two parts seem contradictory yet make sense with more thought.

Example ~

"Cowards die many times before their deaths."
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar: Act II, scene ii : line 32


Cowards "die" many times before their deaths. They are often humiliated and cause dishonor to whomever they serve. They aren't useful in a fight and might as well be counted as a fallen warrior.



Onomatopoeia ~ The formation of a word, as cuckoo, meow, honk, or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.
OR
The use of sound in such a way that echoes or suggests the meaning

Example ~ 

“A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch
And blue spurt of a lighted match.”
 Robert Browning - “Meeting at Night”


An onomatopoeia is used to enhance the feeling of the text. Its used to help the reader understand the text better by adding a dramatic or poetic effect.