| A | B |
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| denotation | the explicit, literal meaning of a word |
| device | a technique, such as a figure of speech, an author employs to achieve a certain literary or artistic effect |
| dialectic | a form of reasoning that proceeds by juxtaposing contradictory ideas and synthesizing or finding areas of agreement between them |
| dialogue | a conversation between two or more speakers; also an exchange of ideas |
| diction | specific word choice used in a piece of writing, often chosen for effect but also for correctness and clarity |
| didactic | intended to instruct or educate |
| digression | to turn or move away from the main subject of discussion or the main argument in a piece of writing |
| discourse | spoken or written language, including literary works; the four traditionally classified modes of discourse are description, exposition, narration, and persuasion |
| dramatic irony/tragic irony | a technique in which the author lets the audience in on a character's situation while the character remains uninformed |
| diction | word choice; also called syntax |
| dissonance | the grating sounds that are harsh or do not go together |
| elegy | a formal poem focusing on death or mortality, usually beginning with the recent death of a particular person |
| end rhyme | a rhyme that comes at the end of lines of poetry |
| epic | a long narrative poem about a serious and profound subject in a dignified style; usually featuring heroic characters and deeds important in legends |
| epigram | a concise, witty saying in poetry or prose that either stands alone or is part of a larger work; may also refer to a short poem of this type |
| euphony | a succession of harmonious sounds used in poetry or prose; the opposite of cacophony |
| exemplum | a brief tale used in medieval times to illustrate a sermon or teach a lesson |
| exposition | the immediate revelation to the audience of the setting and other background information necessary for understanding the plot |
| ellipsis | a figure of speech in which a word or short phrase is omitted, but easily understood from context; also the marks (...) that indicate the omission of a word or phrase |
| emblem | a concrete object that represents something abstract; unlike a symbol, an emblem has a fixed meaning that does not vary in different contexts |
| emphasis | force or intensity of expression brought to bear on a particular part of a text or speech |
| enthymeme | an informal method of argument in which one of the major premises is implied or assumed rather than stated |
| epigraph | a quotation placed at the beginning of a piece of literature or at the beginning or one of its chapters or scenes to provide the reader with some ideas about the content or meaning to follow |
| epiphany | a sudden, powerful, and often spiritual or life-changing realization that a character reaches in an otherwise ordinary or everyday moment |
| epistolary | narrated through letters |
| epitaph | a brief statement to memorialize a deceased person or a thing, time, or event that has ended |
| ethos | the overall character, moral makeup, or guiding beliefs or an individual, group, or institution |
| euphony | a pleasing arrangement of sounds |
| evidence | specific facts or examples used to support a claim in a piece of writing |
| explication | the detailed analysis of a literary work |
| exposition | an explanation of the meaning or purpose of a piece of writing, especially one that is difficult to understand |
| eulogy | a formal statement of praise |
| expletive | a syllable, word, or group of words added to fill a void, but which do not add to the meaning of a piece of writing; also an exclamatory word or group of words, especially an obscenity |
| dactyl | one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables |
| external conflict | a conflict that takes place between a character and an outside force |
| dynamic characters | when a character grows emotionally, learns a lesson, or changes his/her behavior |
| dialect | the way of speaking that is characteristic of a certain geographical area or a certain group of people |
