Literary Terms

[Binoy]

Authorial Intrusion 
লেখক-কণ্ঠ

Definition:
Authorial Intrusion is an interesting literary device wherein the author penning the story, poem or prose steps away from the text and speaks out to the reader. Authorial Intrusion establishes a one to one relationship between the writer and the reader where the latter is no longer a secondary player or an indirect audience to the progress of the story but is the main subject of the author’s attention.

Example:
In many olden novels, especially in suspense novels, the protagonist would move away from the stream of the story and speak out to the reader. This technique was often used to reveal some crucial elements of the story to the reader even though the protagonist might remain mystified within the story for the time being.

[Binoy]

Bibliomancy 
বাইবেল-ভিত

Definition:
As the very name itself suggests, this kind of literary device finds its roots in biblical origins. This term refers to the practice of basing a plot happening or event and anticipating the results it will have on a faction of the Bible. It involves a random selection process wherein the biblical passage is chosen as a founding stone for basing the outcome of the writing. In an overall context, not limited to just literature, bibliomancy refers to foretelling the future by turning to random portions of the Bible for guidance.

Example:
The Vedas serve as a tool for bibliomancy to the Hindus while Muslims rely on the Koran.

[Binoy]

Bildungsroman 
কেন্দ্রীয় চরিত্র বর্ধন

Definition:
This is a very popular form of storytelling whereby the author bases the plot on the overall growth of the central character throughout the timeline of the story. As the story progresses, the subject undergoes noticeable mental, physical, social, emotional, moral, and often spiritual advancement and strengthening before the readers’ eyes. It has often been seen that the protagonist begins with views, aims and dreams that are in contrast to the other character’s in the story and then fights his or her way through to achieve them.

Example:
Scarlet O’Hara in Gone With the Wind experiences immense personal growth as she learns the value of friends and hard work under duress, without compromising her own dreams.

[Binoy]

Cacophony 
শোরগোল; কর্কশ শব্দ

Definition:
A cacophony in literature refers to the use of words and phrases that imply strong, harsh sounds within the phrase. These words have jarring and dissonant sounds that create a disturbing, objectionable atmosphere.

Example:
His fingers rapped and pounded the door, and his foot thumped against the yellowing wood.

[Binoy]

Caesura 
বিরাম; উচ্চারণ বিরতি

Definition:
This literary device involves creating a fracture of sorts within a sentence where the two separate parts are distinguishable from one another yet intrinsically linked to one another. The purpose of using a caesura is to create a dramatic pause, which has a strong impact. The pause helps to add an emotional, often theatrical touch to the sentence and conveys a depth of sentiment in a short phrase.

Example:
Mozart- oh how your music makes me soar!

[Binoy]

Characterization 
চরিত্র চিত্রন; চরিত্রায়ন

Definition:
Characterization in literature refers the step by step process wherein an author introduces and then describes a character. The character can be described directly by the author or indirectly through the actions, thoughts, and speech of the character.

Example:
Michael Corleone was not jus’ a mafiaso, but a family man. A man who walked the knife’s edge to preserve his sanity.

[Binoy]

Chiasmus 
প্রতিশব্দবন্ধ

Definition:
Chiasmus is a figure of speech containing two phrases that are parallel but inverted to each other.

Example:
You can take the patriot out of the country but you cannot take the country out of the patriot.

[Binoy]

Circumlocution 
জটিলপ্রকাশ

Definition:
Circumlocution is a form of writing where the writer uses exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence. Circumlocution involves stating an idea or a view in an indirect manner that leaves the reader guessing and grasping at the actual meaning.

Example:
Instead of writing “At 8 pm he arrived by car for the dinner party.” the author writes, “Around 3 hours after sunset, it was winter at the time, the man arrived in a combustion engine driven piece of technology with four wheels to join other bipedal creatures in the ingestion of somewhat large quantities of food and drink while having discourse around a large wooden mesa designed for such a purpose”.

[Binoy]

Conflict 
দ্বন্দ্ব বা সংঘাত

Definition:
It is a literary device used for expressing a resistance the protagonist of the story finds in achieving his aims or dreams. The conflict is a discord that can have external aggressors or can even arise from within the self. It can occur when the subject is battling his inner discord, at odds with his surroundings or it may be pitted against others in the story.

Example:
John tried hard to convince himself that his Hollywood dreams were worth the struggle but his parents, and his inner voice of reason, failed to agree.

[Binoy]

Connotation 
ব্যঞ্জনা; অন্তরার্থ, গূঢ়ার্থ, গভীরার্থ

Definition:
Connotations are the associations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition. Many words have connotations that create emotions or feelings in the reader.

Example:
And once again, the autumn leaves were falling.

This phrase uses ‘autumn’ to signify something coming to an end.

[Binoy]

Consonance 
ব্যঞ্জনসাম্য

Definition:
Consonance refers to repetition of sounds in quick succession produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase. The repetitive sound is often found at the end of a word. Consonance is the opposite of assonance, which implies repetitive usage of vowel sounds.

Example:
He struck a streak of bad luck.

[Binoy]

Denotation 
বাহ্যার্থ, বহিরার্থ; আভিধানিক অর্থ

Definition:
Denotation refers to the use of the dictionary definition or literal meaning of a word.

Example:
They built a house.

In the above sentence, house is meant literally as in a building where a family lives. If the word “home” was used instead in the above sentence in place of “house”, the meaning would not be so literal as there are many emotions associated with the word “home” beyond simply the structure where people live.

[Binoy]

Deus ex Machina 
দৈব সমাধান

Definition:
Deus ex Machina is a rather debatable and often criticized form of literary device. It refers to the incidence where an implausible concept or character is brought into the story in order to make the conflict in the story resolve and to bring about a pleasing solution. The use of Deus ex Machina is not recommended as it is seen to be the mark of a poor plot that the writer needs to resort to random, insupportable and unbelievable twists and turns to reach the end of the story.

Example:
If in a suspense novel the protagonist suddenly finds a solution to his dilemmas because of divine intervention.

[Binoy]

Diction 
শব্দচয়ন

Definition:
Diction is the distinctive tone or tenor of an author’s writings. Diction is not just a writer’s choice of words it can include the mood, attitude, dialect and style of writing. Diction is usually judged with reference to the prevailing standards of proper writing and speech and is seen as the mark of quality of the writing. It is also understood as the selection of certain words or phrases that become peculiar to a writer.

Example:
Certain writers in the modern day and age use archaic terms such as ‘thy’, ‘thee’ and ‘wherefore’ to imbue a Shakespearean mood to their work.

[Binoy]

Doppelganger 
দ্বিচরিত্র

Definition:
The term is derived from the German language and literally translates into ‘double walker’. It refers to a character in the story that is actually a counterfeit or a copy of a genuine character. Doppelgangers of the main characters usually bear the ability to impersonate the original but have vastly different spirits and intentions. The doppelganger usually has a different appearance but an earthly soul and supernatural hoodwinking abilities that allow it to fool other unsuspecting characters.

Example:
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde