Literary works can be narratives or analyses {prose}, not dramas or poetry.
Sounds or signals {alarum} can be about imminent danger.
formal conversation {colloquy}|.
public performance {spectacle}.
anxiety and uncertainty {suspense}.
expression {utterance}.
witty statement {aphorism}|.
bantering {badinage}.
Irish flattery {blarney}.
People can have fun at expense of people or ideas {derision}.
comic story {drollery}.
light and playful work {humoresque}.
Personal attacks {lampoon}| can be comically overdrawn.
Literary imitations {parody}| can be comic.
Humorous talking {patter} can accompany music or magic performances.
banter {persiflage}|.
happy teasing or ridicule {raillery}.
vulgar humor {ribaldry}.
insightful and humorous expression {witticism}.
repartée {wordplay}.
Two words {anagram}| can use same letters.
Designs {monogram} can use one or more letters.
Expressions {palindrome}| can have same letter sequence forward and backward.
Sentences {pangram} can use all alphabet letters.
People can use proverbs or sayings {adage}|.
trite expression {bromide}.
Words {byword} can be common.
Words or phrases {catch phrase} can be common.
slogan {catchword}.
tombstone or monument phrase {epitaph}|.
People can express ignorant or oversimplified idea {fatuity}.
Words {filler} can fill publication's empty columns.
People can express accepted idea {given}.
jazz jargon {jive}.
rule or principle {maxim}.
trite expression {pabulum, writing}.
trite expression {pap}.
trite expression {platitude}.
innocuous expression {pleasantry}.
Traditional sayings {proverb} can be about proper-living rules.
Vibrating tongue on lips makes disapproving sounds {raspberry, expression}.
saying {saw, saying} {saying, saw}.
soothing expression {sop}.
Slogans or last lines {tag line} can emphasize idea.
a truth {verity}.
slogan or password {watchword}.
People can tell others to do or not do something {admonition}.
regretful note {apology}.
disparagement {aspersion}.
high-sounding but ridiculous expression {bombast}.
criticism {brickbat}.
falsely attributing trait or action to damage reputation {calumny}|.
Arguing cases {casuistry}| can show how it is not against religious or state law.
derisive or disapproving expression {catcall}.
hypothesis {conjecture}.
hurtful expression {contumely}.
problem or riddle {conundrum}.
formal criticism {critique, literature}.
Expressions {denunciation} can state that people have done wrong.
long denunciation {diatribe}.
People can espouse simple ideas {dogma}.
uninformative expression {drivel}.
derogatory name {epithet}|.
profane or vulgar exclamation {expletive}.
long emotional speech {harangue}.
charms and spells {incantation}.
Words can denounce something {invective}.
curse {malediction}.
Life summaries {obituary} can be published after death.
oration style {oratory}.
argument {polemic}|.
obscene literature {pornography}|.
rule {prescript}.
doctor's drug order {prescription, medicine}.
search question or keyword {query}.
Expressions {rap} can be about immediate feelings and ideas.
answering argument points {rebuttal}.
expressing from memory {recitation, speech}.
reply to reply {rejoinder}.
recanting {retraction}.
Speakers can pose and answer questions {rhetorical question}|.
argument {rhubarb, argument}.
Questions {riddle} can suggest objects or situations using metaphorical clues.
People can recite from memory {rote}, without thinking.
ironic or mocking expression {sarcasm}.
gossip {scuttlebutt}.
enticing or alluring expression {siren song}.
Persuasion {snow job} can use deception and flattery.
People can use logic or reasoning to reach questionable conclusions {sophistry}.
criticism {stricture}.
advice {suggestion}.
emotional speech {tirade}.
Words can trivialize important or heroic thing {travesty, literature} {low burlesque}.
People can speak formally {allocution}|.
Foreign-language words can change to form more like English usage {anglicize}.
Removing affix from another word {back-formation} can make new word or meaning.
Two sounds can affect each other {blend}.
For commercial or prudish purposes, publisher can remove vulgar or offensive words or sections {bowdlerize}.
People can speak simultaneously {cacaphony}|, so noise is great and sound has no meaning.
People can use many words to convey thought {circumlocution}|.
Names {cognomen}| can be descriptive or can be last names.
People can make up words {coined word}.
Words can combine with context {combining form}, such as making word into prefix.
People can make harmonious sounds {diapason, speaking}.
In bad usage, sentence can have two negatives {double negative}.
People can pronounce properly using good grammar, tone, and style {elocution}|.
Two sounds can be harmonious {euphony}|.
French-like expression {gallicism}.
conversation part {interlocution}.
People can express using rhyme or rhythm {poetics}.
Works {set piece} can have formal patterns.
People can speak softly but rapidly about ongoing situation {titter}.
words {verbiage}.
Prose can be restrained and ordered {Apollonian prose style}.
Prose can be clear and simple {Attic style}.
Prose can state the main idea and then elaborate, using no parallel constructions and no climax {baroque style, prose} {loose style}.
Prose can be complex and smooth, using parallel constructions, crescendos, and dependent clauses {periodic style, Cicero}, so meaning becomes clear only at end {Ciceronian style}.
Prose can be wild, free, willful, and violent {Dionysian prose style}.
Isocratic style {Euphuistic style} can use myths, proverbs, and zoological references.
Prose can be ornate, using equal-length clauses, equal numbers of sounds, and parallel constructions and thoughts {Isocratic style}.
Plot and characters can evolve in deterministic way {naturalism, literature} {naturalist style}.
Prose can be complex and smooth, using parallel constructions, crescendos, and dependent clauses {periodic style, prose}.
Prose can be florid writing {purple passage}.
Howells, Crane, Garland, and Twain wrote detailed accounts of everyday life {realism, literature} {realistic style}.
Prose can involve good middle-class people or reformed villains {sentimental style}. It uses no wit.
Japanese popular-writing form {ukiyozoshi}.
Certain words or grammatical forms {diction, literature} are appropriate for meaning intended. Using different words for same idea {paraphrase, diction} varies diction. Certain words or grammatical forms are appropriate only in poetry {poetic diction}.
In sentence positions, words or grammatical forms can be appropriate {decorum, literature}.
Literature can use contradiction {irony, literature}, in which intention is opposite of signal or result.
types
Spoken or written words can imply opposite idea {verbal irony, opposites}. During reasoning, later statements can contradict earlier statements {Socratic irony}. Characters can claim to have no knowledge but then demonstrate knowledge, as when Socrates claimed to have no knowledge, in Plato. Writers can playfully discuss contradictory ideas about love {romantic irony}, as in Romantic German literature. Action results can be opposite to what person expected, with tragic consequences {tragic irony}, as in Sophocles' works. Action results can be opposite to what person expected, for comical effect, as in farce. Fate can change action consequences or cause action changes {irony of fate} {cosmic irony}.
Writing can use too many stylistic devices {mannerism, literature}.
Literature can describe how and why character actions result from personality {motivation, literature}.
Works have time and place {setting, literature}.
Literature can have hierarchies and sequences {structure, literature}. Stanzas or episodes can be about one event. Episodes are at scenes. Works can have acts. Structure can repeat similar parts {parallel structure} or contrast differing parts {antithetical structure}. Content ideas unify episodes, scenes, and acts. Opposing episodes, scenes, and acts can create conflict and tension.
Literature can use expression devices and methods {style, literature}. In general, style is high or grand style, middle style, or low or plain style.
Poems or sentence lines have structure {texture, literature}. Texture involves imagery, meter, and detail, which underlying idea {content, prose} unifies or opposes to create conflict {tension, prose}.
Literature can have underlying idea or principle {theme, literature}, which develops in the work.
All parts can contribute to each other {unity, literature}. Renaissance critics suggested that the following three things {three unities} gave greatest unity: all scenes are relevant to the plot {action, unity}, period is less than day {time, unity}, and setting is one location {place, unity}.
Literature can describe event sequences {plot, literature}. Works can use subplots within main plot or plots {underplot} contrasting with main plot. Works can have main subplots or underplots {double plot}.
Literature can describe mental and physical activities {action, plot}.
rising
Plots have beginnings {rising action}. Rising action starts with character presentation {exposition, character}. Exposition includes meeting between protagonist and antagonist. Conflict between protagonist and antagonist or fate {complication, plot} follows, reaching conflict height {crisis, plot} {climax, plot}. Climax can be trivial or exaggerated {anticlimax}.
falling
Plots have second sections {falling action}. Falling action starts with conflict result, which can involve winning, losing, winning then losing, or losing then winning {reversal, plot}. Endings {catastrophe, plot} describe climax-and-reversal reactions {denouement, plot} and emotions {resolution, plot}.
Action involves struggle {conflict, literature} between protagonist and antagonist, fate, or self.
reversal {denouement, literature}|.
Stories can describe events {flashback}| {retrospect} that happened earlier in time.
Plots have sections {story, plot}. Stories either narrate scenes or summarize periods.
Literature can describe personalities {characterization} {character, literature}. Characters can have one main trait {flat character} or several main traits {round character}.
Main character {hero} {protagonist}| is person who struggles against antagonist.
Protagonist struggles against another main character {antagonist, literature}|.
Main characters {antihero} can have actions or emotions opposite to hero actions or emotions.
Main character can contrast with another character {foil, literature}.
Literature can use one or several paragraph or section formats {format, literature} {form, literature}.
Works can contrast pros and cons about questions {argumentation}.
Works can describe scenes {description, literature}.
Works can use dialogue {discourse}.
Works can explain acts or opinions {exposition, literature}.
Works can state theme examples {illustration, literature}.
Works can analyze performances or works {judgment, literature}.
Stories can have little dialogue {narration}.
Literature can reflect author relation to story {viewpoint, literature} {point of view, literature} {voice, literature}.
Characters {first-person observer} can observe and report action but have no action.
Characters {first-person participant} can participate in, and report on, action.
Authors {objective third person} can know no thoughts and not editorialize.
Authors {omniscient third person} can know character thoughts and actions. Authors {selective omniscient third person} {limited omniscient third person} can know one character's thoughts.
Authors {editorial observer} can comment on character thoughts or actions.
Naive people or children {innocent eye} can express author viewpoint in first person.
Authors {neutral observer} can make no comment on character thoughts or actions.
Persons {narrator} telling stories can express author thoughts.
Implied characters {mask character} can express author thoughts.
People can analyze {cryptography} coded messages {cryptogram}|.
proposed version {draft, paper}.
company symbol or lettering {logo} {logotype}|.
Motions {previous question} can be current in parliaments.
excerpt anthology {analect}.
previously-published-works collection {anthology}|.
historical and/or rare documents {archive}|.
narrative history {chronicle}.
Notebooks {commonplace book} can contain photographs and other personal-interest items.
works collection {compendium}|.
works collection {compilation}.
Books {diary} can describe writer's days.
short abridgement {digest}.
Books {emblem book} can explain drawings.
elementary-student textbook or introductory book {primer, book}.
film text {screenplay}.
Documentaries {semidocumentary} can include fictional or imagined historical events.
Historical, literary, or religious works {source book} can be for reference.
three related works {trilogy}.
ideal-society description {utopia}.
Books {bestiary} can be about animals, illustrating moral principles.
Novels {bilddungsroman} {Erziehungsroman} can be about main-character maturation.
Novels {epistolary novel} can be letters.
Biographies {fictional biography} can be plausible life recreations.
Novels {Gothic novel} can use horror.
Novels {historical novel} can be about historical people and actual settings.
western drama {horse opera}.
Novels {kunstlerroman} can be about artist development.
Fiction {novel} can have more than 200 pages, with developed plot and fully described characters.
Short novels {novelette} can have 50 to 100 pages.
During late Middle Ages and Renaissance, people wrote down epic poems about heroes or lovers of European nations, far away lands, or fantasy lands in prose {novella} in the national language. Short novel can have 100 to 200 pages.
Novels {picaresque novel} can involve nice rogues who escape dull middle-class life in exciting episodes. This novel form started in 16th century Spain as chivalry burlesques.
sensational and commercial book {potboiler}.
Novels {psychological novel} can explore hero mental patterns, as in Dostoevski's works.
Novels {roman a clef} can be about contemporary figures but with names changed.
During and after Renaissance, prose stories {romance} with heroic and romantic themes had contemporary characters, who underwent character development.
long narrative {saga}.
future story {science fiction}.
annual fact book {almanac}|.
society-member reports {annals}.
map book {atlas, book}|.
People can write biographies {autobiography}| about selves.
Nonfiction can be life stories {biography}|.
address book {black book}.
prayer and hymn book {breviary}.
collection contents or index {catalog}.
library-collection description {conspectus}.
encyclopedia {cyclopedia}.
alphabetical names, telephone numbers, and/or addresses {directory, book}.
many alphabetical articles {encyclopedia}|.
Biographies {hagiography} can be about saints.
account book {ledger}.
event record {log, record}.
Nonfiction can recount {memoir}| writer's life in a historical period.
prayer and response book {missal}.
law or legal-code digest {pandect}.
drug, preparation, and dosage list {pharmacopoeia}.
synonym book {thesaurus}|.
long nonfiction book {tome}.
Nonfiction books or films {travelogue} can be about journeys.
Books {treatise} can contain complete subject knowledge.
advertising or marketing booklet {brochure}.
brochure {circular}.
handed out printed sheet {handbill}.
handbill or circular {leaflet}.
poster or public nameplate {placard}.
abridgement {condensation, work}.
shortened work {abridgment}|.
Scientific articles begin with summaries {abstract, article}|.
abstract or short summary {précis}|.
summary {summation}.
plot summary {synopsis}|.
beliefs {credo}.
beliefs {creed}.
group beliefs {doctrine}.
goal or principle declaration {manifesto}|.
conduct principle {precept}.
Others can require official information {document, prose} in fixed formats.
In legal disputes, parties can reach agreement {accord between parties}.
proposed-marriage announcement {bann}.
community-member agreement {compact}.
Signed agreements {concordat} can be between two or more groups.
sin admission {confession}.
formal announcement {declaration, document}.
title {deed}.
authority's order {directive}.
Declarations {disclaimer, prose} {hedge clause} can state facts and warnings and state that person is not responsible for what happens in situation.
proclamation {edict, proclamation}.
formal request {petition, document}.
Document introductions {preamble}| can state purposes.
college-course outline and schedule {syllabus}|.
speech or meeting record {transcript}|.
Articles {essay, writing} can state personal thoughts about subjects.
long essay {disquisition}.
Masters and doctoral degrees require research descriptions and conclusions {dissertation}.
passage explanation or long commentary {gloss}.
sermon {homily}|.
Books {monograph}| can be about one subject.
long formal speech {oration}.
praising poem or speech {paean}|.
formal eulogy {panegyric}.
long speech or formal-speech summary {peroration}.
sermon {preachment}.
critical appraisal {review}.
research description and conclusions {thesis, essay}.
propaganda pamphlet {tract}.
farewell {valediction}.
The same letter {chain letter} can go to a sequence of persons.
Letters {encyclical}| can be to all group members, such as pastoral letters from Pope.
letter {epistle}|.
Pages {letterhead} can have printed logos or addresses.
letter {missive}|.
public letter {open letter}.
end-of-letter note {postscript}| {P.S.}.
Diplomats and reporters can send messages {dispatch, message} to superiors or employers.
newspaper or journal {gazette}.
Publications {house organ} can be for employees or clients.
daily event record, newspaper, or scholarly periodical {journal}.
newspaper-article writing {journalism}.
Regularly published magazines {periodical} can contain original articles.
Newspapers {scandal sheet} can print stories of improper behavior by famous people.
sensational newspaper {tabloid}.
news {tidings}.
Many books {apocrypha} have same subjects as books of Old and New Testaments, but bible compilers did not accept them.
blessing {beatitude}|.
Priests can pray that God will protect and bless congregation {benediction}|.
spoken blessing {benison}.
Books {catechism}| can summarize Christian-sect principles in question-and-answer form.
prayer {invocation, prayer}|.
Prayers can have set phrases from leaders followed by set responses from congregation {litany}|.
religious-service ritual or standard part {liturgy}|.
Texts {offertory, text} can be for offering collection or for bread and wine sharing.
After leader speaks, audience can chant or sing a set phrase {responsory}.
Stories {allegory}| can illustrate moral choices or life styles.
short biographical narrative {anecdote}.
fictional story {canard, story}.
Medieval sermons {exemplum} can have parables.
Animal stories {fable}| can illustrate moral principles.
Medieval satires {fabliau} can be on middle-class life or clergy.
Children's stories {fairy tale} can use animals, magic, and non-existent places or places distant in time or space. Fairy tale often starts with the phrase, "Long ago and far away" Fairy tales seem realistic but add miracle and fantasy.
gender
Often in fairy tales, boys do heroic things, while girls wait for rescue or support boy heroes.
speculation
Perhaps, updated fairy tales can use the phrase "Right now, right here." Updated fairy tales can use magician tricks, quickness, and distraction. For example, invisibility uses dark clothes, has quiet movements, has no smell, and uses tricks to distract or hide. Updated fairy tales can use equal activity levels for boys and girls.
very short story {flash fiction}.
In a setting, a character tells a tale, or a storyteller tells stories {frame tale}. Frame tales include 1001 Nights and Canterbury Tales.
ancient god, hero, and event story {myth}.
story {narrative, writing}.
Stories {parable}| can illustrate morals.
Long anecdotes {shaggy-dog story} can end absurdly or anticlimactically.
Narratives {short story} can have less than 50 pages or less than 15,000 words.
Stories {tale} can emphasize plot.
Stories {tall tale} can have exaggerated events.
sketched story {vignette}.
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Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0225