English Literature Terminology help

[Sadieuk]

I have noticed when I am in class that some of the students will use descriptive words in their writting and be able to explore the mean at depth with the correct terminology.

We haven't been taught this in class and it's not part of it but, I have had certain students use it just to try and confuse me. I am not ignorant but I dont understand all the terms. It has been about 8 years since I did English and to be honest with other subjects taking up my time I put things aside.



I would like to be able to research the terminology more and to find books that can help or online classes.

Can anyone suggest anything please?


Fore example the below being used

dramatic irony

adjectives

verbs

nouns

Juxtaposition

onomatopoeia

Oxymorons

[miyagisan]

Type 'literary glossary' into Google and you'll find several online resources. And there are many fine books of literary terms.

[billl]

i also tried googling " basic english grammar ", and that might help with some of the words you listed. this site looked good:

http://aliscot.com/bigdog/

but there's lots more that i didn't check.


Some of the words you're talking about (juxtaposition, dramatic irony...) might be important in a good secondary school English course, and University courses.

Other terms (like verb, adjective, noun) are much simpler and much more basic. They are often taught as early as elementary school or maybe secondary school (it depends, I guess, everywhere is probably different!). You will probably need to review these terms in books and on websites separate from the other, less basic, terms.

[kiki1982]

This seems to be a good one for grammar terminology:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/

Or if you live in the UK, you could try to procure a copy of My Grammar and I (or should that be 'Me'?) by Caroline Taggart and J.A. Wines. It is funny, you'll learn a lot about English grammar and what is right/wrong and even what everything means... I know English grammar very well and I enjoyed reading is, as did my husband who teaches Enlgish...

For the principle of dramatic irony, the wikipedia-entry is quite alright. It is actually a pretty easy principle...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramatic_irony#Tragic_irony_.28dramatic_irony.29

Juxtaposition is not in wikipedia, but is in every dictionary and means the same.

Onomatopoeia is also on Wiki, as is oxymoron.

I know Wiki is not considered a reference but it is a start and I don't think that they could general principles wrong...

Is this any help?

[Michael T]

Penguin used to publish a dictionary of 'Literary Terms and Literary Theory'. I would imagine they still do. I have one (4th edition) that I used in my first year at University and it was very useful so I can recommend it to you. :) (handy size to carry around in your rucksack too!) ;)

I just checked mine and the full title is:

'The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory' (J. A. Cuddon)

[Sadieuk]

That is great and I appreciate the posts. After 8 years of leaving studies behind me I have a lot to catch up with.
I have just placed a couple of orders on Amazon and will let you know how I get on.
I have a 2-3 minute Fact & Fiction short to write for next week it, is all new to me and I am really enjoying it so far.
Nice to meet you all and hope to see you all around the boards!

Thank You