Glossary O

Glossary O

Objectivity

The quality of being unbiased and impartial in writing, presenting facts without personal opinion or emotion.

  • Autobiography vs. Memoir: Personal Stories (Defined)
  • Octave

    An eight-line stanza in poetry, often used in sonnets.

  • Ballad vs. Sonnet: Poetic Structures (Explained)
  • Octave sestet

    A sonnet structure consisting of an eight-line stanza followed by a six-line stanza.

  • Ballad vs. Sonnet: Poetic Structures (Explained)
  • Odes

    A type of poem that celebrates or praises a person, place, or thing.

  • Elegy vs. Ode: Types of Poems (Defined)
  • Ballad vs. Sonnet: Poetic Structures (Explained)
  • Offensive expression replacement

    The act of replacing offensive language with more appropriate alternatives.

  • Euphemism vs. Dysphemism: Politeness in Language (Clarified)
  • Onomatopoeia

    Words that imitate the sound they represent (e.g. buzz, hiss, sizzle).

  • Onomatopoeia vs. Mimesis: Sound in Literature (Compared)
  • Alliteration vs. Assonance: Understanding Sounds (Compared)
  • Idiom vs. Cliche: Understanding Phrases (Explained)
  • Assonance vs. Consonance: Sound Patterns (Clarified)
  • Imagery vs. Symbolism: Visual Writing (Explained)
  • Opposing force

    Opposing force – The antagonist or force that opposes the protagonist in a story.

  • Protagonist vs. Antagonist: Character Roles (Defined)
  • Opposite words distinction

    The use of words with opposite meanings to create contrast or emphasis.

  • Oxymoron vs. Paradox: Contradictory Terms (Clarified)
  • Oppression

    The unjust or cruel exercise of power over others, often resulting in discrimination, marginalization, or exploitation.

  • Dystopia vs. Utopia: Literary Settings (Explained)
  • Oppressive Society

    A society that restricts individual freedom and enforces conformity through oppressive laws or social norms.

  • Dystopia vs. Utopia: Literary Settings (Explained)
  • Oracle

    Oracle – A person or thing that is believed to be a source of wisdom or prophecy.

  • Epic vs. Tragedy: Literary Forms (Defined)
  • Oral communication

    The act of speaking and listening in a face-to-face or virtual setting.

  • Assonance vs. Consonance: Sound Patterns (Clarified)
  • Oral communication tools

    Techniques used to enhance the delivery of a poem when recited aloud, such as tone, pace, and volume.

  • Assonance vs. Consonance: Sound Patterns (Clarified)
  • Oral tradition

    The passing down of stories, legends, and cultural traditions through spoken word rather than written text.

  • Alliteration vs. Assonance: Understanding Sounds (Compared)
  • Refrain vs. Chorus: Ballad Repetition (Defined)
  • Oral transmission

    The passing down of stories, traditions, and knowledge through spoken word rather than written text.

  • Rhythm vs. Meter: Ballad Framework (Explained)
  • Overemphasis

    The act of placing too much emphasis or importance on a particular aspect or element of a work of literature.

  • Hyperbole vs. Understatement: Degree of Expression (Compared)
  • Oversimplification

    The act of reducing a complex idea or concept to a simple or superficial explanation.

  • Character vs. Caricature: Deep Dive (Explained)
  • Over-the-top acting

    Acting that is exaggerated for dramatic effect.

  • Pathos vs. Bathos: Emotional Appeals (Explained)
  • Over-the-top emotions

    Emotions that are exaggerated for dramatic effect.

  • Pathos vs. Bathos: Emotional Appeals (Explained)
  • Over-the-top features

    Exaggerated or excessive elements in a work of art, such as a film or novel, often for dramatic effect.

  • Character vs. Caricature: Deep Dive (Explained)
  • Over-the-top performance

    A performance that is exaggerated or excessive in its delivery, often for comedic effect.

  • Character vs. Caricature: Deep Dive (Explained)
  • Overuse

    The excessive repetition of a word or phrase in writing.

  • Pathos vs. Bathos: Emotional Appeals (Explained)
  • Overused expression

    Overused expression – A phrase or expression that has become trite or cliched through overuse.

  • Idiom vs. Cliche: Understanding Phrases (Explained)
  • Overused phrases recognition

    Overused phrases recognition – The ability to identify and avoid cliches and overused expressions in writing.

  • Idiom vs. Cliche: Understanding Phrases (Explained)
  • Oxymoron

    A figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms, such as “jumbo shrimp” or “deafening silence.”

  • Idiom vs. Cliche: Understanding Phrases (Explained)
  • Metaphor vs. Simile: Know the Difference (Explained)
  • Oxymoronic phrase

    A phrase that combines two contradictory terms for emphasis or effect.

  • Oxymoron vs. Paradox: Contradictory Terms (Clarified)