248. Literary Style
See also 29. AUTHORS ; 237. LANGUAGE STYLE ; 249. LITERATURE .
- Acmeism
- the work and theories of the Acmeists, an anti-symbolist movement of early twentieth-century Russian poets, including Mandelstam and Akhmatova, who strove for lucidity of style, definiteness, and texture in their poetry. — acmeist , n., adj. .
- Byronism
- the characteristics of the poetry and writings of George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824).
- centonism
- the practice, especially in verse, of writing by arranging quotations from other authors. Also centonization . — cento , n . — centonical , adj .
- Ciceronianism
- the imitation of Cicero’s literary and oratorical style. — Ciceronist , n . — Ciceronian , adj .
- classicalism
- 1. an imitation of Greek or Roman literature.
- 2. classicism. — classicalize , v . — classicalist , n .
- classicism
- a literary style characterized by formal adherence to traditions of structure, content, and genre. — classicist , n . — classicize , v .
- conceptism
- Rare . the use of a particular form of literary conceit in Spanish prose.
- concinnity
- harmony or fitness, especially of literary style. — concinnous , adj .
- constructivism
- the theories, attitudes, and techniques of a group of Soviet writers of the 1920s who attempted to reconcile ideological beliefs with technical achievement, especially in stage design, where the effects produced were geometrical and nonrepresentational. — constructivist , n., adj .
- dialogism, dialoguism
- the representation of an author’s thoughts through his use of a dialogue between two or more of his characters. — dialogist , n . — dialogic , adj .
- eulogism
- an expression of praise or blessing as used in a eulogy. — eulogization , n . — eulogistic , adj .
- Euphuism
- 1. an elaborate prose style invented by John Lyly c. 1580, characterized by bountiful figures of speech, Latinisms, extended similes, frequent antitheses, and highly involved syntax.
- 2. any similar ornate style of writing or speaking. Cf. Gongorism . — euphuist , n . — euphuistic , adj .
- floridity
- a florid style; flowery and highly ornamented writing. See also 95. COMPLEXION . — florid , adj .
- genteelism
- a polished style and graceful form in literary works.
- Gongorism
- a Spanish verse style invented by the 17th-century poet Luis de Góngora y Argote, characterized by a studied obscurity, an emphasis on Latin terms and syntax, allusions to classical myths, and lavish use of metaphors, hyperbole, paradoxes, neologisms, and antitheses. Also called cultismo, culteranismo . Cf. Euphuism . — Gongoristic, Gongoresque , adj .
- gothicism
- a style in fictional literature characterized by gloomy settings, violent or grotesque action, and a mood of decay, degeneration, and decadence. — gothicist , n . — gothic , adj .
- Hermeticism
- 1. the occult concepts, ideas, or philosophy set forth in the writings of the hermeticists of the late Middle Ages and the early Renaissance.
- 2. adherence to, belief in, or propagation of these concepts and ideas.
- 3. a symbolic and arcane style similar to that of the hermeticists, especially in the poetry of certain French symbolist poets. — hermeticist, hermetist , n . — hermetic, hermetical , adj .
- Ibsenism
- a dramatic invention characteristic of Henrik Ibsen, used in attacking conventional hypocrisies.
- Johnsonese
- the literary style of Samuel Johnson or a style similar to or in emulation of his, especially one that is turgid and orotund.
- juvenilia
- 1. the literary compositions produced in an author’s youth.
- 2. literary productions intended for the young.
- Kiplingism
- 1. a style resembling or having the features of the literary style of Rudyard Kipling.
- 2. an attitude of superiority over and sympathy for nonwhite peoples, as found in “Gunga Din.” — Kiplingesque , adj .
- Marinism
- a 17th-century Italian literary style marked by forced antitheses and elaborate metaphors. — Marinist , n .
- Marlowism
- the style and topics characteristic of Christopher Marlowe. — Marlovian, Marlowish, Marlowesque , adj .
- Ossianism
- writing in the style of Ossian and particularly writing in the epic or legendary vein which is of a recent period but which claims to belong to antiquity. [After Ossian or Oisin, an apocryphal Gaelic poet of the third century, whose supposed style was imitated in works created by James Macpherson (1736-1796).] — Ossianic , adj .
- pastoralism
- a writing style that focuses on the life of shepherds or herdsman. — pastoralist , n .
- Petrarchism
- a style of writing that is modeled after that of Petrarch. — Petrarchist , n . — Petrarchan , adj .
- poetasterism
- the writing of a poetaster, an inferior and worthless poetry.
- prosaicism
- a phrase written in the style of prose. Also prosaism . — prosaist , n . — prosaic, prosaical , adj .
- quattrocentism
- the art and literature of 15th-century Italy. — quattrocentist , n . adj .
- Ronsardism
- the composition of verse after the manner of French poet Pierre de Ronsard (1524-1585), characterized by neologisms and dialectal forms.
- sensationalism
- 1. the use of subject matter, language, or style designed to amaze or thrill. See also 265. MEDIA ; 312. PHILOSOPHY ,
- 2. such subject matter, language, or style itself. — sensationalist , n . — sensationalistic , adj .
- sentimentalism
- an excessive indulgence in sentiment or emotionalism, predominance of feeling over reason and intellect, as the death scene of Little Nell in Dickens’s Old Curiosity Shop . — sentimentalist , n .
- Shakespearianism
- the condition of having the qualities of or relating to the literary works of William Shakespeare. — Shakespearian , n., adj .
- Shavianism
- a comment, statement, etc., typical or reminiscent of or a quotation from the works of George Bernard Shaw. — Shavian , adj .
- stylistics
- the study of particular styles, as in literature, art, etc.
- Tolstoyism
- doctrines espoused in the works of Tolstoy, Russian novelist and social critic. — Tolstoyist , n .
- Voltairianism, Voltairism
- the doctrines of Voltaire, marked mainly by religious skepticism, frequently seen in his literary works, such as Candide . — Voltairian , n., adj .
- Zolaism
- 1. an overemphasis on the coarser sides of life.
- 2. the objective types of naturalism and determinism underlying Zola’s novelistic methods. — Zolaist , n .
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