New Criticism:Amovementinliterarycriticism,
dating from the late 1920s, that stressed close
textual analysis in the interpretation of works
of literature. The New Critics saw little merit
in historical and biographical analysis.
Rather, they aimed to examine the text
alone, free from the question of how external
events—biographical or otherwise—may
have helped shape it.
New Journalism:A type of writing in which the
journalist presents factual information in a
form usually used in fiction. New journalism
emphasizes description, narration, and char-
acter development to bring readers closer to
the human element of the story, and is often
used in personality profiles and in-depth
feature articles. It is not compatible with
‘‘straight’’ or ‘‘hard’’ newswriting, which is
generally composed in a brief, fact-based
style.
New Journalists:SeeNew Journalism
New Negro Movement:SeeHarlem Renaissance
Noble Savage:The idea that primitive man is
noble and good but becomes evil and cor-
rupted as he becomes civilized. The concept
of the noble savage originated in the Ren-
aissance period but is more closely identified
with such later writers as Jean-Jacques
Rousseau and Aphra Behn.
O
Objective Correlative:An outward set of objects,
a situation, or a chain of events correspond-
ing to an inward experience and evoking this
experience in the reader. The term frequently
appears in modern criticism in discussions of
authors’ intended effects on the emotional
responses of readers.
Objectivity:A quality in writing characterized by
the absence of the author’s opinion or feel-
ing about the subject matter. Objectivity is
an important factor in criticism.
Occasional Verse:poetry written on the occasion
of a significant historical or personal event.
Vers de societeis sometimes called occa-
sional verse although it is of a less serious
nature.
Octave:A poem or stanza composed of eight
lines. The term octave most often represents
the first eight lines of a Petrarchan sonnet.
Ode:Name given to an extended lyric poem char-
acterized by exalted emotion and dignified
style. An ode usually concerns a single, serious
theme. Most odes, but not all, are addressed
to an object or individual. Odes are distin-
guished from other lyric poetic forms by
their complex rhythmic and stanzaic patterns.
Oedipus Complex:A son’s amorous obsession
with his mother. The phrase is derived
from the story of the ancient Theban hero
Oedipus, who unknowingly killed his father
and married his mother.
Omniscience:SeePoint of View
Onomatopoeia:The use of words whose sounds
express or suggest their meaning. In its sim-
plest sense, onomatopoeia may be repre-
sented by words that mimic the sounds
they denote such as ‘‘hiss’’ or ‘‘meow.’’ At a
more subtle level, the pattern and rhythm of
sounds and rhymes of a line or poem may be
onomatopoeic.
Oral Tradition:SeeOral Transmission
Oral Transmission:A process by which songs,
ballads, folklore, and other material are trans-
mitted by word of mouth. The tradition of
oral transmission predates the written record
systems of literate society. Oral transmission
preservesmaterialsometimesovergenera-
tions, although often with variations. Mem-
ory plays a large part in the recitation and
preservation of orallytransmitted material.
Ottava Rima:An eight-line stanza of poetry com-
posed in iambic pentameter (a five-foot line
in which each foot consists of an unaccented
syllable followed by an accented syllable),
following the abababcc rhyme scheme.
Oxymoron:A phrase combining two contradic-
tory terms. Oxymorons may be intentional
or unintentional.P
Pantheism:The idea that all things are both a
manifestation or revelation of God and a
part of God at the same time. Pantheism
was a common attitude in the early societies
of Egypt, India, and Greece—the term
derives from the Greekpanmeaning ‘‘all’’
andtheosmeaning ‘‘deity.’’ It later became a
significant part of the Christian faith.
Parable:A story intended to teach a moral lesson
or answer an ethical question.Glossary of Literary Terms