New Criticism:A movement in literary criticism,
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 gen-
erally 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 Renais-
sance period but is more closely identified
with such later writers as Jean-Jacques Rous-
seau 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:Namegiventoanextendedlyricpoemchar-
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 distinguished
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 Oedi-
pus, 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’’ andtheos
meaning ‘‘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.
Paradox:A statement that appears illogical or
contradictory at first, but may actually point
to an underlying truth.Glossary of Literary Terms