Several years ago I made a post on Latin literary terms. But we also borrow heavily from other languages when referring to particular phenomena or techniques, especially French. So, what better way to mark this Bastille Day than to list a few of the more common ones collected from various sources?
Alexandrine-poetry using 12 syllables per line
avant-garde-cutting edge; new
belles-lettres-very fine or high-quality literature
billet doux-love letter
calque-a word or phrase borrowed from another language with exact or similar meaning (like those on this list!)
cliché-overused word or phrase; a literary stereotype
critique-analysis of a literary or other artistic work
denouement-the resolution of a narrative
genre-the category of writing, usually based around subject matter or audience
mot juste-exactly the right word to describe a situation
motif-a recurring theme
nom de plume-pen name or alias
objet d’art-a work of art
oeuvre-an artist’s body of work
pastiche-an imitation work or homage
patois-jargon
raconteur-a storyteller
reportage– journalism
venue-a place where an event possibly one for selling books) is taking place