40 Common Literary Devices – Flashcards
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Alliteration
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The repetition of beginning consonant sounds through a sequence of words.
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Allusion
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A reference (either implied or stated) to mythology, the Bible, literature, music, or history that reinforces a point in the current work -- by relying on the reader's familiarity with the alluded-to work.
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Simile
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A comparison using "like" or "as".
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Connotation
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The emotional meaning of a word. Opposite of denotation.
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Repetition
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Stating the same word, phrase, or sentence over and over again to provide emphasis.
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Denotation
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The literal or dictionary meaning of a word. Opposite of connotation.
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Metaphor
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A comparison between two different things that is stated as a fact.
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Figurative Language
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Creative and imaginative language used to hook readers with meanings that differ from the actual literal meaning of the words themselves. The language broadens a reader's view and offers a new way to connect, or understand.
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Non-Fiction
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A story that is true, or it is based on real life. Example- Dallas Morning News, or a book about Turtles
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Hyperbole
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An extreme exaggeration.
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Imagery
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A picture that the author paints in your head with his/her words. It usually involves at least one of the five senses.
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Thesis
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The controlling statement generally found at the beginning of an essay.
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Tone
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The author's attitude or voice in the story.
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Personification
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To give a non-human object or abstract concept human qualities.
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Plot
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The events that make up a story.
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Resolution
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When a problem is solved, it usually happens at the end of the story. Also known as the conclusion of the story.
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Persuasive
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A type of essay that attempts to influence or convince the reader of their argument. Logos, ethos and pathos are types of ways to persuade.
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Theme
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This can be known as the moral of the story, the life lesson, or the message.
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Text Evidence
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Using quotes from the story to prove your answer.
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Stanza
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A poetry paragraph
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Rhyme Scheme
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the arrangement of rhymes in a poem Ex: AABBCC
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Narrator
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The voice that tells the story
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Point of View
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character whose eyes the story is told through.
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1st Person
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Kind of narrator that is: *In the story *Telling their own story *Uses 'I', 'Me', 'My'
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3rd Person
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Kind of narrator that is: *Outside the story *Telling someone else's story *Uses 'He', 'She', 'They'
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Omniscient 3rd Person
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*All-knowing point of view *Follows all of the characters Like the director of a movie who already knows what is going to happen.
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Protagonist
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*The main character in a story, play or novel *Involved in the main conflict of the story *Usually undergoes a change *Good guy
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Antagonist
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*Against the protagonist *Causes the conflict *Bad guy
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Internal Conflict
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Mental or emotional struggle of a character
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External Conflict
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struggles against a force outside themselves such as nature, a physical obstacle, or another character
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Characteristic
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a distinguishing trait about a character
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Climax
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the highest or most intense point in a story; turning point of a story
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Exposition
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another word for introduction of a story
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Rising Action
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where the story begins to escalate;begins after the exposition/ introduction of a story
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Falling Action
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where the conflict begins to calm; where the conflict between the antagonist and protagonist begins to unravel
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Main Idea
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. . . is important information that tells more about the overall idea of a paragraph or section of a text
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Foreshadow
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a suggestion or indication that something will happen in the future
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Setting
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the time, place, and conditions in which the action of a book, movie, etc., takes place
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Symbolism
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A device in literature where an object represents an idea.
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irony
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A contrast between expectation and reality
