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Allegory

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A story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning. Like a symbol, it conveys abstract ideas to get a point across; however it differs from a symbol in that is a complete narrative. Ex: Dante's Inferno

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Alliteration

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Repetition of constant sounds. the repeated consonant in this sound usually comes at the beginning of words. Ex: "While I nodded, nearly napping"

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Allusion

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A reference in literary work to something outside of work. If you refered to something as a scrooge, you would be using this literary device. In romeo and Juliet montagues reference to aurora, the roman goddess of the down, is an example of this.

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Anaphora

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In rhetoric it is the repetition of a word or set of words in successive sentences, clauses, or phrases. A tale of two cities starts out "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." in this passage the repetition of "It was" is an example of a rhetorical device.

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Anastrophe

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It is the inversion of the normal word order for emphasis. "To war went he" is an example. In George Lucas' Star Wars, Yoda uses the rhetorical device. "Ready are you?"

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Anthropomorphism

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The portraying of animals or inanimate objects as people. It is an extreme form of personification. Winne the pooh, tigger and piglet and other characters in this book are examples of this device. Rats of NIMH - Robert C. O'brien

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Antithesis

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The rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel construction. Ex: "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"

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Apostrophe

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It is when someone not there or something not human is addressed as alive and present. usually used when speaker breaks off and talk about someone not there. "bright star, would I were steadfast (sic) as thou art" - john keats

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Assonance

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The repetition of vowel sounds within neighboring words. An example of this poetic device is the phrase, "Hear the mellow wedding bells" in edgar allan poe's the bells

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Asyndeton

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Leaving out all the "ands". An example is "I came, I saw, I conquered" (Julius Caeser by Pluarch)

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Characterization

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A method used by an author to develop a character. It is how the author conveys to the reader a character's personality, values, physical attributes, and other traits.

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Cliches

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Overused phrases or expressions. "Its raining cats and dogs" is one example. Because they are used to often, they are often ineffective.

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Connotation

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The associated meaning of a word or phrase. An antonym is a denotation, or the clearly expressed meaning of a word or phrase. The word 'slender' has a positive connotation for most people, while 'skinny' has a negative connotation

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Dialect

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Language that is characteristic of a particular region or group. "This is a handy cove, and a pleasant sittyated grog-shop" from Treasure Island by R. L. Stevenson

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Dialogue

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The spoken words between characters in a literary work. The conversation between characters in a drama or narrative. gives a literary work a more conversational flow

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Diction

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a writer's choice of words, phrases, sentence structures, and figurative language, which combine to help create meaning. Irvine welsh's 'Trainspotting

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Epilogue

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A concluding section at the end of a literary work. In a play, this may be used to summarize or comment on the main action. Its antonym is 'prologue'

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Epistrophe

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The opposite of anaphora - the end is repeated. "If women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will flourish. if women have a chance to work, their families will flourish." Hillary Clinton"

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Ethos

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Establishing the character and credibility of your speaker. Using reputable sources to support his or her ideas enhances a writers ___ . Using words or terminology incorrectly is one way for an author to develop poor ___ and lose the confidence of the reader.

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Euphemism

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The substitution of a less explicit term for an offencive, explicit term. Saying a person "passed away" instead of "died" . saying an animal being "put to sleep" is another example.

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Figurative language

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in this type of language, the words and phrases go beyong their literal meaning. Simile, metaphor, personification, are three types of this kind of language.

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Flashback

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This narrative technique interrupts the chronological sequence of events to describe past events. It can help the reader what is going on in the present by explaning what happened in the past. It can give the reader clues about a character's motivation.

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Foil

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A character who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist. The practical Sancho panza is one such character: he contrasted with don Quixote. Dr. Watson contrasted with Sherlock Holmes

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Foreshadowing

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When an author drops hints about things that will occur later in the story. Shakespeare used this technique in Julius Ceaser, to beware the ideas of march. Shakespeare also used this technique in Romeo and Juliet when the characters say that they would rather die than live apart.

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Genre (literary)

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A category of literature. Examples: Science Fiction, historical fiction, and mystery. 3 basic literary ___: poetry, drama, prose

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Hyperbole

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An exaggeration. If your friend says to you "I tried to call you a million times" it is likely this. Although you may think it is a simile, it is a ____ : "He is as tall as a giraffe"

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Idiom

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A term or phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from its literal definitions. "A little bird told me." "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket."

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Imagery

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The use of descriptive language that appeals to the reader's senses. Language that stimulates one or more of the senses: hearing, taste, touch, smell, or sight. From 'The Call of The Wild' by London: Big house; sunkissed valley; wide, cool verdana; green pastures; kept cool in the hot afternoon.

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Irony

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Refers to how something is not as it seems. Types include verbal, dramatic, and situational. Verbal is the use of words to express something other than, and usually the opposite of , the literal meaning. Sarcasm. Situational irony is an outcome contrary to what was or what might have been expective

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Metaphor

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A comparison between two unlike things without the use of 'like' or 'as' . This figure 0f speech says something is something else, when it's really not. In 'Little Women' Louisa May Alcott, Jo calls Amy "a little goose"

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Metonymy

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Refers to the substitution of one term with another that is loosely associated with that term. "The pen is mightier than the sword" the word 'pen' has been substituted for "written words that express thoughts' and sword has been substituted for 'military action'

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Mood

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The feeling the author creates for the readers. The atmosphere or emotional condition created by the work. The general feeling the reader gets from reading the work.

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Onomatopoeia

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The use of words that sound like the sounds they describe. Words such as buzz and hiss are examples. In "The Bells" Poe uses this device to let us hear the different kinds of bells: "tinkling" sleigh bells, "clanging" fire bells, "chiming" wedding bells

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Oxymoron

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A figure of speech that combines two usually contradictory terms. An example of this is "deafening silence" . In Shakespeare's romeo and Juliet, "Parting is such sweet sorrow" contains one

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Paradox

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An assertion that seems to make no sense, but that has some truth in it on closer examination. A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth. G. K. Chesterson's statement that "spies do not look like spies" is an example of this

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Parallelism

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Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, or complete units of compositions. "Live in your world, play in ours" (slogan for play station 2). "New Roads, new ruts" (G.K. Chesterson)

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Pathos

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An appeal to the reader through emotion. "We are not the first/ who with the best meaning have incurred the worst". King Lear by Shakespeare

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Personification

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The bestowing of human qualities on inanimate objects, ideas, and aminals. "The Sun peeped into the window" "There are smiling fields and waving trees" - Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

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Point of view

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The perspective from which a story is told. First person p.o.v. A character is telling the story "I moved quietly through the fields". Third person p.o.v. "He moved quietly through the fields."

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Polysyndeton

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Using many ands or other conjunctions. I said "Who killed him?" and he said "I don't know who killed him but hes dead all right." and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights and windows broke and..." Hemingway, After the Storm."

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Portmanteau Words

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Blended words. Brunch, for breakfast and lunch, motel, for motor and hotel. Humpty Dumpty explains to Alice that "slithy' means lithe and slimy. Lewis and Carrol in Through the Looking Glass

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Rhetorical Question

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A question that is posed for a desired effect without the expectation of a reply. Is the sky blue? Why not? How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

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Pun

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Figurative Language uses words that sound the same but have different meanings to create a humorous or rhetorical effect. A humorous play on words that are similar in sound but different in meaning. "A poached egg isn't a poached egg unless its been stolen from the woods" Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Dahl

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Sarcasm

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A form of verbal irony in which the person says the opposite of what he or she means. In Crispin, the cross lead, by Avi, near uses this form or irony in response to Crispin's short answers "You have a gifted way of speech". It may be described as verbal irony that is intended to insult or ridicule.

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Satire

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A literary work that pokes fun at individual or societal weakness. Although usually meant to be funny, its main purpose is to attack something of which the author dissaproves

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Simile

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A comparison between two unlike things using the words 'like' or 'as'. This figure of speech says something is like something else although the two are quite different. In 'The Lost World" Conan Doyle used a simile to describe the male pterodactyl . They sat like gigantic old women, wrapped in shawls.

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Spoonerisms

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Words or phrases in which letters or syllables get swapped. usally accidental but may also be intentionally done for effect. Named after Reverend William Archibald Spooner who supposedly said things like "Is the bean busy?" instead of "Is the dean busy?"

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Stereotype

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a generalization about a group of people. the attributing to a defined set of characteristics, positive or negative, to a group of people.

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Style

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Refers to an authors manner of writing, including grammar, vocabulary, point of view, character development, and tone. Examples: straight forward, descriptive, scientific, fanciful

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Suspense

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A quality that makes readers wonder what will happen next. Apprehension about what will happen. Mysteries are usually suspenseful

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Symbolism

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The use of an object, character or idea to represent something else. The use of coffee to represent jethro's coming of age in Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt, is an example. The mocking bird to represent innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird

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Syencdoche

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A part is used to represent the whole or the whole is used to represent the part. Using the word 'hands' to represent those aboard the ship in "All hands on deck". Using USA to stand for all the athletes who won in "The USA won ten medals in todays events". Although similar to metonymy, metonymy uses something more loosely associated with the contempt as a replacement.

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Theme

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The main idea of a literary work; the idea the author wants to convey. The importance of family is a common theme. Good vs. evil.

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Tone

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The author's attitude toward the writing. It may be serious, sarcastic, ironic, satirical, tounge-in-cheek, solemn, or objective, to name several. Not to be confused with mood, this is the writers attitude toward what he or she is writing. mood it the feeling people get while reading it.

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Understatement

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Stating something less strongly than the facts seem to warrant. Describing a hurricane as "just a little breeze". A litote is a form of understatement.

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Zeugma

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The use of a verb to modify or govern two or more words although it has a different sense for each or is appropriate for only one. "You are free to execute your laws, and your citizens as you see fit" (Star Trek, the next generation) "Mr. Pickwick took his hat and his leave" from Dickens' Pickwick

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