World Literature II Literary Devices – Flashcards

comparison of two things usually using like, as, than, or resembles. Ex: Her house is like a war zone when her brother visits.

One whos purpose is to tell a stroy by relating a series of events. Richus in The Jackel of Nar

A statement that first strikes as self-contradictory but might actually reveal some deeper truth. Ex: Cowards die many times before their deaths

mood or manner of expression which conveys an attitude toward the subject Ex: Here's much to do with hate, but more with love," - Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Set at the beginning of the play, this sentence indicates that the story will be a love story but it will be one with a somber or sad note, rather than a happy ending.

blends critcism and humore to convey a message Ex:George Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984 which satirized political situations and the status quo, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World which satirized utopian dreams.

a deiscrepancy between what is said and what is meant. Ex: Bless Your Heart

collective set of images in literary works EX:He fumed and charged like an angry bull

statement that one thing is something else, which, in a literal sentence, it is not (comparison). Ex: He is a pig.

Endowing a nonhuman thing or animal with human characteristics. Ex: The house talked all night.

Addressing an inanimate object, dead or absent person, abstract thing, or spirit. Ex: "Science! True daughter of Old Time thou art!"

the name of a thing is substituted for that of another associated with it Ex:In Julius Caesar, when Mark Antony, after the death of Caesar, addresses the people 'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears', he means that he wants the people to listen to what he has to say

use of a significant part of a thing to stand for a whole Ex:Weary feet in the walk of life", does not refer to the feet actually being tired or painful; it is symbolic of a long, hard struggle through the journey of life and feeling low, tired, unoptimistic and 'the walk of life' does not represent an actual path or distance covered, instead refers to the entire sequence of life events that has made the person tired.

repetition of consonant sounds at beginning of words Ex: Sally picked sea shells by the sea shore.

words that imitate the sounds associated with them Ex: BUZ, BOOM, BAM

a monologue uttered aloud in which the audience overhears the thoughts of the character Ex:Hamlet's to be or not to be

character addresses the audience directly, unheard by the other characters on stage Ex:Aside] Will't never mend, this scorn, One side nor other? Must I be enjoin'd To follow still whilst she flies from me? Well, Fates do your worst, I'll please myself with sight Of her, at all opportunities, If but to spite her anger.

an exaggeration for effect Ex: The game lasted forever.

something acting as a representation of something else Ex: Time is money

hint of up-coming action in a piece of literature Ex: Think Frodo and the ring

an expression that has a double meaning- the second of which is usually sexual in nature Ex:•Mercutio's line from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: Tis no less [a good day], I tell you; for the bawdy hand of the dial is now upon the prick of noon.

an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference- histrorical, artistic, Biblical, literary Ex: "I wish I had received blessings from Cupid, on Valentine's day," whispers Aeon to herself