AP - Literary Devices

Allegory

Allegory

A type of narrative that uses characters and plot to depict abstract ideas and themes.

Ex. Animal Farm by George Orwell

Allusion

A passing or indirect descriptive reference to something or someone well-known

Ex. "How did you figure that one out, Sherlock Holmes?"

Archetype

A "universal symbol" that brings familiarity and context to a story. It can be a character, a setting, a theme, or an act

Ex. Superman is a heroic archetype: noble, self-sacrificing, and drawn to righting injustice whenever he sees it.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row.

Antagonist

The opponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, or protagonist, in a story

Aphorism

A universally accepted truth stated in a concise, to-the-point way.

Ex. "To err is human, to forgive divine." — Alexander Pope

Static character

One who does not change much in the course of a story.

Dynamic character

One who changes in some important way as a result of the story's action.

Flat character

Has only one or two personality traits. They are one-dimensional, like a piece of cardboard. They can be summed up in one phrase.

Round character

Has more dimensions to their personalities---they are complex, just a real people are.

Dramatic irony

When the readers know more about the situation going on than at least one of the characters involved

Ex. In Titanic, the audience knows from the beginning of the movie that the boat will sink.

Exposition

When the narrative provides background information in order to help the reader understand what's going on

Flashback

Flashbacks to previous events split up present-day scenes in a story, usually to build suspense toward a big revea

Foreshadowing

When the author hints at events yet to come in a story

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement that emphasizes the significance of the statement's actual meaning.

Imagery

Appeals to readers' senses through highly descriptive language

In media res

"In the middle of things" It launches straight into a scene or action that is already unfolding.

Ex. "Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice." — The opening line of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Irony

Creates a contrast between how things seem and how they really are.

Juxtaposition

Places two or more dissimilar characters, themes, concepts, etc. side by side, and the profound contrast highlights their difference

Ex. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness..."

Metaphor

Compares two similar things by saying that one of them is the other

Mood

An atmosphere created by a writer's diction and the details selected.

Motif

Whatever form it takes, it recurs throughout the novel and helps develop the theme of the narrative. This might be a symbol, concept, or image

Onomatopoeia

Refers to words that sound like the thing they're referring to

Oxymoron

Comes from two contradictory words that describe one thing

Ex. "Parting is such sweet sorrow."

Paradox

Statement that contradicts itself

It's a statement that asks people to think outside the box by providing seemingly illogical, and yet actually true premises.

Ex. "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength."

Personification

Uses human traits to describe non-human thing

Point of view

The mode of narration in a story

Protagonist

The central character in a story, the one who initiates or drives the action.

Repetition

Repeating a word, phrase, or motif in a text

Satire

Used to make fun of some aspect of human nature or society — usually through exaggeration, ridicule, or irony

Ex. Gulliver's Travels - poking fun at "travelers' tales," the government, and indeed human nature itself

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

Soliloquy

Involves a character speaking their thoughts aloud, usually at length

Symbol(ism)

Authors turn to - to represent abstract concepts and ideas in their stories

Tone

Refers to the overall mood and message of your boo

Theme

The central topic or idea explored in a text.