Literary Devices and Techniques Overview

What is alliteration?

The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words.

What is an allusion?

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event.

What is an analogy?

A comparison between two different things to highlight some form of similarity.

What is an antagonist?

A character or force that opposes the main character, known as the protagonist.

What is an aside in literature?

A remark made by a character that is intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters.

What is assonance?

The repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.

What is blank verse?

Unrhymed iambic pentameter, often used in English dramatic and epic poetry.

direct characterization

The author directly states a character's traits

What is climax in a story?

The most intense, exciting, or important point of the story, often the turning point.

What is connotation?

The implied or associative meaning of a word, beyond its literal definition.

What is denotation?

The literal or primary meaning of a word, as opposed to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.

What is exposition in literature?

The introduction of background information within a story, including setting, characters, and events.

What is a flashback?

A scene that interrupts the chronological order of events to depict something that happened earlier.

What is a foil in literature?

A character who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities.

What is foreshadowing?

A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.

What is humor in literature?

The quality of being amusing or entertaining, often through the use of irony, exaggeration, or absurdity.

What is hyperbole?

An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect.

What is imagery?

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates vivid mental pictures.

What is inference in literature?

A conclusion reached based on evidence and reasoning rather than explicit statements.

situational irony?

An outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected

What is a metaphor?

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.

What is a monologue?

A long speech by a single character in a play or story, often expressing their thoughts aloud.

What is mood in literature?

The emotional atmosphere created by a piece of writing, influencing how the reader feels.

What is a motif?

A recurring element, theme, or idea in a literary work.

What is a 1st person narrator?

-character in the story who is telling the story

-use personal pronouns

-knows only what his character chooses to tell

-reliable/unreliable narrator

What is onomatopoeia?

A word that phonetically imitates or resembles the sound it describes.

What is parody?

A humorous or satirical imitation of a particular writer, artist, or genre.

What is a paradox?

A statement that appears contradictory but may reveal a truth.

What is personification?

Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities or inanimate objects.

What is a protagonist?

The main character in a story, often facing a conflict that drives the plot.

What is repetition in literature?

The deliberate use of the same words or phrases multiple times to emphasize a point.

What is resolution in a story?

The part of the story where the conflict is resolved and the plot comes to a close.

What is a rhetorical question?

A question asked for effect or to make a point rather than to elicit an answer.

What is rhyme scheme?

The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem.

What is rhythm in literature?

The pattern of sounds and beats in spoken or written language.

What is rising action?

The series of events that lead up to the climax of a story, building tension and suspense.

What is satire?

A genre that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock societal norms or individuals.

What is a simile?

A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'.

What is a soliloquy?

An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when alone, often used in drama.

What is stream of consciousness?

A narrative mode that attempts to capture the flow of thoughts and feelings in a character's mind.

What is a symbol in literature?

An object, character, or event that represents a deeper meaning or concept.

What is a theme in literature?

The central idea or underlying message conveyed through a literary work.

What is tone in literature?

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice and style.

indirect charcaterization

the author shows us the character through action and dialogue

Verbal irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant

dramatic irony

when the audience knows something the characters do not

2nd person narrator

a narrator that tells the story in which "you" are the central character

What is a 3rd person omniscient narrator

is they have full knowledge of the story's evernt and of the motives

What is a 3rd person limited narrator

-not a character in the story, never refers to themselves

-knows everything about one character