personification
when the author gives human qualities to an object, animal, or idea
stanza
a group of lines in a poem
scene
a division of an act in a play
stage directions
instructions for actors and stage crew, usually set in italics
convey
communicate
simile
a comparison of two things that are not alike using the words like or as
imagery
when the author uses details and descriptions that appeal to the reader's senses
sensory language
writing that appeals to one or more of the senses
speaker
the narrator of a poem or perspective of informational text
tone
when the author uses words or phrases to show the way he or she feels about the subject
irony
when an event or situation turns out to be different from what the reader expects
metaphor
a direct comparison of two things that are not alike
connotation
an idea or implied feeling of a word in addition to its literal meaning
shifts
changes
paradox
a statement that seems contradictory but is actually true
symbol
an object, person, or place that represents an idea
diction
the author's choice of words and the order in which they are used
dramatic irony
when the audience knows something the characters do not
verbal irony
a figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant; a form of sarcasm
situational irony
occurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected