Studied by 1 personAllegory
The device of using a character and/or story element symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning.
Alliteration
The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words.
Allusion
A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.
Ambiguity
The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.
Analogy
A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.
Anaphora
The purposeful repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses.
Antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.
Antithesis
Balancing contrasting ideas, or contrast in the meanings of contiguous phrases or clauses.
Aphorism
A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle.
Apostrophe
A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction.
Assonance
The repetition of the same vowel sound within nearby words.
Atmosphere
The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work.
Cacophony
Unpleasant or harsh-sounding words.
Clause
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.
Colloquial / Colloquialism
The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.
Conceit
A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy.
Connotation
The non-literal, associative meaning of a word.
Consonance
The repetition of internal consonant sounds.
Denotation
The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word.
Diction
Refers to the writer’s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.
Didactic
Works that have the primary aim of teaching or instructing.
Enjambment
In poetry, a line which spills over into the next line.
Euphemism
A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.
Euphony
Agreeable or pleasant-sounding words or language.
Extended Metaphor
A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.
Figurative Language
Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning.
Figure of Speech
A device used to produce figurative language.
Generic Conventions
Traditions for each genre that help to define it.
Genre
The major category into which a literary work fits.
Homily
A serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.
Hyperbole
A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.
Imagery
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.
Inference / Infer
To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.
Invective
An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.
Irony / Ironic
The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant.
Litotes
A form of calculated understatement created by negating the opposite.
Loose Sentence
A type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units.
Metaphor
A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things.
Metonymy
A figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.
Mood
The prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.
Motif
A recurring object, concept, or structure in a work of literature.
Narrative
The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.
Onomatopoeia
A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.
Oxymoron
A figure of speech wherein apparently contradictory terms are grouped to suggest a paradox.
Paradox
A statement that appears to be self-contradictory but contains some degree of truth or validity.
Parallelism
The grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.
Parody
A work that imitates the style or content of another for comic effect or ridicule, distorting or exaggerating features of the original.
Pedantic
Words, phrases, or tone that are overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.
Periodic sentence
A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end, preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone.
Personification
Presenting concepts, animals, or objects by giving them human attributes or emotions to make them vivid.
Point of view
The perspective from which a story is told, with divisions into first person and third person narrators.
Predicate adjective
An adjective following a linking verb in the predicate that describes the subject.
Predicate nominative
A noun following a linking verb in the predicate that renames the subject.
Prose
Fiction and nonfiction written in ordinary language, excluding poetry and drama.
Repetition
The duplication of elements of language to link and emphasize ideas.
Rhetoric
Principles governing effective, eloquent, and persuasive writing.
Rhetorical modes
The variety and conventions of major kinds of writing, including exposition, argumentation, description, and narration.
Rhythm
The pattern of stressed and unstressed elements in a line.
Sarcasm
Bitter, caustic language meant to hurt or ridicule, sometimes using irony.
Satire
A work targeting human vices or social institutions for reform or ridicule, using devices like irony and parody.
Semantics
The branch of linguistics studying the meaning of words and their relations.
Style
Author's choices in blending literary devices, diction, and syntax, reflecting historical periods or literary movements.
Subject complement
Word or clause following a linking verb that complements the subject by renaming or describing it.
Subordinate clause
Contains a subject and verb but cannot stand alone, depending on a main clause.
Syllogism
Deductive reasoning with two premises leading to a conclusion.
Symbol/Symbolism
Concrete objects representing abstract ideas, classified as natural, conventional, or literary symbols.
Synecdoche
Figurative language where a part represents the whole.
Syntax
The way an author joins words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.
Theme
The central idea or message of a work offering insight into life.
Thesis
The statement expressing the author's opinion, purpose, or proposition in expository writing.
Tone
Author's attitude toward the material, audience, or both.
Transition
Word or phrase linking different ideas, signaling shifts in expository and argumentative writing.
Understatement
Ironic minimalizing of fact to present something as less significant than it is.
Wit
Intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights, suggesting verbal power in creating ingenious remarks.
Attitude
A writer’s intellectual position or emotion regarding the subject of the writing.
Concrete detail
Specific evidence or details that relate to the topic and convince the reader.
Devices
Figures of speech, syntax, diction, and stylistic elements that collectively create a particular artistic effect.
Narrative devices
Tools used by storytellers to structure events for a desired effect, including in biographical and autobiographical writing.
Persuasive devices
Words with strong connotations that intensify emotional effect and complement the writer’s argument logically, often found in speeches.
Persuasive essay
An essay presenting a coherent argument with evidence leading to a logical conclusion, often appealing to emotions or ethical standards.
Rhetorical features
Tools of rhetoric like tone, diction, and imagery used to enhance writing.
Rhetorical structure
How a passage is organized and how the writer combines elements to serve the purpose.
Sentence structure
The type of sentences used in writing, including simple, compound, and complex structures, and their effects on the reader.
Note
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