Literary Devices

Tone

an author’s attitude towards his or her subject, characters, or audience

Restatement

presenting the same idea in different words to highlight an important point

Direct Reference

a direct quotation or mention of a literary work, historical event, or famous person

Epithet

the application of a word or phrase that describes a character’s attributes or qualities

Repetition

using the exact same words in the exact same order to highlight an important point

Syntax

the author’s choice of sentence structure in speech or writing

Rhetorical Questions

a question that suggests its own answer and does not require an answer

Allusion

an indirect reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

Diction

the author’s choice of words in speech or writing

Imagery

creates pictures for the reader by describing sights, sound, taste, touch, smell, or movement

Parallel Structure

stating similar ideas using the same grammatical structure

Analogy

compares two similar situations, implying that the outcome of one will resemble the outcome of the other

Foreshadowing

the use of clues to suggest events that have yet to occur

Juxtaposition

two or more ideas, places, characters, or actions that are placed side by side for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts

Symbolism

anything that represents something else on a deeper level

Irony

a contrast between what is stated and what is meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually happens

Tragic Flaw

a trait in a character leading to his downfall and the character is often the hero of the literary piece

Hyperbole

an exaggeration

Theme

a central message or insight

Expanded Moment

a moment that an author would ordinarily speed past, but instead develops fully to make the reader take notice