Core Language Features (Literary Devices)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key literary devices from the notes.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things, creating symbolic or emotional depth.

Simile

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

Imagery

Sensory descriptions (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory) that anchor abstract ideas in tangible images.

Symbolism

Objects, characters, or actions carrying larger meanings beyond their literal sense (e.g., the green light in The Great Gatsby).

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting ideas side by side to highlight their differences.

Oxymoron

Two contradictory terms placed together to create tension or complexity (e.g., 'bittersweet').

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words; reinforces mood or rhythm.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words; contributes to musicality and mood.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words; reinforces rhythm and mood.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds, creating immediacy.

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things, creating emotional connection.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration to increase intensity.

Understatement (litotes)

Making something seem less important or significant; used for irony or subtlety.

Tone

Emotional attitude of a speaker or writer (e.g., sarcastic, reverent, melancholic).

Irony

Saying one thing but meaning another, leading to tension, humor, or critique.

Motif

Recurring images or phrases reinforcing themes.

Semantic field

A group of words linked by subject or theme (e.g., war, nature, death) that signals atmosphere and thematic focus.