English flash cards

Allegory

A symbolism device where a greater concept is conveyed through a corporeal object or idea.

Alliteration

A literary device where words in quick succession begin with the same sound group.

Allusion

A figure of speech where the author refers to a subject matter by way of a passing reference.

Analogy

A literary device establishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts.

Anthropomorphism

The act of lending human qualities to non-human objects or beings.

Antithesis

A rhetorical device that employs contrasting meanings in close proximity to each other.

Archetype

A reference to a concept or object that has served as a prototype of its kind.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within a sentence or phrase.

Authorial Intrusion

When the author steps away from the text to speak directly to the reader.

Bildungsroman

A storytelling form focusing on the growth of the central character throughout the story.

Cacophony

The use of words and phrases that imply strong, harsh sounds.

Caesura

A dramatic pause in a sentence that adds emotional depth.

Characterization

The process of introducing and detailing a character in a story.

Conflict

Resistance the protagonist faces in achieving their aims or dreams.

Connotation

The associations people make with words beyond their literal definitions.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds within a sentence or phrase.

Denotation

The literal dictionary definition of a word.

Diction

The distinctive tone or tenor of an author's writings.

Ekphrastic

Writing that describes another work of art, often visual.

Epilogue

The afterword of a story that provides insight into the future of characters.

Epithet

A descriptive device that adds a special quality to a person or place's name.

Euphemism

Using milder terms to replace harsh or blunt expressions.

Flashback

A literary device depicting events that have occurred before the current narration.

Foil

A character who contrasts with the main character to highlight their attributes.

Foreshadowing

Hints or indications of events to come in a story.

Hubris

Excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to downfall.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements that aren't meant to be taken literally.

Imagery

Using descriptive language to create mental images for the reader.

Irony

A contrast between what is said and what is meant or expected.

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting elements close together to highlight differences.

Malapropism

The misuse of words by replacing them with similar-sounding words.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that implies a comparison between two unrelated things.

Metonymy

Referring to an object by using another word that is related to it.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere the author creates in a literary work.

Motif

A recurring element or theme throughout a literary work.

Onomatopoeia

Words that phonetically imitate or resemble the sound they describe.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.

Pathetic Fallacy

Ascribing human emotions to nature or inanimate objects.

Personification

Attributing human traits to non-human entities.

Plot

The sequence of events that make up a story.

Point of View

The perspective from which a story is narrated.

Prologue

An introduction setting the tone for the story.

Puns

A form of wordplay that exploits multiple meanings of a term.

Rhyme Scheme

The ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines in poetry.

Rhythm & Rhyme

The recurrence of similar sounds to create a musical effect.

Satire

The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize a flaw or weakness.

Setting

The time, place, and mood of the events in a story.

Simile

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

Spoonerism

Interchanging the first sounds of words to create humorous phrases.

Stanza

A grouped set of lines in poetry, forming a unit.

Stream of Consciousness

A narrative technique that reflects the continuous flow of a character's thoughts.

Suspense

The intense feeling of anticipation regarding the outcome of events.

Syllepsis

A single word that governs two or more words in a sentence individually.

Symbol

A device representing multiple layers of meaning beyond its literal sense.

Synecdoche

Using a part of something to refer to the whole.

Synesthesia

The depiction of overlapping senses to create vivid imagery.

Theme

The foundational topic or focus that links all aspects of a literary work.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject matter.

Tragedy

A work that depicts a series of misfortunes culminating in disaster.

Understatement

A way of making something seem less important than it is.

Verisimilitude

Quality of appearing true or believable in literary works.

Verse

Any single line of a poetry composition.