Literary Devices

Alliteration

Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of two or more adjacent and/or nearby words; assonance refers to the repetition of the same vowel sounds

Allusion

A reference to a person, place, thing, event, or other literary work that the reader is likely familiar with; allusions can be of historical, cultural, literary or political significance

Assonance

Repetition of the same vowel sound near enough to each other for the echo to be discernible

Dramatic Irony

When the reader is more aware of something than the character

Ethos

In rhetoric, the ethical appeal attempts to convince an audience of the author’s character or credibility

Foreshadow

When a writer gives a hint of what is to come later in the story; meant to create suspense or dramatic tension

Hyperbole

An exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis; not literally true

Idiom

A saying or expression where its figurative meaning is different from its literal meaning

Imagery

Figurative language that creates a picture using words; usually appeals to the reader’s five senses (sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch) in an effort to create a sensory experience

Juxtaposition

Placing two things side by side in order to highlight their differences

Logos

In rhetoric, the appeal to logic attempts to convince an audience by use of logic or reasoning

Motif

A motif is a repeating feature or idea (an image, sound, word, or symbol) within a story that sometimes helps to develop other narrative aspects such as theme or mood

Metaphor

Describes an object/idea to be identical with another by suggesting they are the other object/idea; it is not literally true, but it helps to make a comparison or explain an idea

Mood

The emotional response that the author wants to evoke out of the reader through the story

Onomatopoeia

A word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the natural sound of something or the thing it describes

Oxymoron

Pairing two words that are opposite and/or contradictory; meant to create an impression, enhance a concept, or just entertain the reader

Pathos

In rhetoric, the emotional appeal attempts to persuade an audience by invoking emotions that the author wants them to feel

Personification

Describes an object/idea by giving it human attributes, feelings, or is spoken as if it were human

Pun

A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words which sound alike but have different meanings

Simile

Describes an object/idea to be similar to another by using “like” or “as”

Symbolism

When a word, object, action, character, or situation represents a deeper meaning beyond its literal meaning

Situational Irony

An unexpected outcome; when the opposite of what is expected to happen occurs

Theme Concept

an idea that is prevalent throughout the novel (e.g. love, war, revenge, etc.)

Theme Statement

a lesson or message ABOUT the thematic concept. Think of it as the thesis statement of the novel

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject matter, the characters, and/or readers, which is revealed through the author’s diction

Verbal Irony

Sarcasm; when someone says something that is opposite of what they actually mean