Unit 1: Literary Elements Notes (Page 1)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering imagery, sound devices, tone/mood, and figurative language based on Unit 1 notes.

Imagery

Language that appeals to the five senses (sight, taste, sound, touch, smell); helps readers form mental images.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words, creating rhythm and emphasis (e.g., "Garrison’s giraffe gobbled a lot of green grass").

Onomatopoeia

Use of words that imitate sounds; e.g., "bang!", "pop!".

Rhyme

The pattern of identical or similar sounds at the ends of words, often used to create musical effect.

Repetition (sound device)

The repeating of words or sounds to emphasize a point, theme, or rhythm.

Assonance

The repetition of accented vowel sounds in nearby words.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject, shaping the overall feel of the text.

Mood

The reader's emotional feeling produced by the text.

Figurative Language

The use of imaginative comparisons and expressions to convey meaning beyond literal language.

Idiom

An expression whose meaning cannot be inferred from the literal words; a figure of speech (e.g., "A piece of cake", "At the drop of a hat").

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using the words 'like' or 'as' (e.g., "as cold as an ice cube").

Metaphor

A comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as' (often using a linking verb, e.g., "Life is a highway").

Personification

A description of an object, animal, or idea as if it had human qualities.

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement used for emphasis or humorous effect (e.g., "That language arts book weighs a ton!").