12U literary devices

theme

central idea of a work of literature

style

the choices a writer makes; the combination of distinctive features of a literary work

diction

word choice

denotation

dictionary definition

connotation

the implied or associative meaning of a word

paradox

a statement that seems contradictory but is actually true

local color

the customs, manner of speech, dress, or other typical features of a place or period that contribute to its particular character

slow pace

wants the reader to reflect, character is not engaging in action but thinking

fast pace

action scenes and sense of urgency

alliteration

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

assonance

repetition of vowel sounds

consonance

repetition of consonant sounds

onomatopoeia

the use of words that imitate sounds

structure

the arrangement or framework of a sentence, paragraph, or entire work

chronological/organic

tells the cause and effects of plot events

episodic

unconnected episodes with a recurring character or location

circular plot

the story ends the way it began

metaphor

comparison not using like or as

simile

comparison using "like" or "as"

personification

the giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea

allusion

reference to another work of literature, person, or event

oxymoron

a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction

ironic contrasting parallels

an icp compares and contrasts the similarities and differences between two things, people, events, or situations with an ironic outcome or overall meaning

imagery

visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work

ethos

credibility

logos

logic

pathos

emotional appeal

juxtaposition

placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast

parallelism

using elements in sentences that are grammatically similar or identital in structure, sound, meaning, or meter

point of view

the vantage point from which a story is told

forshadowing

a warning or indication of a future event

flashback

a scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story

1st person major

"I", from the main character's pov

1st person minor

"I" from a minor character's pov

2nd person

"you", rarely used

3rd person omniscient

"he", "she", "they" etc. and you know the thoughts of some or all of the characters

3rd person limited

"he", "she", "they" etc. and you only know the thoughts of 1 character

3rd person objective

"he", "she", "they" etc. and you do not know the thoughts of any characters, the reader becomes the spectator

tone

attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character

atmosphere

the feeling, emotion or mood that an author creates in a narrative through descriptive language

irony

an unexpected twist in a story

verbal irony

saying the opposite of what is meant

situational irony

an outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected

dramatic irony

when the audience knows something the characters do not

mood

the emotion the author wanted the readers to feel while reading about the subject

dialogue

conversation between characters

setting

where and when the story takes place

plot

sequence of events

abstract

an abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholar or research

anachronism

when something or someone is in the incorrect time period

analogy

a comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things

antithesis

exact opposite

archetype

an original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies or recurrent symbol or motif

diasporic novel

stories about those who diperse or scatter aways from their homeland

eponymous

a term for the title character of a work of literature

historical fiction novel

historical fiction is a literary genre where the story takes place in the past

foil

a minor character whose personality or attitude contrasts with the main character

indirect question

a rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased

metonymy

substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it

motif

a recurring theme, subject or idea

paraphrase

to restate in other words

pathetic falacy

the attribution of human feelings and responses to inanimate things of animals

polysyndeton

repetition of conjunctions in close succession

asyndeton

uses no conjuctions but only commas

symbol

anything that stands for or represents something else

tragedy

a form of literature in which the hero is destroyed by some character flaw and a set of forces that cause the hero considerable anguish

tragic hero

a protagonist with a fatal flaw which eventually leads to his demise

harmarita

tragic flaw

hubris

excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy

peripeteia

reversal of fortune

anagnorisis

recognition of truth about one's self and his actions; moment of clarity

downfall

combination of the hero's own tragic flaw and circumstances beyond his control

catastrophe

the final resolution in a poem or narrative plot, unravels the intrigue and brings the piece to a close

catharsis

a release of emotional tension