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Allegory
a story that is used to represent a more general message about real-life (historical) issues and/or events. It is typically an entire book, novel, play, etc.
Alliteration
a series of words or phrases that all (or almost all) start with the same sound. These sounds are typically consonants to give more stress to that syllable. You'll often come across this in poetry, titles of books and poems (Jane Austen is a fan of this device, for example—just look at Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility), and tongue twisters.
Allusion
when an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from outside the text. Many make reference to previous works of literature or art.
Anachronism
occurs when there is an (intentional) error in the chronology or timeline of a text. This could be a character who appears in a different time period than when he actually lived, or a technology that appears before it was invented. Often used for comedic effect.
Anaphora
when a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of multiple sentences throughout a piece of writing. It's used to emphasize the repeated phrase and evoke strong feelings in the audience.
Anthropomorphism
occurs when something nonhuman, such as an animal, place, or inanimate object, behaves in a human-like way.
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Antithesis
A direct juxtaposition of structurally parallel words, phrases, or clauses for the purpose of contrast.
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Apostrophe
A form of personification in which the dead or absent are spoken to directly, as if present and alive.
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Asyndeton
Asyndeton is when the writer leaves out conjunctions (such as "and," "or," "but," and "for") in a group of words or phrases so that the meaning of the phrase or sentence is emphasized. It is often used for speeches since sentences containing asyndeton can have a powerful, memorable rhythm.
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Colloquialism
Colloquialism is the use of informal language and slang. It's often used by authors to lend a sense of realism to their characters and dialogue. Forms of colloquialism include words, phrases, and contractions that aren't real words (such as "gonna" and "ain't").
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Diction
The author’s word choice. It always needs to be qualified. Ex: formal diction, informal diction, pretentious diction, humorous diction.
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Epigraph
An epigraph is when an author inserts a famous quotation, poem, song, or other short passage or text at the beginning of a larger text (e.g., a book, chapter, etc.). An epigraph is typically written by a different writer (with credit given) and used as a way to introduce overarching themes or messages in the work. Some pieces of literature, such as Herman Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick, incorporate multiple epigraphs throughout.
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Epistrophe
Epistrophe is similar to anaphora, but in this case, the repeated word or phrase appears at the end of successive statements. Like anaphora, it is used to evoke an emotional response from the audience.
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Euphemism
A euphemism is when a more mild or indirect word or expression is used in place of another word or phrase that is considered harsh, blunt, vulgar, or unpleasant.
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Flashback
A flashback is an interruption in a narrative that depicts events that have already occurred, either before the present time or before the time at which the narration takes place. This device is often used to give the reader more background information and details about specific characters, events, plot points, and so on.
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Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is when an author indirectly hints at—through things such as dialogue, description, or characters' actions—what's to come later on in the story. This device is often used to introduce tension to a narrative.
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Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for comedic effect and/or emphasis.
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Imagery
Imagery is when an author describes a scene, thing, or idea so that it appeals to our senses (taste, smell, sight, touch, or hearing). This device is often used to help the reader clearly visualize parts of the story by creating a strong mental picture.
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Irony
Irony is when a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. Understatement is a form of irony when something is presented as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is. There are three types of irony in literature:
\n Verbal irony: When someone says something but means the opposite (similar to sarcasm).
Situational irony: When something happens that's the opposite of what was expected or intended to happen.
Dramatic irony: When the audience is aware of the true intentions or outcomes, while the characters are not. As a result, certain actions and/or events take on different meanings for the audience than they do for the characters involved.
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition is the comparing and contrasting of two or more different (usually opposite) ideas, characters, objects, etc. This literary device is often used to help create a clearer picture of the characteristics of one object or idea by comparing it with those of another.
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Malapropism
Malapropism happens when an incorrect word is used in place of a word that has a similar sound. This misuse of the word typically results in a statement that is both nonsensical and humorous; as a result, this device is commonly used in comedic writing.
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Metaphor/Simile
Metaphors are when ideas, actions, or objects are described in non-literal terms. In short, it's when an author compares one thing to another. The two things being described usually share something in common but are unalike in all other respects.
A simile is a type of metaphor in which an object, idea, character, action, etc., is compared to another thing using the words "as" or "like."
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Metonym
A metonym is when a related word or phrase is substituted for the actual thing to which it's referring. This device is usually used for poetic or rhetorical effect.
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Mood
Mood is the general feeling the writer wants the audience to have. The writer can achieve this through description, setting, dialogue, and word choice.
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Motivation
What is driving a character to take a particular course of action? This is especially significant in plays.
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Narration
The telling of a story in writing or speaking
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Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word (or group of words) that represents a sound and actually resembles or imitates the sound it stands for. It is often used for dramatic, realistic, or poetic effect.
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Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a combination of two words that, together, express a contradictory meaning. This device is often used for emphasis, for humor, to create tension, or to illustrate a paradox (see next entry for more information on paradoxes).
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Paradox
A paradox is a statement that appears illogical or self-contradictory but, upon investigation, might actually be true or plausible.
Note that a paradox is different from an oxymoron: a paradox is an entire phrase or sentence, whereas an oxymoron is a combination of just two words.
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Personification
Personification is when a nonhuman figure or other abstract concept or element is described as having human-like qualities or characteristics. (Unlike anthropomorphism where non-human figures become human-like characters, with personification, the object/figure is simply described as being human-like.) Personification is used to help the reader create a clearer mental picture of the scene or object being described.
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Plot
The events in a story. Traditional plots have exposition, initial incident, rising action, climax, and denouement.
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Point of View
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The perspective from which a narrative is told. First person = I; Second person = you; Third Person Objective - he/she/they; Third person Omniscient - he/she/they & the author knows everything, including thoughts.
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Polysyndeton
Repetition of coordinating conjunctions (often and) to create effect.
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Pun
A play on words that have the same sound but sharply diverse meanings
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Protagonist/Antagonist
The main character and the character (or force) who is directly opposed to them.
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Repetition
Repetition is when a word or phrase is written multiple times, usually for the purpose of emphasis. It is often used in poetry (for purposes of rhythm as well).
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Rhyme
The repetition of sounds in two or more words that are close to each other, especially in poetry. End rhyme is at the end of the line. Slant rhyme is close, but not quite perfect. Internal rhyme is found within a line. The rhyme scheme is how we label/identify the end patter rhymes in poems (ABAB).
Rhythm
A system of stressed and unstressed syllables in poem or verse. The number of beats in a line is measured in poetic feet and meter. The pattern of labelling rhythm is called scansion. For example, five beats of iambic (u /) is called iambic pentameter.
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Sarcasm
Saying the opposite of what you mean, verbal irony, but as a put down.
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Satire
Satire is genre of writing that criticizes something, such as a person, behavior, belief, government, or society. Satire often employs irony, humor, and hyperbole to make its point.
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Setting
Where and when a story takes place.
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Shift
A significant change in story, tone, or structure.
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Soliloquy
A type of monologue that's often used in dramas, a soliloquy is when a character speaks aloud to himself (and to the audience), thereby revealing his inner thoughts and feelings.
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Structure
The method of organization for a piece of writing. A poem could be stanzas, follow a prescribed format, or be free verse. A novel could be linear and in chapters, or switch between one main character’s POV to another.
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Style
The author’s characteristic manner of employing words. It’s what sets one author apart from another.
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Suspense
The author drops hints and clues to create tension about what will happen next
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Symbolism
Symbolism refers to the use of an object, figure, event, situation, or other idea in a written work to represent something else—typically a broader message or deeper meaning that differs from its literal meaning.
The things used for symbolism are called "symbols," and they'll often appear multiple times throughout a text, sometimes changing in meaning as the plot progresses.
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Synecdoche
A synecdoche is a literary device in which part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. It's similar to a metonym (see above); however, a metonym doesn't have to represent the whole—just something associated with the word used.
Syntax
The grammatical order of words in a sentence. Syntax can be parallel, balanced, inverted, etc.
Theme
the main idea that the author is trying to communicate. It is the central message of a literary work. It must be expressed in more than one word. The subject of a poem may be friendship, but it may be that sometimes friendship can involve sacrifice. Not to be confused with a moral (lesson), they are a statement about why people or life is the way it is, not what it should be. Most of them are implied.
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Thesis
the point an author is arguing in an essay or piece of nonfiction. It is written out as a statement that the author will then go on to prove.
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Tone
It is the writer or narrator's attitude towards a subject. Tthe audience may not always agree with this, especially if the narrator is an unsympathetic character or has viewpoints that differ from those of the reader.
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Note
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