ODW + LIT DEVICES

Reverent (adj)

Feeling, exhibiting, or characterized by reverence, deeply respectful

Aesthetics (n)

A philosophy dealing with such notions as the beautiful, the ugly, the sublime, the comic

Inexorable (adj)

Unyielding, unalterable. Not to be persuaded, moved, or affected by prayers or entreaties

Reticent (adj)

Disposed to be silent or not to speak freely

Malevolent (adj)

Wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; ill-disposed; malicious

Censure (n/v)

Strong or vehement expression of disapproval. To criticize or reproach in a harsh manner

Erudite (adj)

Characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly

Whimsical (adj)

Given to fanciful notions; capricious erratic and unpredictable

Repudiate (v)

To reject as having no authority or binding force

Piety (n)

Dutiful respect or regard for parents, homeland, etc

Breadth (n)

Freedom from narrowness or restraint; liberality

Exhortation (n)

The act of urging, advising, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently.

Elegiac (adj)

Expressing sorrow or lamentation

Adjudication (n)

A formal judgement on a disputed manner

Animism (n)

The doctrine that every natural thing in the universe has a soul.

Laudatory

Containing or expressing praise

Benevolent (adj)

Characterized or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings; desiring to help others

Unbridled (adj)

Not controlled or restrained

Raconteur (n)

A person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly

Paucity (n)

Smallness of quantity, scarcity, scantiness

Thwarted (v)

To oppose successfully; prevent from accomplishing a purpose. To frustrate or baffle.

Transience (v)

The act of not lasting, enduring, or permanent

Allusion

A reference, typically brief, to a person, thing, event, or other literary work with which the reader is presumably familiar

Antagonist

A character, or group of characters, which stand in opposition to the protagonist

Atmosphere/mood

Refers to the emotional response that the writer wishes to evoke in the reader through a story

Catharsis

A figure of speech in which writers use mixed metaphors in an inappropriate way, to create rhetorical effect

Climax

The point at which a conflict or crisis reaches its peak, then calls for a resolution

Conceit

A comparison that is convoluted, unconventional, and/or improbable

Colloquial diction

The informal style of speech used in casual communication

Formal diction

A dignified and elevated use of language that’s sophisticated,grammatically correct, and avoids slang and contraction

Dramas monologue

Self-conversation, speech, or talk which include an interlocutor presented dramatically

Epiphany

A sudden realization or discovery that illuminates a new perception or awareness

Exposition

Designed to convey important information, within a short story or novel, to the reader

Flashback

Used in stories, films, tv episodes, etc…, that interrupts the flow of the plot to show readers/viewers an event that happened previously

Flashforward

The plot goes ahead of time; meaning a scene that interrupts and takes the narrative forward in the time form the current time in the story

Foil

Designed to illustrate or reveal information, traits, values, or motivations of one character through the comparison and contrast of another character

Foreshadowing

Utilized as a mean to indicate or hint to readers something that is to follow or appear later in a story

Genre

Refers to a form, class, or type of literary work

Hyperbole

A figure of speech that creates heightened effect through exaggeration

Imagery

Refers to the use of figurative language to evoke a sensory experience or create a picture with words for a reader

In medias res

Narrating a story from the middle after supposing that the audiences are aware of the past events

Irony

Contradictory statements or situations reveal a reality that is different from what appears to be true

Situational irony

When the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what was expected or considered appropriate

Verbal irony

When a person says one thing but means the opposite, expressing humor, frustration, or anger

Dramatic irony

When the audience knows something that the characters don’t

Metaphor

Makes a comparison between two non-similar things

Monologue

A “speech” made by a single character in a work or literature or dramatic work

Motif

An object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work

Oxymoron

Pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory

Paradox

A statement that appears at first to be contradictory, but upon reflection then makes sense

Personification

An idea or thing is given human attributes and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human

Point of view

Indicates the angle or perspective from which a story is told

1st person

Character narrates the story

2nd person

Addresses “you” the reader bringing them into the story

3rd omniscient

Sees and knows everything within the story

3rd limited

Narration is restricted with what they see/know

Protagonist

The central character or leading figure in poetry, narrative, novel, or any other story

Shift

The tone or mood in a piece of writing is changed in order to define characters or make a novel more interesting

Simile

Two essentially dissimilar objects or concepts are expressly compared with one another using “like” or “as”

Soliloquy

The form of a speech or monologue spoken by a single character in a theatrical play or drama

Stream of consciousness

The continuous flow of thoughts of a person and recorded, thereof, in literature as they occur

Symbols

Something that stands for or suggests something else

Theme

The central, deeper meaning of a written work

Tone

Reflects the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience of literary work

Trope

Speakers or writers intend to express meanings of words differently than their literal meanings

Understatement

Employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is

Affluent (adj)

Having an abundance of wealth, property, or other material goods

Didactic (adj)

Intended for instructions teaching or intending to convey info

Exalt (v)

To raise in rank, honor, power, character, quality, etc

Thwart (v)

To oppose successfully; prevent from accomplishing a purpose. To frustrate or baffle. To cross

Exertions (n)

Vigorous action or effort

Annihilation (n)

An act or instance of completely destroying something

Lax (adj)

Not strict or severe