literary terms

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or art

Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect

Personification

Giving human qualities to nonhuman things or objects

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents (e.g., 'buzz', 'crash')

Simile

A comparison using 'like' or 'as'

Alliteration

Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words

Pun

A play on words that exploits different meanings or similar sounds

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality (verbal, situational, or dramatic)

Oxymoron

A figure of speech combining contradictory terms (e.g., 'jumbo shrimp')

Paradox

A statement that appears self-contradictory but reveals a deeper truth

Idiom

A phrase or expression with a meaning different from the literal words

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words

Symbolism

Using symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal sense

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses

Theme

The central message, idea, or insight of a literary work

Motif

A recurring element that has symbolic meaning in a story

Allegory

A narrative in which characters and events represent abstract ideas

Soliloquy

A long speech by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience

Mood

The overall feeling or atmosphere created for the reader

Monologue

A long speech by a character addressed to other characters

Aside

A brief remark by a character meant to be heard by the audience but not others

Characterization

The method an author uses to reveal characters and their traits