Literary Devices and Terms

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering literary terms, poetic devices, and narrative concepts defined across the lecture notes.

Anaphora

The repetition of beginning phrases in a clause.

Atmosphere

The setting or tone around you.

Antagonist

One that contends with or opposes another.

Apostrophe

A figure of speech where the speaker addresses an absent person.

Archetype

A label based on a pattern.

Aside

A comment a character directs to the audience, giving more insight on the characters, occurring only during a play or drama event.

Assonance

Using a repetition of vowel sounds within a sentence.

Ballad

A long poem (song) with quatrains that tells a story.

Blank verse

A poem that does not rhyme but has consistent meter.

Cacophony

Harsh sounds or phrases.

Caesura

An audible break or pause in the middle of a verse line.

Carpe diem

Seize the day; expressing the idea that you should enjoy life and shouldn't wait to do something.

Catharsis

The audience's personal experience of strong emotions through text.

Character

A fictional person in a story, or a person's personality and moral qualities.

Characterization

When an author reveals a character's personality traits and motivations through techniques, including direct statements, actions, dialogue, thoughts, appearance, and interaction with others.

Chiasmus

A literary device where words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order.

Cliché

A phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.

Climax

The moment of highest tension and drama in a story, acting as the story's turning point where the main conflict peaks and its outcome is determined.

Conceit

An extended metaphor that compares two unlike things to reveal a deeper complex meaning.

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces that drives the plot of a story, reveals character, and creates tension.