Literary Devices Practice Flashcards

Alliteration

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

e.g. Busy as a bee

Theme

Central idea or message of a work of literature

e.g. Friendship

Rhyme

correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when these are used at the ends of lines of poetry.

e.g. Cat-hat

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

e.g. Romeo to my Juliet

Imagery

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

e.g. Smell of salty air

Metaphor

A comparison without using like or as

e.g. Heart of gold

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as"

e.g. Brave as a lion

Personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

e.g. Trees dancing in the wind

Mood

Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader

e.g. Nostalgic

Tone

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

e.g. Serious

Onomatopoeia

the use of words that imitate sounds

e.g. Boom

Hyperbole

exaggeration

e.g. So hungry I could eat a horse

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word

e.g. a mob - a set of ppl (denotation) vs an angry group of ppl (connotation)

Connotation

All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests

e.g. a mob - a set of ppl (denotation) vs an angry group of ppl (connotation)

Repetition

Repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis

e.g. “Still I Rise”

Plot

Sequence of events in a story

Exposition

A narrative device, often used at the beginning of a work that provides necessary background information about the characters and their circumstances.

Inciting incident

event that introduces the central conflict

Rising action

A series of events that builds from the conflict. It begins with the inciting force and ends with the climax.

Climax

Most exciting moment of the story; turning point

Falling action

Events after the climax, leading to the resolution

Resolution

End of the story where loose ends are tied up

Juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts

Setting

The time and place of a story

Characterization

the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character

Protagonist

main character

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces

Internal conflict

man vs. self

External conflict

A struggle between a character and an outside force

Point of View

the perspective from which a story is told

Foreshadowing

A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality

Symbolism

A device in literature where an object represents an idea.

Motif

A recurring theme, subject or idea

Satire

A literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.

Allegory

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Diction

A writer's or speaker's choice of words