Master List of Authorial Choices

Vocabulary flashcards defining authorial choices, narrative techniques, structural techniques, stylistic devices, figurative language, sound devices, persuasive techniques, characterization, and dramatic techniques.

First-Person Perspective

The narrator is a character in the story, using "I" or "we."

Second-Person Perspective

The narrator directly addresses the reader using "you."

Third-Person Limited

The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

Third-Person Omniscient

The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters.

Third-Person Objective

The narrator reports only observable actions, without insight into thoughts.

Stream of Consciousness

A narrative style that mimics a character’s internal thoughts in a flow-like manner.

Flashback

A scene set in a time earlier than the main story.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about future events in the story.

Frame Narrative

A story within a story, often used to provide context.

Unreliable Narrator

A narrator whose credibility is compromised.

Internal Monologue

A character’s thoughts presented directly, as if overheard.

Epistolary Form

A story told through letters, diary entries, or other documents.

Dialogue

Conversations between characters that reveal personality, conflict, and themes.

Linear Narrative

A story told in chronological order.

Nonlinear Narrative

A story that shifts in time, using flashbacks or fragmented structure.

Circular Narrative

A story that ends where it begins.

Parallelism

The repetition of similar grammatical structures for emphasis.

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting ideas, characters, or images side by side.

Cliffhanger

A sudden ending that leaves the reader in suspense.

Epiphany

A sudden realization or insight experienced by a character.

Diction

The choice of words to create a specific effect.

Syntax

Sentence structure and word order.

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject (e.g., sarcastic, melancholic, hopeful).

Mood

The emotional atmosphere of a text.

Emphatic Language

The use of strong, forceful words to convey certainty.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect, not meant to be answered.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect expression used in place of a harsher one.

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration for emphasis.

Litotes

Understatement that uses double negatives or downplays something.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality.

Verbal Irony

Saying one thing but meaning another.

Situational Irony

When the opposite of what is expected occurs.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something the characters do not.

Satire

The use of humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize society or individuals.

Sarcasm

Mocking tone or language meant to convey contempt.

Pun

A play on words that exploits multiple meanings.

Anecdote

A short personal story to illustrate a point.

Paradox

A seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a deeper truth.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech combining contradictory terms (e.g., "bittersweet").

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unrelated things (e.g., "Time is a thief").

Simile

A comparison using "like" or "as" (e.g., "Her smile was as bright as the sun").

Personification

Giving human traits to non-human things.

Symbolism

The use of objects, characters, or events to represent abstract ideas.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.

Motif

A recurring element or theme in a text.

Allegory

A narrative where characters and events symbolize broader concepts.

Allusion

A reference to literature, history, or culture outside the text.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in words.

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds within words.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words.

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates a sound (e.g., "buzz," "whisper").

Rhythm

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Rhyme Scheme

The pattern of rhymes in a poem.

Ethos

Appealing to credibility or ethics.

Pathos

Appealing to emotion.

Logos

Appealing to logic and reason.

Repetition

Repeating words or phrases for emphasis.

Anaphora

Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Epistrophe

Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.

Tricolon

A series of three parallel elements for rhythm and emphasis.

Polysyndeton

The use of excessive conjunctions for dramatic effect.

Asyndeton

The omission of conjunctions for a concise, impactful style.

Direct Characterization

The author explicitly describes a character’s traits.

Indirect Characterization

The character’s traits are revealed through actions, dialogue, and thoughts.

Foil

A character who contrasts with another to highlight key traits.

Antihero

A protagonist lacking traditional heroic qualities.

Archetype

A typical character, situation, or symbol recurring in literature.

Stock Character

A stereotypical character type (e.g., the "wise mentor").

Soliloquy

A speech in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, alone on stage.

Monologue

A long speech by one character, often directed at others.

Aside

A brief remark meant to be heard by the audience but not other characters.

Stage Directions

Instructions in a script for movement, tone, or setting.