IB English Literature HL Literary Devices

Flashcards for IB English Literature HL covering Literary Devices

Setting

The time and place when and where a story takes place.

Symbolism

The use of symbols that stand for or represent something else; characters, objects, events, and settings can all be symbolic.

Theme

The central idea of a story, usually implied rather than directly stated; should not be confused with moral or plot.

Atmosphere

The pervading feeling created by the story; usually sets up expectations in the reader about the outcome of an episode or plot, created by dialogue, narration, descriptive diction or imagery.

Imagery

Descriptions and figures of speech that help the mind to form forceful or beautiful pictures.

Perspective

The point of view from which a story is told; can be first person, second person, or third person.

Metaphor

An implied comparison between two different things, which does not use the words like or as in the comparison; a word or phrase that ordinarily means one thing is used to describe another thing in order to suggest a likeness between the two.

Irony

A literary device which reveals concealed or contradictory meaning(s).

Verbal irony

Occurs when a contrast is evident between what a character says and what the character actually means.

Dramatic irony

Occurs when the author shares with the reader information not known by a character.

Situational irony

Occurs when a set of circumstances turns out differently from what is expected or considered appropriate.

Foreshadowing

A device which hints or warns of events to happen later in the story; prepares the reader for the climax.

Deus ex machina

A god introduced into a play to resolve the entanglements of the plot; any artificial or improbable device resolving the difficulties of a plot.

Round characters

Convincing, true to life characters that exhibit many different and sometimes even contradictory personality traits.

Dynamic characters

Characters that undergo some type of change or development in a story, often because of something that happens to them.

Flat characters

Stereotyped, shallow and often symbolic characters that exhibit only one or two personality traits.

Static characters

Characters that do not change in the course of the story.

Allegory

Narrative (usually poetry or prose) where characters/events/setting represent deeper truths (hidden or more profound) usually dealing with religious, political or personal issues.

Thesis

The main argument (claim) in a non-fiction work expressed in a statement; a strong thesis expresses a significant assertion.

Exposition

The first Act of a play that provides the reader with necessary information, introduces characters, establishes mood and atmosphere, and gets the action started.

Alliteration

The repetition of similar initial consonant sounds.

Rhyme

A repetition of similar initial vowel sounds followed by similar consonant sounds.

End rhyme

Most common type of rhyme; occurs at the end of a line of poetry.

Internal rhyme

Occurs when a word within a line rhymes with another word within the same line.

Assonance

The repetition of similar stressed vowel sounds.

Consonance

The repetition of similar final consonant sounds.

Personification

A special form of metaphor in which human characteristics are attributed to animals, inanimate objects or ideas.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration in order to emphasize a fact or a feeling; can be used to create either a comic or serious effect.

Allusion

A brief, indirect reference to a historical or literary person, event or object.

Euphemism

The use of inoffensive, mild or vague words in place of harsher, more blunt ones.

Euphony

The musical effect achieved when a poet uses words and phrases that create pleasant, harmonious sounds and rhythms.

Cacophony

The use of unpleasant sounds or rhythms to create a jarring effect.

Onomatopoeia

The use of a word that closely resembles the sound to which it refers.

Metre

The rhythmic arrangement of syllables in verse, usually according to the number and kind of metrical feet in a line.

Tone

The attitude of the author toward his/her subject; examples include serious, playful, formal and informal.

Antithesis

The arrangement of contrasting words, sentences, or ideas in a balanced grammatical structure.

Meiosis

A deliberate understatement, used for emphasis, or to create a humorous effect.

Metonymy

The use of a closely related term to represent an object with which it is associated.

Motif

A recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work.