Literary Terms and Devices

A collection of flashcards identifying key literary terms and devices.

Allegory

A narrative with a literal meaning and a secondary, symbolic meaning.

Metaphor

A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as".

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as".

Personification

The attribution of human traits to non-human entities.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.

Symbolism

The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality.

Alliteration

The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words in a phrase.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

Foreshadowing

A literary device used to give hints about what will happen later in the story.

Motif

A recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

Juxtaposition

The placement of two or more ideas, characters, or settings side by side for the purpose of developing.

Paradox

A statement that appears contradictory but may reveal an underlying truth.

Epiphany

A moment of sudden revelation or insight experienced by a character.

Chiasmus

A rhetorical figure in which words or concepts are repeated in reverse order.

Punditry

A form of figurative expression where expertise and opinion are offered in a particular area.

Satire

A genre of literature that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock.

Ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation.

Diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

Connotation

The implied or associated meaning of a word beyond its literal definition.

Allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, or idea.

Romanticism

An artistic movement emphasizing nature and individualism.

Pastiche

A literary piece that imitates the style of one or more other artists.

Palimpsest

A manuscript that has been written upon and erased; reusing a surface for new writing.

Courtly Love

A literary tradition that idealizes romantic love and chivalric values.

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity.

Realism

A literary technique representing everyday experiences as they are.

Naturalism

A movement focusing on the influence of environment and heredity on character.

Existentialism

A philosophical movement emphasizing individual existence and choice.

Alienation

A concept where individuals feel isolated or detached from their surroundings.

Parallelism

The use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same.

Cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part represents the whole.

Euphemism

A mild expression substituted for one considered harsh.

Apostrophe

An address to an absent person or abstract idea.

Aphorism

A pithy observation containing a general truth.

Pastoral

A work depicting rural life and the idealization of it.

Rhetorical Question

A question posed for emphasis rather than to elicit an answer.

Antithesis

A rhetorical device contrasting opposing ideas within a sentence.

Apocrypha

Writings not considered genuine or canonical.

Deconstruction

A critical approach revealing assumptions behind a text.

Epithet

A descriptive phrase expressing a characteristic.

Decadence

A period of decline often in art, literature, or morality.

Petrarchan Sonnet

A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme exploring themes of love.

Blank Generation

A cultural movement among disaffected youth associated with punk rock.

Bombast

Inflated or pretentious language.

Catharsis

The process of releasing strong or repressed emotions.

Muses

Goddesses of inspiration in the arts.

Baroque

A decorative artistic style that flourished in Europe.

Denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word.

Bowdlerize

To remove offensive material from a work.

Panegyric

A formal expression of praise.

Bathos

An abrupt transition from the serious to the trivial.

Polemic

A strong verbal or written attack.

Bard

A poet, often reciting epic or heroic poems.

Parody

A humorous imitation of a writer or genre.

Farce

A comic dramatic work using exaggerated characters.

Objective Correlative

A literary technique to evoke emotional response through a set of objects.

Hubris

Excessive pride that often leads to downfall.

Proverb

A simple saying expressing a truth.

Invocation

A formal plea for help addressed to a deity.

Peripeteia

A sudden reversal of fortune in a literary work.

Poete Maudit

A cursed poet associated with misunderstood brilliance.

Objectivity

The quality of perceiving things as they are, without bias.

Archetype

A typical example of a character or theme that recurs in literature.

Persona

The voice or character adopted by the author in a literary work.

Platonism

The philosophy of Plato emphasizing abstract ideas.

Epigram

A cleverly expressed idea or saying.

Stream of Consciousness

A narrative mode capturing the flow of thoughts.

Philippic

A verbal attack often in denunciation.