Stylistic Devices in Literature

These flashcards cover various stylistic devices commonly used in literature, including their definitions and examples.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in close proximity.

Accumulation

A series of expressions that contribute increasingly to meaning.

Anaphora

Repetition of the first word(s) of a line or clause.

Leitmotif

A dominant recurrent theme or idea associated with a certain character or situation.

Climax

The point of highest dramatic tension in a text.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect expression used to replace a harsh or unpleasant one.

Oxymoron

Combination of contradictory terms.

Paradox

A seemingly self-contradictory statement that may reveal a deeper truth.

Antithesis

A rhetorical figure that contrasts opposing ideas through parallel structure.

Anti-climax

A sudden transition from significant to trivial ideas for humorous effect.

Rhetorical question

An assertive question meant to provoke thought rather than elicit an answer.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate the sounds they describe.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two different things without using 'like' or 'as'.

Symbol

A physical object that represents an abstract concept.

Connotation

The additional implied meanings of a word, beyond its literal definition.

Metonymy

Substitution of one term with another closely associated feature.

Personification

Attributing human characteristics to inanimate objects or abstract concepts.

Pun

A humorous play on words that exploits multiple meanings.

Simile

An explicit comparison between two things using 'like' or 'as'.

Hyperbole

Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.

Understatement

A statement that downplays the importance or seriousness of an idea.

Irony

Saying the opposite of what one means, often for humorous or emphatic effect.

Tone

The emotional attitude or inflection expressed in writing or speech.

Ambiguity

Deliberate wording that can be interpreted in multiple ways.

Flashback

Interruption of chronological sequence to depict past events.

Anticipation

Insertion of future events into the narrative.

Ellipsis

Omission of words that are easily understood from context.

Allusion

An indirect reference to external people or concepts.

Satire

Writing that uses humor, irony, or sarcasm to ridicule or expose vice.