Literary Devices Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key literary devices from the notes.

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses.

Simile

A comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

Metaphor

A direct comparison without 'like' or 'as'.

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds.

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the end.

Enjambment

A sentence or phrase runs onto the next line without pause.

Caesura

A pause within a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation, to emphasize contrast.

Free Verse

Poetry without regular meter or rhyme.

Slant Rhyme

A near rhyme with similar but not identical sounds.

Diction

Word choice that creates tone or voice.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases.

Tone

The speaker’s attitude toward the subject.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality.

Paradox

A statement that seems self-contradictory but reveals truth.

Apostrophe

A direct address to something absent or nonhuman.

Conceit

An extended, complex metaphor.

Symbolism

When something represents more than its literal meaning.

Meter

The rhythm of a line, based on syllables.

Sonnet

A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme, often about love or existential themes.

Repetition

The intentional reuse of words, phrases, or structures.

Allusion

A reference to a person, event, place, or work of art, often indirect.

Theme

The central idea or message in a literary work.

Juxtaposition

Placing two elements side by side to highlight contrast.