English 10 Literary Devices

Allusion

An indirect reference to a famous person, place, event, or literary work. The author assumes it is part of the reader’s prior knowledge

Analogy

A comparison of two things for the purpose of explaining or clarifying something. Two branches - Simile and Metaphor

Metaphor

Comparing two things that are not similar, direct comparison by saying one thing is another

Simile

Comparing two things using like or as

Apostrophe

When a speaker or writer addresses someone or something that is not alive

Conceit

An extended metaphor or surprising comparison between two very different things

Connotation

The implied association a word carries beyond its literal dictionary definition

Diction

The authors’ specific choice of words to create a specific mood or tone

Figurative Language

Language used to add depth to writing and speeches

Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration

Imagery

Descriptive language using the five sense to create vivid mental pictures and sensory experiences

Irony

when the opposite of what is expected happens

Juxtaposition

A side by side placement of two opposite things - can be entire phrases and/or sentences

Metonymy

A concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it

Motif

A recurring element in a story that helps develop a larger theme

Formal Diction

The author’s word choice used in scholarly books and articles

Informal Diction

The author’s word choice used in essays in popular magazines

Colloquial Diction

The author’s word choice used in conversations between friends, which includes everyday language terms

Slang Diction

Trendy and informal language shared by social groups

Dialect Diction

A specific variety of a language

Technical Diction

Specialized or expert language related to a specific field or subject

Obsolete Diction

Words no longer in use

Parallelism

A sequence of related thoughts in the same syntactical form

Phonic Echo

The use of similar sounds in poetry

Rhyme

the repetition of similar or identical sounds in words

Alliteration

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds within and at the end of words

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds with non-rhyming words

Personification

Human qualities are given to an object, animal, or idea

Repetition

The repetition of a word or phrase

Symbolism

Representing things by symbols; a symbol is an object, action, or idea that represents something abstract

Tone

Author’s attitude toward a subject

Mood

The overall feeling that the reader experiences from the text

Catharsis

when the audience or characters experience an emotional release, often after a buildup of tension - feeling of relief after a dramatic or intense moment

Visual Imagery

creation of mental pictures in the mind by using descriptive language

Auditory Imagery

the use of descriptive language to create imagery that appeals to our sense of hearing

Tactile Imagery

use of descriptive language that appeals to the sense of touch

Synecdoche

a part of something is used to represent the whole

Denotation

The literal dictionary definition of a word

Situational Irony

A situation where the intended outcome is the opposite of what happens

Oxymoron

when two words with opposing meanings are used alongside one another (type of juxtaposition)