Literary Terms and Devices

These flashcards cover key literary terms and devices that are essential for understanding literature.

idiom

An expression that is common to a particular language that means something different from the literal meaning.

allusion

A brief reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history, or to another literary work.

tone

The author's attitude about what he or she is writing about.

mood

The feeling the writing evokes in the reader.

main idea

What a passage is about, usually asked for nonfiction passages.

theme

The overall idea or message that the author is conveying.

personification

An object or an animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or actions.

imagery

The use of language to create a picture or sensation, appealing to the five senses.

metaphor

Makes a comparison between two unlike things without using like, as, than, or resembles.

simile

Makes a comparison between two unlike things, using like, as, than, or resembles.

extended metaphor

A metaphor that is developed over a number of lines or with several examples.

conceit

An elaborate or extended simile or metaphor.

metonymy

A person, place, or thing is referred to by something closely associated with it.

synecdoche

A part represents the whole.

hyperbole

An incredible exaggeration, or overstatement.

understatement

A statement that says less than what is meant.

irony

The difference between appearance and reality.

situational irony

A difference between what is expected to happen and what really does happen.

verbal irony

When someone says one thing but means something else.

dramatic irony

When the reader knows more than a character in story.

foreshadowing

The use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot.

symbolism

A person, place, thing, or event that stands for something more than itself.

paradox

A statement that appears self-contradictory but reveals a kind of truth.

alliteration

The repetition of the same consonant sounds in words that are close together.

assonance

Repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds.

end rhyme

Rhyming words at the end of lines.

slant rhyme

Words that sound similar but are not exact rhymes.

consonance

A kind of slant rhyme where words have matching ending consonant sounds but a different vowel.

internal rhyme

Words that rhyme within the same line of poetry.

denotation

The dictionary definition of a word.

connotation

The ideas or feelings associated with a word.

chronological

The story is arranged in order of time from the beginning to the end.

epistolary novel

Written in the form of letters.

frame narrative

A story told within a story.

in medias res

Means "in the middle of things"; the story begins in the middle.

lyric

A short emotional poem; expresses the personal feelings or thoughts of the speaker.

narrative

A poem that tells a story, featuring characters and frequently dialogue.