Alliteration

the repetition of initial consonant sounds

The sly snake slithered slowly in the sand.

Allusion

reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art

Chocolate cake is my achilles heel.

Anachronism

something out of its normal time period

The caveman microwaved his dinner.

Analogy

a comparison that explains or describes one subject by pointing out its similarities to another subject

She is as blind as a bat.

Anecdote

a brief story about an interesting, amusing, or strange event. It is told to entertain or to make a point.

The fire safety instructor told a story about how fire safety was useful in her life.

Antagonist

character or force in conflict with a main character, or protagonist

Mother Gothel was in conflict with Rapunzel.

Antithesis

involves a direct contrast of structurally parallel word grouping

Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.

Aphorism

a general truth or observation about life, usually stated concisely and pointedly

Actions speak louder than words.

Apostrophe

a figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent person or a personified quality

Oh nature, thou art my goddess.

Aside

words spoken by a character in a play to the audience or to another character, that are not meant to be overheard by the other characters.

A little more than kin and less than kind.