Lit Devices

Satire – A literary technique that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticize human vices or societal issues. Example: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift.

Connotation – The implied or associated meaning of a word beyond its literal definition. Example: The word "home" connotes warmth and comfort.

Anaphora – The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. Example: "I have a dream" in Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech.

Euphemism – A mild or indirect word or phrase used in place of a harsh or unpleasant one. Example: "Passed away" instead of "died."

Blank verse – Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter. Example: Many of Shakespeare’s plays, such as Hamlet.

Flat Character – A character with little depth or complexity, often embodying a single trait. Example: Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice.

Round Character – A well-developed character with a complex personality. Example: Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.

Point of View – The perspective from which a story is told. Example: First-person point of view in The Catcher in the Rye.

Aside – A short remark by a character in a play meant to be heard by the audience but not by other characters. Example: Many of Shakespeare's plays use asides.

Diction – The choice of words used by a writer or speaker. Example: Formal diction in academic writing.

Juxtaposition – Placing two elements side by side for contrast. Example: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" in A Tale of Two Cities.

Mood – The emotional atmosphere created by a text. Example: The eerie mood in The Tell-Tale Heart.

Tone – The author’s attitude toward the subject. Example: The sarcastic tone in A Modest Proposal.

Allegory – A story with a symbolic meaning beyond the literal one. Example: Animal Farm as an allegory for communism.

Situational Irony – When the opposite of what is expected occurs. Example: A fire station burning down.

Dramatic Irony – When the audience knows something the characters do not. Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows Juliet is alive, but Romeo does not.

Symbol – An object, character, or event that represents something beyond itself. Example: The green light in The Great Gatsby.

Alliteration – The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words. Example: "She sells seashells by the seashore."

Soliloquy – A speech in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, alone on stage. Example: Hamlet’s "To be or not to be" speech.

Consonance – The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity, often at the end of words. Example: "pitter-patter."

Imagery – Descriptive language that appeals to the senses. Example: "The golden sun dipped below the horizon, casting a fiery glow."

Fable – A short story, often with animals as characters, that teaches a moral lesson. Example: The Tortoise and the Hare.

Assonance – The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. Example: "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain."

Allusion – A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work. Example: "He was a real Romeo with the ladies."

Stock Character – A stereotypical character type that appears frequently in literature. Example: The "wise old mentor" like Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings.