Literary Vocabulary

Literary Devices

Definition 

Example 

Your Example/Task 

1

1. Imagery/Image- Descriptive language that evokes one or all of the five senses (seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, smelling). 

As the bread cooled, Amanda could feel its warmth slowly climbing over her fingers. The savory smell lingered in the air and it felt like home. She put the bread up to her ear, to listen to the tiny bubbles popping inside the bread as it slowly began to settle.

Your example:

2

Diction- word choice; the purposeful use of certain words over others in writing. 

Stating that there is a “wheelhouse of agony in my head” reflects strong diction. Stating “I have a headache” does not.

Rewrite the sentence “He was happy” using strong diction. 

3

Denotation- the literal, dictionary definition of a word. 

Denotation = Definition 

The word home literally means, “a building that serves as a living quarter for a family.”

The denotation of the color “gray” is:

“Of a color between white and black; having a neutral hue.”

4

Connotation- the associations or emotional overtones that have become attached to the word aside from its literal, dictionary definition.  

The connotation of the word “home” evokes ideas of security, warmth, acceptance, and love.  

What is the connotation of the color gray?

5

Mood- the feeling or emotion created in a reader by a literary work. 

Mood words must be an emotion word. 

What kind of mood words are appropriate for a horror film? List 3:

6

Tone- the attitude of the author toward the subject. Although the terms “tone” and “mood” are sometimes used interchangeably, tone refers to the author’s intellectual attitude towards the subject matter and mood refers to the emotion created in a reader

Tone words must be an emotion word. 

Example: Anger

I can’t believe the nerve of some people. Their blind ignorance and selfish ways have now led to pineapple on pizza as acceptable! It is a dismal world we live in, to see such an atrocity.

Choose one tone word and write 2-3 sentences that convey the tone word you selected:

7

Characterization- when the author develops a character’s personality through their speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks. (Consider indirect vs. direct characterization).

The sentence “Marcus was grumpy” directly characterizes Marcus as grumpy.

The sentence “Marcus stomped into the classroom, slammed his books on the desk, and slumped into his chair” indirectly characterizes Marcus as grumpy.

Provide an example of direct and indirect characterization:

8

Static vs. Dynamic Characters- A static character is one who doesn't undergo any significant change in character, personality or perspective over the course of a story. A dynamic character, in contrast, undergoes a major transition in one or more of these ways.

Luke Skywalker changes dramatically over the course of his journey. However, C3PO and R2D2 do not. 

Luke= Dynamic 

C3PO and R2D2= Static

Provide an example of a static and a dynamic character: 

9

Foil Characters- A foil is a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character. The objective is to highlight the traits of the other character

-Harry Potter & Draco Malfoy

-Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

-Mr. Darcy & Mr. Wickham

Consider your favorite superhero movie. What foil characters exist in the story?

10

Symbolism- Symbolism occurs when an object stands for a larger idea. Occasionally symbols take the form of a character’s actions or words. 

A dove is a symbol for peace.

What does the American flag symbolize?

11

Foreshadowing- a literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story. Foreshadowing often appears at the beginning of a story, or a chapter, and helps the reader develop expectations about the coming events in a story.

Example: “It was a dark and stormy night…”

What might a story starting with “It was a dark and stormy night” foreshadow? 

12

Irony- There are three types of irony.

• Situational- The difference between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

• Dramatic- When the audience is more aware of what is happening than a character.

• Verbal- When a character says one thing but suggests or intends the opposite. When verbal irony is used, there is a contrast between what the speaker says and what he actually means.

Write an example of dramatic irony from your favorite comedy, horror movie, thriller, etc.

13

Conflict- There are several types of conflict.

• Internal conflicts take place in a person’s mind. Internal conflicts are character vs. self.

• External Conflict – External conflicts take place between a person and someone or something else, such as nature, another person or persons, or an event or situation. External conflicts may be character vs. character, character vs. nature, or character vs. society.

An internal conflict could be a struggle to make a decision or overcome a feeling, such as a break up. An external conflict could be a battle against nature, like getting caught in a storm.

Provide an example of an internal and external conflict you have faced in the last 5 days:

-

-

14

Antithesis: the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas. 

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” -Charles Dickens 

No example needed 

X

15

Oxymoron:  two words with contradictory meanings.

Their relationship is an open secret.

Your example:

16

Paradox: a statement that appears to be contradictory but, in fact, has some truth.

He worked hard at being lazy.

No example needed 

X

17

Theme: The author’s message about life, society, or human nature. A theme is a statement, not a single word.

Love is constant, no matter the cost.

What is a theme you’ve seen in books, shows, songs, movies, etc.?

Figurative Language 

Definition 

Example 

Your Example/Task 

18

Metaphor: a comparison between two unlike things which have something in common. 

-Her smile was the sun.

Your Example:

19

Simile: an explicit comparison, usually using "like," "as," or "than" between two things of unlike nature yet that have something in common. 

-Silence settled over the audience like a block of granite.

Your Example:

20

Personification: Giving inanimate objects human qualities or abilities. 

-The ground is thirsty for rain.

Your Example:

21

Hyperbole: the use of exaggeration for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect. 

- I have a ton of work to do.

Your Example:

22

Allusion- A direct or indirect reference to another work of literature, artwork, famous person, or event. Four types: Biblical, literary, classical, and historical. 

“Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.”

 –Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech given at the Lincoln Memorial, referencing Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

No example needed

X

Musical Devices

Definition 

Example 

Your Example/Task 

23

Alliteration: the repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in neighboring words. Alliteration appears when the consonant sounds are the same, not necessarily when the same letters are used. 

Ex: “Kim cooks quickly,” is an example of alliteration. 

“Cindy cooks chocolate” is not alliteration.

Your Example:

24

Assonance: the repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds in neighboring words. 

Ex: The bus chugged up the hill, lugging young children.

No example needed

X

25

Cacophony: jarring, harsh sounds in language (numerous hard consonants and stressed syllables tend to produce cacophony) 

Ex: “Breakers crashed onto jagged rocks and clawed the sands with brutal strikes, pummeling the beach.”

Your Example:

26

Euphony: pleasing, agreeable sounds in language (vowels, soft consonants, and unstressed syllables tend to produce euphony)

“The waves washed silently onshore, brushing the sands with peaceful movement.”

Your Example: