Imagery - Vivid descriptions that appeal to a reader’s 5 sense

Juxtaposition - Putting two contrasting elements together that are so unlike that the effect is surprising, witty, or even startling

Metaphor - Comparison without using “like” or “as”

Denotation - The dictionary definition of a word

Diction - An author’s word choice

Connotation - An attitude of feeling associated with a specific word

Euphemism - A mild or pleasant term used in place of an unpleasant or offensive one

Tone - The attitude or emotion of an author shown in their writing

Inference - A logical assumption or educated guess based on facts or observed knowledge

Parallelism - several parts of a sentence or several sentences expressed in a similar grammatical form to show that the ideas are equal in importance. Can add balance, rhythm, and emphasis to ideas (Often occurs with anaphora, epistrophe, and/or juxtaposition.)

Purpose - The reason an author writes a text: usually to inform, persuade, or entertain

Understatement - A statement that says less than it means; often used for comedic effect

Alliteration - The repetition of the first consonant sound, occurring close together in a series

Anecdote - A usually short narrative (story) of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident

Rhetorical Question - A question posed for effect, not requiring an answer

Verbal Irony - A statement that expresses the opposite of the literal meaning of the words. Often used for humorous or sarcastic effect

Allusion - A brief reference to a famous person or event - often from literature, history, Greek mythology, or the Bible. Can help simplify complex ideas

Theme - An underlying message about life or human nature that an author wants you to take away from a text

Symbolism - using concrete objects, images, or characters to represent a larger, more universal idea

Paradox - A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition that, when investigated or explained, may prove to be well-founded or true