English literary devices

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

A narrative, who’s character and plot depict a deeper more abstract idea or theme then what is initially or superficially perceived

Question 2

Alliteration

Answer 2

A series of words in the sequence that all start with the same first letter or sound

Question 3

Allusion

Answer 3

A passing, indirect descriptive reference to something (usually historical)

Question 4

Anaphora

Answer 4

The repetition of the same word or phrase in a series of clauses or sentences

Question 5

Anastrophe

Answer 5

figure of speech wherein the traditional sentence structure is reversed

Question 6

Anthropomorphism

Answer 6

Portraying literally an inanimate object, animal, plant, etc. as a human. Unlike personification, this is done literally not figuratively

Question 7

Aphorism

Answer 7

a concise, often witty and memorable quote or phrase that often describes and states a universally accepted truth such as “murder is an evil act”

Question 8

Archetype

Answer 8

An archetype is a “universal symbol” that brings familiarity and context to a story. It can be a character, a setting, a theme, or an action.

Question 9

Chiasmus

Answer 9

when two or more parallel clauses are inverted

Question 10

Colloquialism

Answer 10

The use of informal and casual language, even including slang

Question 11

Cumulative sentence

Answer 11

The addition of extra clauses that give extra information to an already complete and independent clause

Question 12

Dramatic irony

Answer 12

Dramatic irony is when the readers know more about the situation going on than at least one of the characters involved

Question 13

Euphemism

Answer 13

Downplaying or utilizing an indirect and “polite” way of describing something too inappropriate or awkward to address directly.

Question 14

Exposition

Answer 14

when the narrative provides background information in order to help the reader understand what’s going on

Question 15

Foreshadowing

Answer 15

when the author hints at events yet to come in a story.

Question 16

Hyperbole

Answer 16

n exaggerated statement that emphasizes the significance of the statement’s actual meaning.

Question 17

Hypophora

Answer 17

Much like a rhetorical question where the person who asks a question does not want an answer or wants to answer the question themselves to persuade the audience. In a hypophora, though the person raises a question and immediately answers iit themselves

Question 18

Imagery

Answer 18

Imagery appeals to readers’ senses through highly descriptive language.

Question 19

Irony

Answer 19

creates a contrast between how things seem and how they really are. There are three types of literary irony: dramatic (when readers know what will happen before characters do), situational (when readers expect a certain outcome, only to be surprised by a turn of events), and verbal (when the intended meaning of a statement is the opposite of what was said).

Question 20

Isocolon

Answer 20

when two or more phrases or clauses have similar structure, rhythm, and even length

Question 21

juxtaposition

Answer 21

places two or more dissimilar characters, themes, concepts, etc. side by side, and the profound contrast highlights their differences.

Question 22

Litotes

Answer 22

the signature literary device of the double negative.

eg you’re not wrong

Question 23

Metaphor

Answer 23

compares two similar things by saying that one of them is the other

Question 24

Metonymy

Answer 24

Similar to symbolism but unlike symbolism it comes to serve as a synonym for that thing
e.g. the crown represents the monarchy

Question 25

Motif

Answer 25

Recurs throughout the novel and help develop the theme of the narrative, could be a symbol, concept or image

Question 26

Onomatopoeia

Answer 26

words that sound like the thing they’re referring to.

Question 27

Oxymoron

Answer 27

comes from two contradictory words that describe one thing. While juxtaposition contrasts two story elements, oxymorons are about the actual words you are using.

Question 28

Paradox

Answer 28

It’s a statement that asks people to think outside the box by providing seemingly illogical — and yet actually true — premises.

Question 29

Personification

Answer 29

human traits to describe non-human things

Question 30

Polysyndeton

Answer 30

Utilization of several conjunctions in succession

Question 31

Repetition

Answer 31

repeating of a word or phrase

Question 32

Satire

Answer 32

Writers use satire to make fun of some aspect of human nature or society — usually through exaggeration, ridicule, or irony.

Question 33

simile

Answer 33

A simile draws resemblance between two things by saying “Thing A is like Thing B,” or “Thing A is as [adjective] as Thing B.” Unlike a metaphor, a similar does not posit that these things are the same, only that they are alike.

Question 34

Soliloquy

Answer 34

Describes a character speaking their thoughts aloud, usually at length

Question 35

Symbolism

Answer 35

tangible objects to represent abstract concepts and ideas in their stories Symbols typically derive from objects or non-human

Question 36

Synecdoche

Answer 36

the usage of a part to represent the whole.

E.g. wheels - represent the entire car

Question 37

Tautology

Answer 37

when a sentence or short paragraph repeats a word or phrase, expressing the same idea twice.

Question 38

Tone

Answer 38

the overall mood and message of your book.

Question 39

Zoomorphism

Answer 39

when you take animal traits and assign them to anything that’s not an animal.