Literary Devices Flashcards
Allegory
Allegory is something that represents a symbol. “A story within a story.” Example: two neighbors throwing rocks at each others houses may mean two countries at war.
Allusion
Referring to someone else’s work in your work.
Atmosphere
The main mood or feeling a reader gets while reading. Example: “Marylin’s cramped apartment was roasting in the scorching sunlight.” (detailed and the reader can imagine it).
Tone
Different tones show the speaker having different feelings or moods. “Come to my house tomorrow!” sounds excited. “You can come to my house tomorrow, if you want.” sounds forced and bored.
Juxtaposition
Putting two words or descriptions next to each other to illustrate how different they are. Example: he looked at his friends creamy, delicious pasta and went back to eating his boring, tasteless salad.
Satire
Using humor, exaggeration, sarcasm, etc. Example: someone laughing if you fall.
Irony
Can be used for humor, saying the opposite of what you mean. Example: “Oh wow! the weather is beautiful” when it’s raining
Verbal Irony
Sarcasm
Situational Irony
The opposite of what everyone expected happens. Example: making someone that is sick chicken noodle soup but the chicken noodle soup makes them even more sick.
Dramatic Irony
Unexpected by the character. Example: when watching a horror movie and everyone knows that the killer is upstairs but the character doesn’t and still goes upstairs.
Simile
Using “like” or “as” to compare two things. Example: he was as slow as a turtle.
Metaphor
Same as simile but without the like or as. Example: “All religions, arts, and sciences are branches of the same tree.” -Albert Einstein
Personification
Adding human characteristics to non living things. Example: the wind whispered to the trees.
Alliterations
Words next to each other that start with the same letter or sound. Example: Phillip’s feet, brown banana
Oxymoron
A figure of speech that puts two opposite words together. Example: an organized mess
