Literary Devices Flashcards
Flash Back
A jump back in time in a story. An actual shift back to an earlier time.
Purpose of a flashback
To give background information.
How to recognize a flashback in a story
Keywords that show a change in time period, change in verb tense, or white space skipping lines in the story.
Oxymoron
Two words used to describe something that seems like they both can’t be true. (Old news, organized mess)
Paradox
A statement that seems illogical and seems untrue but you later realize that it is true.
How is a paradox similar to a oxymoron?
Oxymoron is a seeming contradiction on the word level and paradox is on the sentence and idea level.
Antithesis
A device that uses opposites on a sentence or idea level. (Ex.:“You’re easy on the eyes, hard on the heart.””
How is an antithesis similar to antonym?
An Antonym on a sentence level.
How is an antithesis similar to paradox?
Paradox is ideas that seem opposite(illogical), Antithesis is ideas that are opposite(logical).
Purpose of Antithesis
To create a balance between opposite qualities and give greater insight into the subject.
Anachronism
Placing an event, person, item, or verbal expression in the wrong historical period. (Ex.:If a movie about ancient Egypt showed a Pharaoh wearing a watch.)
Irony
A contrast between what you think should happen and what actually happens
Purpose of Irony
To entertain by creating an unexpected twist
To show a theme about human nature
The theme makes readers think deeply about what a character does or says
(Ex.:A fire station is burning down.)
Three types of irony
Situational, Dramatic, Verbal
Situational Irony
When the events, plot, or situation turns out differently than you would expect it to.
Dramatic Irony
When the audience knows something that the characters don’t know yet.
Verbal Irony
Saying something but the opposite is reality.
Anaphora Definition
Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of clauses, sentences, paragraphs, or stanzas. (Ex.:That’s the point of anaphora. That’s why it’s convincing. That’s why it’s effective. That’s why it’s effective.)
Purpose of an Anaphora
To emphasize the ideas that follow the anaphora
Allusion
A reference to a person or event that is from another story. A reference to a character or a book title that is not from the text you are reading.
Purpose of an Allusion
- To make connections to something familiar
- To connect to background knowledge
- To add meaning or information. To answer the question, “So what?”
Aphorism
A short saying that expresses truth about life, living, and being a good person. (Ex.:It’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees.)
Aphorism Purpose
Aphorisms are used for advice wisdom and inspirations
Colloquialism
Different words and phrases used in certain areas or time periods. Slang, idioms, expressions, jargon. (Ex.:hot dish : casserole)
Colloquialism purpose
To make realistic dialogue
Euphemism
A kinder, gentler way of saying something that may be rude, gross, or difficult to talk about. (Ex.:Dying, kicking the bucket.)
Euphemism purpose
When words develop a negative connotation, they are often replaced with a Euphemism.
Epiphany
A character has sudden insight into the reality of something. A light bulb moment. (Ex.:Epiphanies often lead to a change of opinion or events called peripeteia.)
Epiphany purpose
Epiphanies often lead to a change of opinion or events called peripeteia.
Foreshadowing
A hint about what is going to happen later in the story.
Foreshadowing purpose
To build tension; hook the reader.
Figurative Language
Writing that makes the reader vividly imagine what is described. Figurative language is not literal–it is embellished!
Figurative Language purpose
To create writing that is more creative, effective, and impactful.
Peripeteia
The turning point in a drama after which the plot moves steadily to its denouement
Dialect
A particular form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region of social group.
