Literary Devices Flashcards
Dialogue
Exchange of words between characters or people in a text.
Ex. “Hi, how are you?”
“I’m fine, thanks”
Alliteration
Repetition of a similar sound.
Ex. Suzy, my sister, slept soundly
Flashback
Occurrence of events that have happened at a previous time.
Ex. Forest Gump
Foil
A character in a story who is opposite of the other character.
Ex. Good guys vs. bad guy
Foreshadowing
Words or phrases that hint at what may happen later.
Imagery
Words or phrases that create a mental image; appeals to the 5 senses.
Ex. The salty ocean breeze grazed my skin as it whispered through the town.
Irony
- The meaning implied by words is different from the actual meaning.
- Opposite happens from what is expected to happen.
Metaphor
A comparison between things without using like or as
Ex. The warrior was a beast in the battle.
Onomatopoeia
A word that sounds like the sound it names.
Ex. Boom, pow, woof
Oxymoron
Words with different meanings working together to form a phrase with a new meaning
Ex. Clearly confused, act naturally
Personification
Giving inanimate objects human characteristics
Ex. The wind howled
Simile
A comparison between things using like or as.
Ex.she was as lovely as a rose.
Symbolism
Giving something concrete a deeper, abstract meaning.
Ex. ( think of the symbols for “love”)
Verisimilitude
Having the state of being true to life
Ex. Titanic, the movie
