literary devices Flashcards
simile
the comparison of two unlike things, indicates through like or as
metaphor
when one thing is said to be something else, not literally
personification
giving an inanimate object human-like qualities
onomatopoeia
when the word sounds like the sounds it makes
alliteration
the repetition of similar consonant sounds
assonance
the repetition of similar vowel sounds
e.g. hop-scotch
oxymoron
two words that are normally contraries
pun
a play on two words that sound the same but are different in meaning
juxtaposition
placing two opposite ideas together
irony
the opposite of what is expected
euphemism
making something sound more pleasant than it actually is
allusion
reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work or work of art
paradox
contradictory but possibly true statement
e.g. this is the the beginning of the end
foreshadowing
a hint given about a future event
allegory
use of symbols to convey a hidden or ulterior meaning, typically a moral or political one
anaphora
a word or sequence of words repeating at the beginning of sentences
e.g. look at her
look at me
look at them
analogy
a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation
e.g. life is a box of chocolates
exposition
relays background information about a main character, setting, event, or another element
e.g. describing an old, dark house before someone enters it, setting up suspense
flashback
interrupts the chronological sequence by showing readers a scene from the past
run-on sentence
when two independent clauses run together without proper punctuation
e.g. i love to write papers i would write one every day if i had time
anachronism
when something is in the incorrect time period
hyperbole
an exaggerated statement that emphasized the significance of the meaning
e.g. to die of embarrassment
motif
a recurring element that develops the theme of the narrative
pathetic fallacy
when the emotions or thoughts of characters are shown through the objects or weather around them
e.g. on our wedding day, the sun smiled down on us
Anastrophe
a figure of speech when the traditional sentence structure is reversed
e.g. i like that > that, i like
aphorism
a universally accepted truth usually in the form of a proverb
e.g. early bird gets the worm
chiasmus
when two or more parallel clauses are inverted
e.g. it’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice
circumlocution
expressing a simple idea with many words 扩句
colloquialism
use of casual and informal language, can include slang
euphony
words that are pleasant sounding or easy to pronounce
hypophora
when a person raises a question and immediately answers it themselves
imagery
descriptive language that appeals to the reader’s senses
isocolon
when two or more phrases or clauses have a similar structure, rhythm, or length.
e.g. buy one, get one
litotes
phrases that express an idea by saying the reverse is not the case
e.g. he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed
malapropism
when words are misheard or misspoken, and often confused with other common words
e.g. blessing in the skies (disguise)
polysyndeton
using conjunctions repeatedly for dramatic effect
e.g. i don’t want coffee or tea or coke or any of that
portmanteau
combining two words and their meanings into a new word
e.g. brunch
satire
criticizing some absurd nature of human nature or society — usually through exaggeration, ridicule, or irony
soliloquy
when a character speaks their thoughts out loud to themselves
spoonerism
where the initial sounds of two words are swapped
e.g. jelly beans > belly jeans
synecdoche
using a part of smth to refer to a whole
e.g. hungry mouths to feed
meter
rhythmic structure of a line in a work of poetry
