Literary Devices Flashcards
Anaphora
Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a series of clauses or sentences. EX “I have a dream”
Anastrophe
Traditional sentence structure is reversed. EX Are you ready. Ready are you?
Chiasmus
Two parallel clauses are inverted. EX Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country -JFK
Congeries
Fancy literary term for creating a list. Words, ideas, or phrases. “Piling up”
Cumulative Sentence
Starts with an independent clause, but then has additional or modifying clauses
Epistrophe
Opposite of anaphora. Word or phrase being repeated at the end of a sentence.
Erotesis
Close cousin of Rhetorical question. Asker confidently expects a response that is either negative or affirmative
Hyperbaton
Similar to anastrophe, doesn’t have same specific structure and allows you to rearrange sentences.
Isocolon
Quick, balanced rhythm. I came, I saw, I conquered. Two or more phrases have similar structure, rhythm and even length
Litotes
Double negative. Express certain sentiments through their opposite. EX You won’t be sorry, You’re not wrong
Malapropism
Similar sounding words replace their counterparts. EX I am not to be truffled with, Michael Scott
Onomatopoeia
Word that sound like the thing they’re referring to. EX Buzz, whiz, snap, grunt
Parallelism
Similar ideas, sounds, phrases arranged in a way that is harmonious and creates parallel EX That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind
Portmanteau
Two words are combined to form a new word which refers to a single concept that retains the meanings of both original words. EX Brunch, cosplay, romcom
Allegory
Narrative uses characters and plot to depict abstract ideas and themes. EX Tortoise and the Hare
