Literary Devices

Question 1

Aliteration

Answer 1

The repetition of consonant sounds within close
proximity, usually in consecutive words within the same
sentence or line

Question 2

Allusion

Answer 2

Reference to an actual person or event, or to a literary
character or event from a different story

Question 3

Anthropomorphism

Answer 3

• animals or objects that act like people
• they can walk and talk, have arms, legs, facial features,
  etc. (not to be confused with personification)

Question 4

Apostrophe

Answer 4

When a character speaks to a dead or absent person, an
abstract concept (like fate), or an object.

Question 5

Foreshadowing

Answer 5

• When future events or the outcome of a story are
  hinted at by the author
• If the outcome is explicitly stated or revealed early in a
  story (ex: flashback), this is NOT foreshadowing

Question 6

Hyperbole

Answer 6

Exaggeration used for humour or emphasis

Question 7

Imagery

Answer 7

• highly detailed descriptions, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation
• not ALL descriptions can rightly be called imagery; the
  key is to appeal to and stimulate specific senses

Question 8

Irony

Answer 8

Verbal Irony:
- when you say something, but clearly mean the
opposite
- sarcasm is a kind of verbal irony, but involves a
personal attack

Situational Irony:
- when something happens that is contrary to what would be expected (ex: a lifeguard drowns)
often confused with coincidence or surprise

Dramatic Irony:
- when the audience or reader knows important
information that some characters in the story don’t

Question 9

Melapropism

Answer 9

The misuse or distortion of a word or phrase that sounds
kind of like the one intended, but that is ludicrously
wrong given the context

Question 10

Metaphor

Answer 10

• a comparison without using “like” or “as”
• much stronger than a simile.

Question 11

Onomatopoeia

Answer 11

When sounds are spelled out as words

Ex: BOOM, BANG, ding!

Question 12

Oxymoron

Answer 12

Two contradictory words used, one right after the other,
to create emphasis or humour.

Question 13

Paradox

Answer 13

A situation that cannot possibly exist because different
elements of it cancel each other out

ex: If God is so powerful . . .

Question 14

Pathetic fallacy

Answer 14

When the weather reflects the momentary mood of a character

Question 15

Personification

Answer 15

Attributing human characteristics to an animal, object or idea

Question 16

Pun

Answer 16

A play on words where two words have similar spelling or
sound but have different meanings, and these meanings
are used to create humour

Question 17

Red herring

Answer 17

A misleading clue or event meant to divert attention from
the real issue

Question 18

Repetition

Answer 18

When a specific word or phrase is repeated several times,
usually in close proximity, to emphasize a particular idea.

Question 19

Simile

Answer 19

A comparison, using “like” or “as”

Question 20

Symbolism

Answer 20

• something concrete (an object, image or action) is used
  to represent something abstract (an idea or emotion)
• based on shared experiences
• some symbols are universal (water, birds)

EX: red rose = romantic love ; carnations = friendship