Literary Devices Flashcards
Names of literary devices, their meaning and usage
What is an abbreviation?
A graphic reduction, as in ‘etc.’ for ‘et cetera’.
Define acronym.
A group of abbreviations, pronounced as if they were words of their own, as in ‘UNESCO’.
What does allegory mean?
A story that contains a hidden meaning (typically moral, political or spiritual) through the use of symbols.
What is alliteration?
The same sound repeats in a group of words, usually at the beginnings of closely-connected words.
What does allusion refer to?
A reference to something outside of the text, which readers can only understand when they are aware of the context.
What is ambiguity?
A single word or expression can have multiple meanings, references, attitudes or feelings.
Define amplification.
A rhetorical device that seeks to make an idea more richly ornamented, broader in scope, or more forceful.
What is an anagram?
A word or phrase that rearranges into another word or phrase, such as ‘Tom Marvolo Riddle’ rearranging into ‘I am Lord Voldemort’.
What is an analogy?
A comparison that likens one situation to something else, typically done by writers to explain something of importance in a simple manner.
What is anaphora?
A type of repetition wherein the same words are repeated at the beginning of different clauses or sentences.
Define antithesis.
The contrasting of two ideas, which makes the principal idea more striking.
What is an aphorism?
An observation or saying that contains general truth, or some kind of moral principle.
What does assonance refer to?
A type of repetition with a resemblance of vowel sounds between nearby words or syllables.
Define caricature.
The presentation of an object, an idea or a person in an excessively unfavourable light, with exaggerated features.
What is circumlocution?
Saying too many words where just a few would do, often to be vague or evasive.
What is colloquialism?
The use of informal words or phrases in writing or speech, usually due to these words being used casually within a regional dialect.
Define connotation.
Words that carry meanings, interpretations and associations apart from or beyond their literal meaning.
What does denotation mean?
The opposite of connotation; it refers to the explicit meaning of a word, phrase or idea.
What is diction?
The writer’s choice of words and expressions, including their choice of vocabulary and the manner in which they communicate.
What does digression mean?
When an author diverts their attention to matters that are extraneous to the principal subject being discussed.
What is dissonance?
The lack of harmony or agreement between words and phrases, characters, or things.
Define dramatic irony.
A plot device used in drama to highlight the difference between a character’s understanding and that of the audience.
What is an epigram?
A short poem or statement that conveys a single thought or a statement, usually ending on a satirical note.
What does epigraph refer to?
A quotation that you might find at the beginning of a chapter in a literary text.
What is epistrophe?
A type of repetition wherein one or more words are repeated at the end of each successive phrase.
Define ethos.
A mode of persuasion that appeals to the audience by emphasizing the speaker’s credibility and authority.
What is a euphemism?
The use of words or expressions to disguise painful or uncomfortable ideas.
What is an extended metaphor?
A metaphor that unfolds across multiple lines or paragraphs of a text.
What does flashback mean?
A narrative reversion to previous events to provide background information.
What is a flash-forward?
An insertion in the story-telling process of a scene which happens after the currently-narrated event.
What is foreshadowing?
A literary device used by authors to hint about events that will happen later in the story.
Define free verse.
A type of poetry that uses any strict meter or rhyme scheme.
What is generalisation?
A rhetorical statement made to include a large number of evidence under an idea that may have been verified by only a few.
What is gesture in literature?
A signifying movement that communicates something to the audience without the need for words.
What does gibberish refer to?
An unintelligible or meaningless speech or writing.
Define hamartia.
A literary term that refers to any tragic flaw or error in a character’s personality.
What is hyperbole?
A rhetorical device wherein the author exaggerates their argument to emphasize an important point.
What does hypotyposis mean?
A term used when the description of a setting is so detailed and striking.
Define idiom.
A phrase that contains a meaning that cannot be understood without context.
What is imagery?
Descriptive language used to create a picture with words or evoke a sensory experience.
What is internal rhyme?
A poetic device where a rhyme occurs in the middle of the lines in poetry.
Define irony.
A situation which contains the opposite effect to the one that was desired.
What is jargon?
Language only understandable to subject-matter experts, reducing effective communication.
What does juxtaposition mean?
When an author places two things side-by-side to highlight their differences.
Define logos.
A mode of persuasion that appeals to the audience’s sense of logical reasoning.
What is a metaphor?
An assertion that compares two different scenarios as being a representation of each other.
What is a monologue?
A speech made by a character to deliver their thoughts and beliefs.
What does mood refer to?
A general atmosphere or emotion created for the reader.
What is a motif?
A recurring element or idea throughout a work of literature.
Define narrative.
A story that contains the occurrence of events conveyed with a specific choice of words.
What is onomatopoeia?
A device in which a word is formed based on the actual sound associated with what is named.
What is an oxymoron?
When two contradictory words are intentionally paired.
Define paradox.
A logically self-contradicting statement.
What is parataxis?
Placing sentences side-by-side to give them equal importance.
What does parody mean?
A conscious and deliberate imitation of the style of a work intended to create a mocking effect.
Define pathos.
A mode of persuasion that appeals to the audience’s emotions.
What is personification?
When a writer endows life and human qualities to non-human things.
What is plot?
The chronological sequence of events in which a story takes place.
What is point of view?
The perspective that the narrator holds while relaying events.
What does polysyndeton refer to?
The repetition of conjunctions several times in close succession.
What is a pun?
A form of word play where the writer picks words with similar sounds but different meanings.
Define repetition.
A rhetorical device wherein a word or phrase is repeated to create emphasis.
What does redundancy mean?
A repetition of an idea without adding more stress or effect.
What is a rhetorical question?
A question asked without the need for an answer to emphasize a message.
What is rhyme?
A repetition of similar sounds within a poem.
Define rhythm in literature.
A ‘movement’ created through a succession of strong and weak elements.
What is sarcasm?
When the narrator or a character uses inflection to mock someone or something.
What does satire mean?
The use of humour to criticize an idea.
What is setting?
The place or surroundings in which an event or story takes place.
Define simile.
A comparison of one thing with another to show similarity.
What is a soliloquy?
A device wherein a character speaks to themselves out loud.
What is a sonnet?
A type of poem that contains fourteen lines with a strict rhyme scheme.
What are static characters?
Characters who don’t change or develop as a result of the story’s major plot developments.
Define stream of consciousness.
A device wherein a character’s thought process is directly conveyed.
What does symbolism refer to?
When the writer uses a real-world object to represent something more abstract.
What is synecdoche?
When the writer mentions a small part of a whole idea to represent the whole idea.
Define theme in literature.
An exploration of a universal idea through characters and events.
What is tone?
The attitude adopted by the writer while expressing their perspective.
What is understatement?
When something is expressed less strongly than it should be for the sake of downplay.
What is verbal irony?
When the words spoken are the opposite of what they actually mean.
