Literary Devices Flashcards
What is a hook in literary terms?
What grabs the reader’s attention
A hook is essential for engaging the audience right from the start.
Define theme in literature.
Statement of meaning (complete sentence; not one word)
Themes convey the underlying messages or insights within a literary work.
What is a thesis statement?
Statement of what the author attempts to prove
A thesis provides a focal point for the reader regarding the author’s argument or perspective.
What is verbal irony?
Gap between what is said and what is meant
Verbal irony often highlights contrasts between expectation and reality.
What does pathos refer to in writing?
Sympathy created by writing devices
Pathos aims to evoke emotional responses from the audience.
Define metaphor.
Implied comparison
Metaphors create connections between unrelated things to enhance understanding.
What is a symbol in literature?
Making something stand for something else
Symbols can convey deeper meanings and themes in a narrative.
What is personification?
Giving human traits to something which is not human
This device helps readers relate to non-human elements in a story.
What is a simile?
Comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’
Similes make descriptions more vivid and relatable.
What is a first person narrative?
Telling a story from ‘I’ or ‘we’ point of view
This perspective allows readers to experience the thoughts and feelings of the narrator.
Define third person narrative.
Telling a story from ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, or ‘they’ point of view
This perspective can provide a broader view of the story and its characters.
What is a complication in a story?
Event which sends the plot in a new direction
Complications add tension and keep readers engaged.
What is resolution in a narrative?
Tie-up at the end of the story
Resolutions provide closure to the plot and character arcs.
What is rising action?
Series of events leading towards a climax
Rising action builds suspense and develops the narrative.
Define foreshadowing.
Hint of future occurrences
Foreshadowing can create anticipation and prepare readers for upcoming events.
What is characterization?
Methods by which character traits of fictional people are suggested
This can include direct description, actions, and dialogue.
What does anachronism mean?
Placing a person, thing or event out of its correct time or period
Anachronisms can create humor or highlight contrasts in a narrative.
What is a persona in literature?
Put-on or assumed personality
Writers often use personas to explore different perspectives.
Define setting in a story.
Time and place of the action
Setting establishes the context for the narrative and can influence events.
What is an anti-hero?
Main character who nevertheless displays no traditional noble virtues
Anti-heroes often challenge conventional notions of heroism.
What is a leitmotif?
A recurring word, image, or theme that unifies a literary work
Leitmotifs can enhance the thematic depth of a narrative.
What is sarcasm?
Saying the opposite of what you mean, intending to wound the target
Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony that can add humor or critique.
Define wit in literature.
Surprise in language or idea
Wit often relies on clever phrasing and unexpected twists.
What is an aside in a play?
Remark made by a stage character which others on stage do not hear
Asides provide insight into a character’s thoughts or intentions.
Define soliloquy.
Speech made by character alone on the stage
Soliloquies reveal a character’s inner thoughts and motivations.
What is comic relief?
Amusing material inserted in serious plays
Comic relief alleviates tension and provides a break from serious themes.
What does catharsis refer to in drama?
Purging of emotions like pity and fear
Catharsis allows audiences to experience and release powerful emotions.
Define monologue.
Speech by one person
Monologues can be crucial for character development and plot progression.
What is dramatic irony?
Situation in which the audience knows more than at least one character
Dramatic irony creates tension and engagement for the audience.
What is a rhyming couplet?
A pair of rhymed lines, usually showing end of act or scene
Rhyming couplets can provide closure or emphasize a point.
Define tragic hero.
Person in a drama with good and bad traits who falls from a high position
Tragic heroes often evoke sympathy and provoke thought about human flaws.
What is hamartia?
Error of judgment or tragic flaw which leads to downfall of a tragic hero
Hamartia often serves as a critical turning point in the narrative.
Define hubris.
Pride which leads to fall
Hubris is a common trait in tragic heroes, often leading to their demise.
What is a protagonist?
Main character in play, novel, or other work
The protagonist typically drives the narrative forward.
What is exposition in writing?
Type of writing in which the writer explains, informs or persuades
Exposition sets the stage for understanding the narrative.
Define plot.
Sequence of plot events
The plot outlines the main events and structure of a story.
What is a rhetorical question?
Question to which the answer is obvious and implied
Rhetorical questions are often used to provoke thought or emphasize a point.
What is a paragraph hook?
Device in topic sentence of paragraph connecting new topic to what has gone on before
Paragraph hooks help maintain coherence and flow in writing.
What does tone refer to in literature?
The speaker’s or writer’s attitude to audience, character or material
Tone can significantly influence the reader’s perception and emotional response.
Define genre.
A literary form such as a play, novel, poem, etc.
Genre categorizes works based on their style, structure, and content.
What is a pun?
A play on words
Puns often create humor by exploiting multiple meanings of words.
What is an anecdote?
A brief, illustrative, usually humorous narrative
Anecdotes can engage readers and provide relatable context.
Define contrast in literature.
Juxtaposition of two elements to emphasize their differences
Contrast can enhance themes and character development.
What is satire?
Critical writing which holds society up to ridicule in order to improve it
Satire often employs humor and exaggeration to critique societal issues.
Define allegory.
A story in which characters and events have a continuing underlying message
Allegories often convey moral or political lessons.
What does citing authority involve?
Referring to important people to support ideas
Citing authority can lend credibility to arguments and claims.
What is atmosphere in writing?
A feeling the writing creates by words, symbols, setting
Atmosphere influences the reader’s emotional engagement with the text.
Define denotation.
The primary dictionary definition of a word
Denotation provides the literal meaning of a term.
What is connotation?
The felt meaning of a word, what it suggests
Connotations can evoke emotional responses and associations.
What is an allusion?
A brief reference to something
Allusions can deepen understanding by connecting to shared knowledge.
Define diction.
Choice of words for a particular purpose
Diction affects the tone and clarity of writing.
What is alliteration?
Repetition of initial consonants in a sequence of words
Alliteration can create rhythm and enhance the musical quality of language.
What does imagery refer to?
Sensual mind-pictures created by author’s words
Imagery engages the senses and helps readers visualize scenes.
What is rhythm in poetry?
Recognizable pattern in the beats or stresses in poetry
Rhythm contributes to the musicality and flow of a poem.
Define poetic license.
Poet’s freedom to depart from strict rules of grammar, style, fact
Poetic license allows for creative expression and innovation.
What is an oxymoron?
Two words side by side but opposite in meaning
Oxymorons create paradoxical expressions that provoke thought.
Define paradox.
Apparently contradictory, but true upon closer inspection
Paradoxes challenge conventional thinking and invite deeper analysis.
What is onomatopoeia?
Meaning of a word is suggested by its sound
Onomatopoeia enhances imagery and evokes sensory experiences.
What is pathetic fallacy?
Natural phenomena seem to respond emotionally to human situations
Pathetic fallacy imbues nature with human emotions, enhancing thematic elements.
What does juxtaposition mean?
Placing side by side
Juxtaposition emphasizes contrasts and comparisons between elements.
Define rhyme.
Regular occurrence of similar sounds, usually at the ends of lines
Rhyme contributes to the musical quality of poetry.
What is euphony?
Use of sweet sounds to create a pleasant effect
Euphony enhances the aesthetic quality of language.
What is cacophony?
Use of harsh sounds to create an unpleasant effect
Cacophony can evoke tension or discomfort in the reader.
Define iambic pentameter.
Pattern of stressed/unstressed syllables repeated 5 times in a line of poetry
Iambic pentameter is a common meter in English poetry.
What is a lyric poem?
Usually short, non-narrative poem showing single speaker
Lyric poems often express personal thoughts and emotions.
What is a ballad?
Song-like narrative
Ballads often tell a story through verse and are meant to be sung.
What defines a sonnet?
14 line poem with a problem and a solution
Sonnets traditionally explore themes of love and beauty.
What is a stanza?
Grouping of lines into a verse paragraph
Stanzas organize ideas and create structure in poetry.
Define anti-climax.
Let-down of expectations at the end of a build-up
Anti-climaxes can create humor or provoke thought.
What is a parable?
Story containing deep, moral truth
Parables often convey ethical lessons through simple narratives.
What is a rhetorical device?
Strategy(ies) used by writers and speakers to achieve particular effects
Rhetorical devices enhance writing style and effectiveness.
What is an analogy?
An extended metaphor (comparison of two things)
Analogies help clarify concepts by showing relationships.
Define antithesis.
A figure of speech characterized by strongly contrasting words, clauses, sentences or ideas
Antithesis emphasizes differences and can create dramatic effect.
What does colloquialism mean?
An expression used in informal conversation but not accepted universally in formal speech or writing
Colloquialisms reflect regional or cultural speech patterns.
What is connotative language?
Language with emotional implications, either private, group or general in nature
Connotative language enriches communication by adding layers of meaning.
What is direct address?
Directing comments to the reader
Direct address engages the audience and creates a personal connection.
Define euphemism.
A figure of speech in which indirectness replaces directness of statement
Euphemisms soften the impact of difficult or sensitive topics.
What is exaggeration?
To make something seem greater than it actually is; to overstate
Exaggeration can add humor or emphasize a point.
What is figurative language?
Language that uses figures of speech to convey meaning
Figurative language enhances descriptions and engages readers’ imaginations.
Define inversions.
The placing of a sentence element out of its normal position to gain emphasis or give poetic effect
Inversions can create rhythm and highlight important ideas.
What is irony?
The recognition of a reality different than appearance
Irony often highlights contrasts between expectations and outcomes.
What is a loose sentence?
A sentence grammatically complete at some point before the end
Loose sentences can create a more conversational style.
Define parallelism.
The arrangement of parts of a sentence, sentences, paragraphs and larger units of composition such that one element of equal importance with another is similarly developed and phrased
Parallelism creates rhythm and balance in writing.
What is a periodic sentence?
A sentence not grammatically complete before its end
Periodic sentences build suspense by delaying the main idea.
What is a pun?
A play on words; a word with two meanings, one of which is humorous
Puns often rely on linguistic ambiguity for comedic effect.
What is repetition?
The repeating of a key word or phrase to give emphasis and rhythm
Repetition can reinforce key concepts and enhance memorability.
What is a rhetorical question?
A question used for its rhetorical effect and not requiring a reply
Rhetorical questions can provoke thought and reinforce arguments.
What is sarcasm?
A form of verbal irony which, disguised as praise, is a bitter expression of strong personal disapproval
Sarcasm often critiques or mocks the subject.
What is sentence structure?
Using loose and periodic sentences; using abnormal word order; a variation of the subject-verb-object sentence pattern
Sentence structure affects clarity and emphasis in writing.
Define sentence variety.
Length - using short and long sentences; kind - using simple, compound, complex, compound-complex sentences to gain variety in prose
Sentence variety keeps writing engaging and dynamic.
What are statistics in writing?
Quantitative data, pertaining to a subject or group, especially when systematically gathered and collated
Statistics can provide concrete support for arguments and claims.
What does typography refer to?
The style and appearance of printed matter
Typography influences readability and visual appeal.
What is understatement?
A figure of speech in which the literal sense of what is said falls detectably short of (or ‘under’) the magnitude of what is talked about
Understatement can create irony or humor by minimizing the situation.
