Literary Devices Flashcards
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Simile
Comparison using “like” or “as.”
Personification
Giving human traits to non-human things.
Dialect
A way of speaking that shows where someone’s from.
Allusion
A quick reference to something famous.
Oximoron
Two opposite words next to each other.
Hyperbole
Extreme exaggeration for effect.
Euphemism
A nice way to say something harsh.
Foreshadowing
A hint about what’s coming next.
Polysyndeton
Using lots of conjunctions (and, or, but).
asyndeton
Leaving out conjunctions for a dramatic effect.
Situational Irony
What happens is the opposite of what’s expected.
Verbal Irony
Saying one thing but meaning the opposite.
Dramatic Irony
The audience knows something the character doesn’t.
Juxtaposition
Placing two things side-by-side for contrast.
Imagery
Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.
Alliteration
Words in a row starting with the same sound.
Symbolism
An object or action that represents a bigger idea.
Metaphor
A direct comparison without “like” or “as.”
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds.
Consonance
Repetition of consonant sounds.
