Literary Devices Flashcards
Allegory
A symbolism device where the meaning of a greater, often abstract, concept is conveyed with the aid of a more corporeal object or idea being use as an example. Creates a meaning via metaphoric examples.
Example:
Faith is like a stony uphill climb: a single stumble might send you sprawling but belief and steadfastness will see you to the very top.
Alliteration
Words beginning with letters from the same sound group being used in quick succession.
Example:
The Wicked Witch of the West went her own way.
Allusion
A figure of speech whereby the author refers to a subject matter such as a place, event, or literary work by way of making a reference.
Example:
It’s no wonder everyone refers to Mary as another Mother Teresa in the making; she loves to help and care after people everywhere- from the streets to her own friends.
Amplification
A literary practice wherein the writer embellishes the sentence by adding more information to it in order to increase its meaning and understandability.
Example:
The thesis paper was difficult: it required extensive research, data collection, sample surveys, interviews and a lot of fieldwork.
Analogy
A literary device that helps to establish a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas.
Example:
In the same way as one cannot have the rainbow without the rain, one cannot achieve success and riches without hard work.
Anastrophe
A literary device wherein the order of the noun and the adjective in the sentence is exchanged (post-modifying adjective). Adds weight to the description of the adjective.
Example:
He dreamt of life eternal.
Anecdote
A short verbal account of a funny, amusing, interesting event or incident. Usually reminiscent and fact rather than fiction.
Example:
While watching “Oliver Twist,” Churchill put his hands over Rufus’ eyes during the scene where Bill Sike’s intends to drown his dog. Churchill is believed to have said to Rufus: “don’t look now, dear. I’ll tell you about it later.”
Anthropomorphism
The act of lending a human quality, emotion or ambition to a non-human object or being.
Example:
The raging storm brought with it howling winds and fierce lightning as the residents of the village looked up at the angry skies in alarm.
Antithesis
A literary device in which the writer employs two sentences of contrasting meanings in close proximity of one another.
Example:
When Neil Armstrong walked on the moon it might have been one small step for a man but it was one giant leap for mankind.
Aphorism
A concise statement that is made in a matter of fact tone to state a principle or opinion that is generally understood to be a universal truth. Usually witty and curt and often have an underlying tone of authority.
Example:
Upon seeing the shoddy work done by the employee the boss told him to “either shape up or ship out”.
Archetype
A reference to a concept, person or object that has served as a prototype of its kind and is the original idea that has come to be used over and over again.
Example:
Romeo and Juliet are an archetype of eternal love and a star-crossed love story.
Assonance
A repetition of sounds produced by vowels with a sentence or phrase.
Examples:
“A long song”. (Where the ‘o’ sound is repeated in the last two words of the sentence)
Asyndeton (asyndetic listing)
A practice in literature whereby the author purposely leaves out conjunctions (and) in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase. Ideas presented in a nutshell = greater impact and recall worth.
Example:
- Read, Write, Learn.
- Watch, Absorb, Understand.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Authorial Instrusion
A literary device wherein the author penning the story, poem or prose steps away from the text and speaks out to the reader. Establishes a one to one relationship between writer and reader.
Example:
In many olden novels, especially in suspense novels, the protagonist would move away from the stream of the story and speak out to the reader. This technique was often used to reveal some crucial elements of the story to the reader even though the protagonist might remain mystified within the story for the time being.
Aphorism
A concise statement that is made in a matter of fact tone to state a principle or an opinion that is generally understood to be a universal truth. Usually witty and curt and often have an underlying tone of authority to them.
Example:
Upon seeing the shoddy work done by the employee the boss told him to “either shape up or ship out”.
Archetype
A reference to a concept, a person or an object that has served as a prototype of its kind and is the original idea that has come to be used over and over again.
Example:
Romeo and Juliet are an archetype of eternal love and a star-crossed love story.
Assonance
A repetition of sounds produced by vowels within a sentence or phrase.
Example:
“A long song”. (Where the ‘o’ sound is repeated in the last two words of the sentence)
Asyndeton (asyndetic list)
A practice in literature whereby the author purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase. Ideas presented in a nutshell = greater impact and recall worth
Example:
- Read, Write, Learn.
- Watch, Absorb, Understand.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Authorial Intrusion
A literary device wherein the author penning the story, poem or prose steps away from the text and speaks out to the reader. Establishes a one to one relationship between the writer and the reader.
Example:
In many olden novels, especially in suspense novels, the protagonist would move away from the stream of the story and speak out to the reader. This technique was often used to reveal some crucial elements of the story to the reader even though the protagonist might remain mystified within the story for the time being.
