Literary Devices Flashcards
Inference
a rational deduction based on premises assumed to be true
Flashback
an interruption in the chronological order of the narrative
Internal Rhyme
when a middle word and the end word of a line rhyme with each other
Allusion
a figure of speech that refers to well known stories, events, people, or objects in order to make a comparison in the reader’s mind
Imagery
using figurative language to show actions, objects, and ideas that appeal to our physical senses
Syntax
the order in which words are spoken, sentence structure
Hyperbole
an over exaggeration of ideas to show how someone feels about something else
Consonance
repetitive sounds produced by contestants within a sentence or a phrase generally in a quick succession, “pitter patter”
Mood
evokes a certain feeling in readers through the words and description of the author, the overall atmosphere of a literary piece
Metaphor
comparison made between two unrelated objects to show similar traits, a direct comparison without using like or as
Meter
the rhythm or syllabic pattern in a line or a verse
Symbolism
the act of using a word or object to represent a complex idea or emotion
Foreshadow
a literary device where an author uses an advance hint of what is to come in a future event
Diction
the style of speaking/writing determined by the choice of words by the speaker/writer
Paradox
self-contradictory, may hold a concealed truth
Onomatopoeia
the sound of a word echoes the meaning
Point of View
the mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers hear and see what takes place in a literary piece
Assonance
the occurrence of a series of repeating, stressed vowel sounds that are close enough to one another to resemble an echo
Connotation
the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning
Denotation
a word’s literal meaning or main definition, absent of emotion, opposite of connotation
Alliteration
when a number of words that have the same first consonant sound occur close together
Personification
an idea, object, or animal is given human attributes
Pacing
speeds up or slows down a sentence
Speaker
the narrative voice that speaks of a writer’s feelings or situation, not necessarily the author
