Literary Devices, Elements, and Figurative Language Terms Flashcards
What is Literature
writings in prose or verse; especially, writings having excellence of form or expression and presenting ideas of permanent or universal interest
What is an Antagonist
The character who opposes the central character, causing conflict
What is Characterization
Characterization uses direct and indirect methods to describe qualities and features of a person within a literary work
What is a Climax
The climax marks the place in a literary work that is the most significant to the main character and/or the plot
What is Conflict
Conflict is the struggle between two or more forces, internal and/or external, that drives the plot
What is a Connotation
The emotional, cultural, or suggested meaning thought of when hearing a word or phrase
Ex. Your sister and I are having a talk
What is Dialogue
The representation of a conversation within a literary work
What is Figurative Language
The use of words to affect a meaning other than the usual or literal meaning of those words; characterized by figures of speech
What is a Flashback
A scene that takes place earlier than the story’s current time
What is Foreshadowing
An occurrence, feeling, or object that forewarns of an event and which is only fully understood in hindsight
What is a Genre
Describes the various classifications of literary works (Ex. comedy, sci-fi, fantasy, etc.)
What is a Plot
The order in which the author has chosen to convey the events of a literary work
What is a Point of View
The position or positions from which a literary work is told to the reader
What is a Protagonist
The main character around which a literary work usually revolves
What is a Resolution(or Denouncement)
The event(s) in a story that occurs after the climax, but before the story’s actual end
What is Setting
The location and the time period in which the plot takes place
What is Style
How the author’s specific use of words makes his or her writing distinctive
What is a Symbol
A person, place, or thing that is presented as a representation of a larger meaning
What is Theme
An abstract idea (Ex. ambition, duty, fear, freedom, jealousy, love, or truth) that dominates a literary work
What is a Figure of speech
A word or expression that is not meant to be interpreted in a literal sense
What is an Alliteration
The repetition of a beginning consonant sound within a phrase or sentence
Ex. Sally sells seashells by the seashore
What is an Allusion
A direct or indirect reference to a significant person, event, time, or work of literature
What is an Analogy
An analogy compares similar concepts, characters, or works of literature so the reader better understands a difficult idea
What is an Assonance
The repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds found within or at the end of words and phrases
Ex. His tender heir might bear his memory (eh sound)
What is a Cliché
An expression that has been used so often that its meaning and impact are no longer effective
Ex. There are plenty more fish in the sea
What is a Consonance
The repetition of * consonant sounds within or at the end of words* in a phrase or sentence
Ex. Now it is Rome indeed,
and room enough…
What is a Euphemism
A polite word or phrase used in place of an offensive word or phrase
Ex. The birds and the bees
What is a Hyperbole
A hyperbole uses exaggeration to provoke strong emotion, to create humor, or to make a point
Ex. I’m dying of laughter
What is an Idiom
An expression that (is clear only to those who are familiar with the language of its origin and)can’t be understood based on its literal meaning
Ex. Break a leg!
What is Imagery
The use of figurative language to paint a sensory picture for the reader
Ex. The sun was a giant orange orb in the sky
What is Irony
What results when the actual outcome differs from what is expected
Ex. Quiet, soft-spoken little Johnny, who wouldn’t hurt a living thing on purpose, had taken a human life
What is a Metaphor
A comparison of similar things or ideas without using “like” or “as”
What is an Onomatopoeia
A word or words that sound like the action or thing they describe or represent
Ex. boom
What is an Oxymoron
Combines two words of contrasting (differing) meanings to convey a single idea or though
What is a Paradox
A statement that initially seems to contradict itself but, in fact, includes a fundamental truth
Ex. The beginning of the end
What is Personification
Giving human characteristics to inanimate objects, natural forces, animals, or ideas
What is a Pun
Uses similar or identical sounding words to create an alternate meaning to the sentence in which it’s used
Ex. You’re a-maze-ing
What is a Simile
Compares different things or ideas by using the words “like” or “as”
What is Dramatic Irony
When the reader sees the character’s mistakes or misunderstandings, but the character doesn’t
What is Verbal Irony
when the writer says one thing but means another to create humor or sarcasm
What is Irony of Situation
When the result is the opposite of what is expected
