Literary Techniques Flashcards
Allegory
Used to express large, complex ideas in an approachable manner. Created some distance between the writer and the issues, especially when they are highly critical
Allusion
Used to develop characters, frame storylines and create associations to well-known works. They can reference any well-known text
Anachronism
These are circumstances in which there is an error, and makes the reader do a double-take. Sometimes used to add humour or comment
Cliffhanger
This plot device marks the end of a section of a narrative with the express purpose of keeping audiences engaged in the story
Dramatic Irony
When the reader knows more than the characters, used to create great effect
Extended Metaphor
Build evocative images into a piece of writing and make prose more emotionally resonant.
Foreshadowing
Used to create and build suspense and reel the reader in
Humor
The power to transform our opinion and views of the piece, also providing a lightness to the piece
Imagery
The use of figurative language to evoke a sensory experience in the reader, often brings work to life
Irony
Irony is when things are opposite to what they are on the surface. Used to add depth and substance to a piece of writing
Motif
A repeated element that has a symbolic significance to a story. The defining aspect is that a motif repeats, and through this repetition, a motif helps to illuminate the central ideas, themes, and deeper meaning of the story in which it appears
Motif V Symbol
Both motifs and symbols are used across artistic mediums: Painters, sculptors, playwrights, and musicians all use motifs and symbols in their respective art forms. And while they are similar literary terms, “motif” and “symbol” are not synonyms
Oxymoron
figure of speech: plays with meanings and the uses of words in a non-literal sense. This literary device combines words with contradictory definitions to coin a new word or phrase ( “act naturally”). The incongruity of the resulting statement allows writers to play with language and meaning.
Paradox
“This sentence is a lie.” This is a contradiction that questions logic. In literature, paradoxes can elicit humor, illustrate themes, and provoke readers to think critically.
Personification
assigning human attributes to a non-human entity or inanimate object in an effort to express a point or idea in a more colorful, imaginative way
Satire
Satire is an often-humorous way of poking fun at the powers that be. Sometimes, it is created with the goal to drive social change.
Situational Irony
all around us—from humorous news headlines to the shock twists in a book or TV show. This type of irony is all about the gap between our expectations and reality, and it can make a memorable and powerful impression when we encounter it.
Suspense
Building suspense involves withholding information and raising key questions that pique readers’ curiosity.
Symbolism
An object, concept, or word does not have to be limited to a single meaning. The object is more likely to mean a physical thing and a mental thing
Verisimilitude
a theoretical concept that determines the semblance of truth in a hypothesis. It is also an essential tenet of fiction writing. Verisimilitude helps to encourage a reader’s willing suspension of disbelief. When using verisimilitude in writing, the goal is to be credible and convincing.
Vignette
Vignettes—poetic slices-of-life—are a literary device that brings us deeper into a story. Vignettes step away from the action momentarily to zoom in for a closer examination of a particular character, concept, or place. Writers use vignettes to shed light on something that wouldn’t be visible in the story’s main plot
Metaphor, Simile and Analogy
Metaphors, similes, and analogies are three techniques used in speech and writing to make comparisons. For example, a simile is actually a subcategory of metaphor, which means all similes are metaphors, but not all metaphors are similes. Knowing the similarities and differences between metaphor, simile, and analogy can help you identify which is best to use in any scenario and help make your writing stronger.
