Literary Techniques Flashcards
Allegory
Using a character or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning.
The tortoise and hare race teaches that slow and steady wins the race.
The red apple in the story represents the temptation of forbidden desires.
Alliteration
The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words. (She sells seashells.)
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Sally sells seashells by the seashore.
Allusion
A direct or indirect reference to something presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.
He was a real Romeo with the ladies.
She’s like the Mona Lisa of our group.
Ambiguity
The multiple intentional or unintentional meanings of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.
The chicken is ready to eat
I saw her duck
Anaphora
A sub-type of parallelism is the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.
I have a dream..-Mlk
It was the best, it was the worst- charles dickens
Antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause is referred to by a pronoun. Chelsey finished her presentation. Chelsey is the antecedent and “her” is the pronoun.
The dog barked loudly, and it scared the neighbors. ant is “it”
Sarah lost her keys, and she couldn’t find them anywhere. ant is “she”
Antithesis
The opposition or contrast of ideas expressed in a grammatically balanced statement.
Fair is foul, foul is fair
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Aphorism
A terse statement of known authorship that expresses a general truth or a moral principle. A memorable summation of the author’s point.
Actions speak louder than words
A penny saved is a penny earned.
Apostrophe
A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction. Liam hit throsbys car. Thorsby refers to Liam even if he isn’t in the room.
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
The sky is crying. I can hear it.
Cacophony
Words combining unpleasant, discordant sounds that produce an effect of harshness.
The clash and clang of metal filled the air as the battle raged on.
The sound of car horns, sirens, and shouting flooded the street.
Caricature
A verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person’s distinctive physical features or other characteristics.
Political cartoons, a leader with an exaggerated large nose or big ears
A character with an oversized, comically large head and tiny body
Catharsis
A purging of pity and/or terror in the audience when watching or reading a tragic event.
Crying after watching a sad movie.
Feeling relieved after venting frustration.
Clause
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.
She went to the store (independent)
Because it was raining. (dependent)
Colloquialism
The use of slang of informalities in speech of writing.
gonna instead of going to, y’all instead of you all.
Connotation
The non-literal, associative meaning of a word; implied suggested meaning.
Home( more than just the place you reside in)
Cheap( low cost it oftens carries a negative connotation).
Diction
Related to style, writers’ word choice; informal, formal, plain.
Digression
The use of material unrelated to the subject of the work.
Changing the subject from climate change to your favorite vaction spot.
Ethos
The ethical appeal means to convince an audience of the author’s credibility or character.
Euphemism
A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. Earthly remains rather than corpses.
“passed away” instead of “died”
“let go” instead of “fired”
Foil
A character that contrasts sharply with another character in the same work.
Draco and Harry Potter
Nick and Gatsby
Foreshadowing
hints or clues that suggest events yet to occur.
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Genre
the major category into which a literary work fits: subdivisions, types of things.
science fiction, mystery
Hyperbole
A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.
“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
“I’ve told you a million times.”
Imagery
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.
“The crisp, salty air of the ocean.”
“The bright red leaves rustled in the wind.”
Invective
an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.
“You’re as dumb as a rock!”
“What a worthless, lazy person you are!”
Irony
Contrast between what is stated and what is meant. what it seems what it appears.
A fire station burns down.
A dentist who has cavities.
Logos
The appeal to logic means to convince an audience by use of logic or reason.
Metaphor
A figure of speech using implied comparisons of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.
“Time is a thief.”
“The classroom was a zoo.”
Metonymy
A figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. White House presidential administration.
“The White House issued a statement today.”
“The school called a snowday today.
Mood
The prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. The mood is similar to tone and atmosphere.
A dark, stormy night creates a mood of suspense and fear.
A peaceful meadow with soft sunlight creates a calm and serene mood.
Motif
An image that occurs throughout a work that is in and of itself, but also may have symbolic meaning.
Gatsby: motif of the green light symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable dreams
Narrative
The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.
Onomatopoeia
A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Buzz, hiss, hum, crack.
Oxymoron
A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Jumbo shrimp. cruel kindness.
“Deafening silence.”
“Bittersweet memories.”
Parable
A story is designed to suggest a principle, illustrate a moral, or answer a question.
Good samaritan
lost sheep
Paradox
A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.
“Less is more.”
“This statement is false.”
Parody
A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect/and or ridicule.
Scary movie
weird al songs
Pastoral
A rural or natural setting.
like a pasture
Pathos
The emotional appeal means to persuade an audience by appealing to their emotions.
Personification
A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.
Point of view
The perspective from which a story is told. There are two general divisions of point of view and many subdivisions within those.
Rhetoric
The principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.
Rhetorical question
A question asked for effect not in the expectation of a reply. speakers’ duty to answer.
Satire
The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
an entertaining form of social commentary,
animal farm and the daily show.
Setting
The background of a story- the physical location of a play, story or novel- involves time and place.
Simile
A figure of speech comparing two unlike objects using like, as, or than.
“Her smile was as bright as the sun.”
Symbol
Anything that represents itself and stands for something else. Usually, a symbol is something concrete such as an object, action, character, or scene- that represents something more abstract.
Theme
The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life.
Thesis
The thesis statement is in the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the authors opinion, purpose, meaning, or position.
“Climate change is caused by human activity.”
Tone
Similar to mood, tone describes the author’s attitude toward his material, the audience, or both. How it would sound read aloud.
serious or playful
