Literary techniques Flashcards
What is situational irony?
When what actually occurs is very different from what was expected
What is dramatic irony?
When the reader (or audience) is aware of important information that the character is not aware of
What is verbal irony?
When a person says or writes somethign but actually means the opposite
What is symbolism?
When an object person etc. is used to represent something else, giving the object a deeper more significant meaning
What is foreshadowing?
A hint about what may happen in the future
What is personification?
Giving human characteristics to non human objects
What is an allusion?
A breif (and often indirect) reference to a person, place, historical event, book etc.
What is suspense?
An intense feeling of nervousness or excitement that the reader feels while waiting to find out the outcome of certain events
What is an unreliable narrator?
A first person narrator who does not seem trustworthy
What is a hyperbole?
A large exaggeration
What is a simile?
A comparison using “like” or “as”
What is a metaphor?
A comparison not using like or as
What is a paradox?
A seemingly self-contradictory statement that actually proves to be true
What is a flashback?
A transition in a story from the present to an earlier time
What is imagery?
The use of pictures or words to create an image or mood
