literary terms Flashcards
point of view
who is telling the story
setting
time and place
irony
when something is opposite of what we expect
ex. it’s ironic that she hates jews but her family is keeping them safe in her house
metaphor
a comparison or statement about two unlike things that says something IS something else
ex. “The man stinks of gold” “the ants are black soldiers”
simile
a comparison of two unlike things using the word “like” or “as”
ex. “greedy as a goat”
hyperbole
a statement that is exaggerated to make a point
ex. “He was also a mile high”
alliteration
a repetition of the initial letter in several words in a phrase
ex. “sally sells sea shells…”
theme
a lesson about life that an author is trying to teach the reader
personification
a statement that gives human qualities to something not human
ex. “the river was looking for things to devour”
paradox
a statement that seems to go against, or contradict, itself
ex. “child is with child”
oxymoron
a type of paradox where the words are close to each other, usually two words next to each other
ex. beautifully tragic, sweet satan, cold fire, jumbo shrimp
allusion
a reference to a book, the Bible, a historical person, or a myth that the writer expects the reader to know
tone
the voice or attitude of the person speaking
ex. “My life is barren.”
“The world is full of possibilities.”
