literary terms/devices Flashcards
alliteration
the recurrence of initial constant sounds at the beginning of a series of words
i.e. she sells sea shells by the sea shore
allegory
objective is to preach a moral lesson
a figure of speech which takes abstract ideas and principles described in terms of characters, figures and events
allusion
a short informal refrence to a famous person or event
analogy
comparison between two similar but different things in order to highlight their similarity
characterization
way in which writer reveals the traits of characters to the audience
- direct: driectly stating their traits
- indirect: revealing certain information than letting the reader draw their own conclusion
foreshadowing
a hint that the author places earlier in the story referencing that will happen later in the story
hyperbole
obvious or intention exaggeration
idiom
experssions that cannot be understood literally
imagery
descriptive language that evokes sensory
irony (all 3 types)
expression of meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite
- dramatic: the reader has info that the characters do not
- verbal: a character says one thing but means the other
- situational: when what happens is the opposite of what was expected to
metaphor
compares two different things by speaking of one in terms of the other WITHOUT using ‘like’ or ‘as’
mood/atmosphere
the prevailing feelings of the story infered through the authors direct, comments, description of settings, attitudes, actions, imagery
onomatopoeia
figure of speech in which words sound like how they are spelled
i.e. BANG, BOOM
oxymoron
figure of speech in which two contradicting terms are combined
i.e. cruel kindness, bitter sweet
paradox
a statement that contradicts itself
- if its true it must be false
“i always lie”
pathetic fallacy
nature reflecting the moods of the story
i.e. dark stormy - depressing, frightful
personification
when animals, ideas, or objects are given human characteristics
point of view - 1st
narrator participates in the action and is recounting the events himself (‘I’)
point of view - 3rd
narrator doesn’t participate in the action and informs the reader on the characters behaviours (‘he, she, they, them’)
3rd person - omniscient vs. limited
omniscient - narrator shows thoughts and feelings of all characters
limited - narrator knows thoughts and feelings of only one character (usually protagonist)
pun
a play on words to emphasize a different meaning
i.e. i used to be ballerina but i found it too too difficult
simile
compares to different things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’
symbol
an object or concrete idea that stands or represents something else
i.e. heart=love, dove=Jesus
understatement
expressing an ideas as less important than it is for irony emphasis or politeness and tact
i.e. Tiger woods has some talent as golfer
