Literary Devices
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Complete list of Terms and Definitions for Literary Devices

Terms Definitions
irony ...
hyperbole exageration
rhyme scheme ...
Diction word choice
asyndeton omission of conjunctions
syllogism major premise+minor premise-->conclusion
Dialogue a conversation between characters
Litotes deliberate understatement (double negative)
Verisimilitude the appearance of truth
speaker a person who speaks.
Pleonasm the use of superfluous words.
understatement presents something less significant than it is: litotes, meiosis
Conflict a struggle between opposing forces
Monologue One person expressing opinions, emotions... generally spoken with listeners although they do not speak.
personification human characteristics applied to something not human
semantics linguistic study of words, interpretation of the meaning of words
connotation the non-literal, associative meaning of a work. The implies, suggested meaning
Alliteration repetition of the first letter
Metaphor A comparison between essentially unlike things without an explicitly comparative word such as like or as. An example is "My love is a red, red rose,"
FORESHADOWING The introduction of verbal and dramatic hints that suggest what is to come later
allegory using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction
Style Manner of expression in writing. arrangement of words that best expresses the individuality of the author and the intentions of the author's mind.
Denotation The dictionary definition of a word
Chaismus Reversal of grammatical structures in successive clauses
Mood The emotional atmosphere that pervades a literary work with the intention of evoking a certain emotion or feeling. The choice of setting, objects, details, images, and words all contribute towards creating this.
Protagonist The central character in the conflict.
Spondee A metricalfoot represented by two stressed syllables, such as KNICK-KNACK.
purple prose features exaggerated sentiment or extravagant and flowery language
Anastrophe inversion of the ordinary Western order of words
compound A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator.
Abstract terms and statements which describe ideas, concepts or qualities.
Foil a character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another
Apostrophe Caesar, if only you were alive
Epithet a characterizing word or phrase firmly associated with a person or thing and often used in place of an actual name, title, or the like, as “man's best friend” for “dog.”
tone the speaker's attitude toward the subject or audience
foreshadow to show or indicate beforehand; prefigure:
structure the manner in which the various elements of a story are assembled
Rhetorical Question an affirmative statement presented in the form of a negative question, or vice versa.
Anaphora repetition of words or phrases for emphasis
allusion a casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event
genre the major category into which a literary work fits
clause contains both a subject and a verb
Theme a central message, concern, or purpose in a literary work
Freytag's Pyramid Structure of a five act tragedy.
euphemism substitution of an agreeable word for a harsh one
Antithesis opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction
antonomasia substitution of a common word or phrase for a proper name eg) "a Benedict Arnold" for a traitor
simple A simple sentence, also called an independent clause, contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought
Pathos rhetorical appeal to the emotions of the audience ex: fear, patriotism, love, etc
Polysendeton the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions, than is necessary or natural
invective a verbal denunciation or attach using abusive language
Paradox Where a situation is created which cannot possibly exist, because different elements of it cancel each other out.
Epic Long narrative poem on a serious subject, presented in an elevated or formal style. It traces the adventure of a great hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or race. ie: The Odyssey
Analogy a similarity between like features of two things, on which a comparison may be based: the analogy between the heart and a pump.
The excitement or tension that readers feel as they become involved in a story and eager to know the outcome or resolution to the conflict Suspense
symbol/symbollism anything that represents or stands for something else. may have different meanings in different contexts
personificator the attribution of a personal nature or character to inanimate objects or abstract notions, esp. as a rhetorical figure.
characterize to mark or distinguish as a characteristic; be a characteristic of:
Exposition Writing intended to explain the nature of an idea, thing, or theme. Expository writing is often combined with description, narration, or argument
Hysteron Proteron description of events in an order reversing their logical sequence
imagery language that appeals to one or more of the five senses.
syntax the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences
Characterization the act of creating and developing a character
Dramatic Irony The audience knows something that the character does not know
transfered epithet epithet that has been transfered from the word it belongs to to another word
Indeterminate Ending An ending where no definite conclusion is reached.
Elegy A lyric poem that laments the dead. Robert Hayden's "Those Winter Sundays" is elegiac in tone. A more explicitly identified elegy is W.H. Auden's "In Memory of William Butler Yeats" and his "Funeral Blues."
epigraph quotation or motto at the beginning of a piece of writing, usually to establish a theme
loose/cumulative sentence begin with the independent clause and then finish with a flurry of modifying constructions. Could finish at the beginning.
Grotesque so distorted or strange as to appear bizarre or comical
parody a work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.
Plot Sequence of events in a story. Most literary essay tasks will instruct writers “avoid plot summary;” the term is therefore rarely useful for response/critical analysis. When discussing plot, it is generally more useful to analyze its structure, rather than simply “what happens.”
situational irony When what occurs is very different from what was expected to happen.
Prose Written language in its usual form, as opposed to poetry. ie: Novels, essays, short stories, and works of criticism.
A person, place, or object that stands for something beyond itself. Symbol
stanza an arrangement of a certain number of lines, usually four or more, sometimes having a fixed length, meter, or rhyme scheme, forming a division of a poem.
assonance rhyme in which the same vowel sounds are used with different consonants in the stressed syllables of the rhyming words, as in penitent and reticence.
free verse Poetry composed of either rhymed or unrhymed lines that have no set meter.
Hendiadys the use of two nouns connected by ET instead of a single modified noun.
anachronism something that is out of place or out of time
Point of View Perspective from which a story is told.
Zeugma When two or more parts of a sentence are syntactically governed by a single common verb or noun, which may change the meaning with respect to the other words it modifies
Soliloquy A speech delivered by a character in a play while alone. This technique is frequently used to disclose a character's innermost feeling, such as thoughts, state of mind, motives, and intentions or to provide information needed by the audience.
First Person The author disappears into one of the characters.
ad hominem argument argument attacks a person instead of the argument or stance
pathetic fallacy form of personification that is as old as poetry, in which it has always been common to find smiling or dancing flowers, angry or cruel winds, brooding mountains.
Parallel construction She cried, she wept, but he was unmoved.
Novella Work of fiction that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. Differs from a novel in that it concentrates on a limited cast of characters, the novella is an attempt to combine the compression of the short story with the development of the novel.
simile a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared, as in "she is like a rose."
onomatopoeia the formation of a word, as cuckoo or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.
oxymoron a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in "cruel kindness" or "to make haste slowly."
Setting The time and place of a literary work that establish its context. The stories of Sandra Cisneros are set in the American southwest in the mid to late 20th century, those of James Joyce in Dublin, Ireland in the early 20th century.
stream of consciousness a style of writing that portrays the inner working of a human mind
begging the question point being argued is assumed to be true without any logical support
Anastrophe or inversion Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown
The One Sentence Paragraph Used to emphasize one idea and set it apart from others
chiasmus inverted parallelism
atmosphere the emotional mood
Polysyndeton over-use of conjuctions
Gustatory Image image involving taste.
thesis statement of the purpose
Motif Reocurring abstract concept in literature.
Visual Image image that involves sight
hyperbaton the violent displacement of verbs
qualifier a limit of some kind
caricature synonym of "burlesque, parody, travesty, satire, lampoon, etc."
Narrative writing about imaginary people, places and events. Fiction
Diastole lengthening of an ordinarily short vowel, sometimes reflecting archaic pronunciation
rhetoric "orator" term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively
rhyme repetition of an identical or similarly accented soynd or sounds in a work. End rhyme: words that rhyme at the end of a line. Internal rhymes: words that rhyme within it.
Flashback a transition (in literary or theatrical works or films) to an earlier event or scene that interrupts the normal chronological development of the story
 Conflict A struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of a story. The outcome of any story provides a resolution of the conflict(s); this is what keeps the reader reading.
Static/dynamic Static character: character stays the same - Dynamic character: (changing character)
repetition where a specific word, phrase, or structure is repeated several times
Hiatus lack of elision where two syllables would normally be elided, emphasis at end of a clause
rhyming couplet two consecutive rhyming lines of poetry
Nobody wants to come to Gatsby's funeral, even though everyone wanted to come to his parties. Irony
ellipsis omission or suppression of parts of words or sentences
Dactyl A stressed syllable followed by two unstressed ones, as in FLUT-ter-ing or BLUE-ber-ry.
iambic pentameter poetry written with each line containing ten syllables, in five repetitions of a two-syllable pattern wherein the pronunciation emphasis is on the second syllable. LT
Periodic Sentence begin with modifying phrases and clauses, sometimes piling them on, and then end with an independent clause, period. Can't finish till the end.
meiosis a rhetorical figure by which something is referred to in terms less important than it really deserves. (ex.: Mercutio calling his mortal wound a "scratch")
 Tragedy Where a story ends with a negative/unfortunate outcome which was essentially avoidable, usually caused by a central character’s flaw.
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.
The sum of the suggestive meanings that surround the core, or literal, definition of a word. Connotation
rhythm a patterned repetition of a motif, formal element, etc., at regular or irregular intervals in the same or a modified form.
symbol something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.
Framing enclosure of a line or verse by placing two closely connected words at the beginning and end
"He's the man who fixed the World's Series back in 1919." Allusion
Leitmotif Repeated words, ideas, or objects in a work that substatntiate a motif.
Isocolon Use of parallel structures of the same length in successive clauses
prolepsis use of a word before it is logistically appropriate (overwhelm the sunken ships)
Surprise Ending Radical departure from what is most expected and reveals a sudden new turn or twist.
Black Humor morbid: a sub-genre of comedy and satire in which topics and events that are usually regarded as taboo are treated in a satirical or humorous manner.
Antecedent The word, phase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP English Language and Composition Exam occasionally asks for the a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences.
Dynamic Character one whose character changes in the course of the play or story
pedantic words, phrases, or tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish
Verbal irony You're so graceful (to someone who just tripped)
Character The people who inhabit and take part in a story. When discussing character, look to the essential function of the character(s).
Dialect Linguistics . a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by features of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, and by its use by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically or socially.
The attitude a writer takes toward a subject Tone
comedy a play, movie, etc., of light and humorous character with a happy or cheerful ending; a dramatic work in which the central motif is the triumph over adverse circumstance, resulting in a successful or happy conclusion.
triad A group or set of three connected people or things. A set of three similar things considered as a unit.
Pun A play on words based on similarity of sounds between two dords with different meanings.
A pattern of words or phrases that appeals to the sense of smell. olifactory imagery
Suspense Impels the readers to read on the find out what is going to happen next.
omniscient POV the narrator sees into the minds of all characters and is able to tell what characters are thinking/feeling
 Climax The turning point in a story, at which the end result becomes inevitable, usually where something suddenly goes terribly wrong; the “dramatic high point” of a story.
A character who conforms to a fixed or general type. Stereotype
Hypermetric Line a line of verse with an extra syllable at the end which elides with the first syllable of the following verse
Figurative Language writing or speech that is not meant to be taken literally
internal conflict Internal conflict a struggle that takes place within a person’s mind. See conflict.
Dramatic Monologue A poem in the form of a speech or narrative by an imagined person, in which the speaker inadvertently reveals aspects of their character while describing a particular situation or event.
sonnet ...
colloquialism slang or informality
Anithesis a counter proposition
conceit an elaborate, clever metaphor
Cacophony loud confusing disagreeable sounds. Unpleasant sounds.
Antagonist Forces arrayed against the protagonist, whether persons, things, conventions of society, or traits of their own characters.
moral lesson expressed in a story
ambiguity multiple meanings, wither intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, passage.
point-of-view how someone partakes the situation; who's writing the story
Anapest Two unaccented syllables followed by an accented one, as in com-pre-HEND or in-ter-VENE.
anecdote short account of an interesting event
creative license exaggeration or alteration of objective facts or reality, for the purpose of enhancing meaning in a fictional context. LT
Consonance the repetition of consonants (or consonant patterns) especially at the ends of words
Tragic flaw The single characteristic (usually negative) or personality disorder which causes the downfall of the protagonist.
Complication An additional factor or problem introduced into the rising action of a story to make the conflict more difficult. Often, a plot complication makes it seem as though the main character is getting farther away from the thing he or she wants.
resolution a solution, accommodation, or settling of a problem, controversy, etc.
parallelism The use of successive verbal constructions in poetry or prose that correspond in grammatical structure, sound, meter, meaning, etc.
Epiphany sudden realization; the light bulb moment
symbol/symbolism anything that represents or stands for something else: natural, conventional, literary
fable a brief story that illustrates a lesson or moral
Ode A single unified strain of lyrical verse, directed to a single purpose dealing with one meaning/ theme.
Metonymy substitution of one word for another which it suggests
aside words spoken to the audience or perhaps to another cahracter while other characters are on stage, the other characters pretend not to hear
Aphorism A terse statement of known authorship that expresses a general truth or moral principle. ( If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) This can be a memorable summation of the author's point.
Blank verse Non-rhyming poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter.
A written or spoken tribute that praises a person's virtues and achievements. Eulogy
anagram a word, phrase, or sentence formed from another by rearranging its letters:
Tmesis the separation of a compound word by one or more intervening words.
couplet a pair of rhyming lines, usually of the same length and meter. A couplet generally expresses a single idea.
Symbol/ Symbolism Concrete or real object used to represent an idea.
Dilemma When a character has to choose between two actions, both undesirable.
Archaism use of an older or obsolete form. *Pipit sate upright in her chair Some distance from where I was sitting; T. S. Eliot, "A Cooking Egg"
logos precedent, appeal one makes to what is logical/factual/reasonable. Ex: legal precedents, historical precedent, scientific precedent (data, surveys, old research, etc)
Tragedy A work in which the protagonist, a person of high degree, is engaged in a significant struggle and which ends in ruin or destruction
Archetype pattern in literature that is found in a variety of works from different cultures throughout the ages. it can be a plot, character, image, or setting.
Reference to a person, place or event with which the reader is expected to be familiar Allusion
heroic couplet a stanza consisting of two rhyming lines in iambic pentameter, esp. one forming a rhetorical unit and written in an elevated style, as, Know then thyself, presume not God to scan / The proper study of Mankind is Man.
Golden Line a form of interlocked word order in which a verb is positioned in the middle of the verse, with adjectives preceding and nouns following symmetrically
narrative the telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events
Bildungsroman Coming of age. A novel that deals with the development of a young person. Adolescence to maturity.
Indirect Presentation When an author shows what a character is like through action.
cosmic irony irony interpreted to be a result of the intervention of a greater external force (fate)
stock character a character who is known for some outstanding trait/traits. He/she is almost a stereotype rather than a unique character. He/she has little description since we already know him/her
figure of speech a device used to produce figurative language
A figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis. Hyperbole
concrete poetry poetry in which effects are created by the physical arrangement of words in patterns or forms rather than by the use of traditional language structure.
predicate nominative a noun or group of nouns that renames the subject and follows a linking verb
Deus ex machina (in ancient Greek and Roman drama) A god introduced into a play to resolve the entanglements of the plot. - A classical Greek actor, portraying a Greek, might be lowered onto the stage and then use his divine powers to solve all the mortals' problems.
Static Character Same person at the end of the story as they were at the beginning.