Key Prose Devices to Know

Word or phrase that appears multiple times in what seems to be a purposeful pattern

Method of character development in which author explicitly identifies traits instead of allowing the reader to infer

Language specific to a particular group of people; may involve spelling, sounds, grammar, punctuation, or vocabulary

Comparison between two unlike things in which the figurative term is substituted for or identified with the literal term

Excessive pride that may be the cause of a character’s downfall

Occurs when what happens is the opposite of what is expected or what would seem appropriate

The feelings and ideas associated with a word based on its use over time; this can be either personal or societal

A repeated image, idea, or symbol that helps to reveal a text’s theme

Problem or issue within a character (to overcome a weakness or fear, to make an important decision, etc.).

Object that functions both literally and figuratively (literally in the text, but also represents something else)

Writer’s choice of words; usually described with an adjective

Plot device in which author presents clues about something that will happen later; often used to create suspense

Stating something that is less than the truth (or with less force than is warranted) to evoke a response in the reader

Comedic device in which there is some sort of “gap” or something that does not quite fit

The problem a character faces that drives the action of the story

Comparison between two unlike things in which the comparison is directly expressed using “like,” “as,” “resembles,” etc.

Bitter or unkind remark that is intended to hurt a person’s feelings

Type of plot structure in which events are narrated in the order they take place (first, second, third, etc.)

Perspective from which a story is told

The time and place in which the events of a story unfold

Problem or issue between a character and some outside force (another person, nature, fate, society, etc.)

The narrator is a character in the story, using pronouns like “I,” “me,” and “we”

Feelings evoked in readers through a text's diction and imagery; sometimes referred to as “atmosphere”

The writer’s or narrator’s attitude toward the subject, the reader, a character, or himself/herself

Narrator is not a character; uses pronouns like he/she/it/they; only knows one character's thoughts/feelings

The use of mild, indirect, or vague words to describe something that is offensive or unpleasant

The story is told from the reader’s perspective, using pronouns like “you”

Narrator is not a character; uses pronouns like he/she/it; has unlimited knowledge & permission to go anywhere

The dictionary definition of a word; its literal meaning

Method of describing a character in which author shows what a character is like by describing their words or actions

Dramatic device in which a character is alone onstage and delivers a speech revealing their private thoughts or feelings

Language that appeals to the senses (visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, organic, kinesthetic)

Saying that has been overused to the point where it is no longer effective in conveying meaning

Occurs when a character says the opposite of what he or she means; the reader is intended to understand this

Moment of sudden understanding or insight; may lead a character to undergo significant change

Narrator presents character's thoughts in seemingly random order (psychological associations, memories mixed w/ present)

Reference to history, literature, pop culture, or any other source that is not explained

Type of metaphor in which a nonhuman idea or object is given human qualities

Used to describe a detail or pattern of details included purposefully but not clearly identifiable as another device

A word used to imitate a sound

Narrator reveals only what can be seen and heard; no interpretation, commentary, or characters' thoughts/feelings

Scene from the past that interrupts the narrative of a story; usually provides key information about a character

Exaggeration for the purpose of humor or emphasis; may be referred to as overstatement

Language that is not intended to be understood literally (or at least not literally only)

The placement of two things, characters, or ideas next to one another for the purpose of comparison and contrast

The quality of a story that makes a reader want to continue reading to find out what happens next

Occurs when the audience knows something that a character does not know

Mismatch between appearance and reality, expectations and fulfillment, or what happens and what would seem appropriate