Literary Terms and Devices List 1

a figure of speech in which a specific idea is represented in terms of character or event

when two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sounds

dictionary definition of a word

a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification

a stylistic device in which several coordinating conjunctions are used in succession

prediction of the future by interpreting a bible verse or literary passage

a section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a conclusion

a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral

words or whose sound suggests its meaning

placing two or more ideas, places, characters, and their actions side by side

exaggeration

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices

word that are appear to contradict one another

a figure of speech where the order of first of two clauses is reversed in the second

the substitution of the name of an object for the attribute of that object

a mild word or expression substituted for one considered to be more harsh

language that is used to create a picture that appeals to the senses or creates a visual

the narrator knows everything; all thought, feelings, and action of the characters in the story

the use of informal words and phrases that typically is used in ordinary conversation.

the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite,

purposely leaving out conjunctions in the sentence

an actor's speech, directed to the audience, that is not heard by other actors on stage

a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson

using the same pattern of words or similar grammatical structure

the way in which words and sentences are placed together in writing to convey a certain meaning

condition in which one of the five senses simultaneously stimulates another sense.

told from the narrator's perspective using I, me, my, mine in his or her speech

feeling or associations with a word

the use of an object, person, situation, or word to represent an idea, image, belief, or action

a reference in literature to another work or something that is commonly known by the audience

a reader knows the thoughts of only one character

the repetition of the same word or expression at the beginning of two or more lines or clauses

attributing human characteristics to an animal or inanimate object

repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of successive words

a recurrent image, symbol, theme character type, subject, or narrative detail

dramatic speech delivered by a s single character in a play

when a character speaks to himself or herself, without acknowledging the presence others

interruptions inserting past events in order to provide background or context to current events

repetitive consonant sounds produced within a sentence or phrase