Duplicate of Honors Literary Devices

When an object or event represents or stands for something.

a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

the literal dictionary meaning of a word

The attribution of human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects or to nature.

repetition of similar vowel sounds

a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but really expresses truth

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

introduces the character, setting and basic situation

poem with five lines rhyming aabba and a set rhythm

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

 A worn-out idea or overused expression.

A unit of poetic meter, used for line lengths most common in English poetry

the central idea in a work to which all parts of the work refer

The use of words that imitate sounds.

The skillful manipulation of words, often for humorous effect. 

A written or typed note to help one remember something.

description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

A line that consists of five "feet", each containing an unaccented & accented syllable

the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot

Told from the narrator's point of view, using"I".

The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning.

A story, play, or picture in which characters are used as symbols; fable.

The common American language, words and grammatical forms that are used and expected.

Told from the reader's point of view, using "you".

repetition of consonant sound within words

The fundamental or core meaning of a word.

To make an overstatement or to stretch the truth, hyperbole.

A word formed from the first letter of each word in a series.

A syllable or word that comes before a root word to change its meaning.

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things without using like or as.

Something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred.

Events after the climax, leading to the resolution.

A Japanese form of poetry, made of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables

A brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event.

the series of conflict or struggles that build a story toward a climax

A generalized (sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized) belief about a group of people.

Refers to the suggested meanings associated with a word beyond its dictionary definition.

words that are pronounced the same way but differ in meaning or spelling or both (bear bare)

end of the story where loose ends are tied up

most exciting moment of the story; turning point

Any one of a variety of tools a writer may use to achieve the tone or communicate the purpose.

An expression that cannot be understood if taken literally.

The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

An account of the writer's own life.

A written account of events one has lived through; an autobiography.

word or phrase used in everyday conversation, but often not used in formal writing (y'all aint)

A reference to something literary or historical that the author assumes the reader will know.

A brief written record or communication, used within an office.

Words that have similar or the same meaning.

A type of writing that ridicules the shortcomings of people in an attempt to make a change.

A symbol, story pattern, or character type that is found in the literature of many cultures.

A humorous imitation of a serious work.

The basic word you start with before adding prefixes or suffixes.

similarity of structure in a pair or or series of related words

the analysis of a poem's meter...the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables

The direct opposite, a sharp contrast.

A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion or make a point.

Drama in which the protagonist is overcome by some superior force or circumstance.

A humorous play on words.

A short narrative designed to teach a moral lesson.

a short moral story (often with animal characters)

A belief or statement taken for granted without proof.

Two words that are pronounced or spelled the same way but have different meanings.

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way.

Narrator is outside the action and refers to characters as he or she.

part used as whole (hand used for sailor) or whole used as part (law for police)

A person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself, but also represents something else

a poem of fourteen lines using any of a number of formal rhyme schemes...10 syllables per line

The parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning.

A pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry.

Used to create vivid impressions by setting up comparisons between dissimilar things.

A scene that interrupts the action of a work to show a previous event.

The rules for combining words into grammatically sensible sentences in a given language

expresses a resemblance between thing of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as")

A letter or syllable added to the end of a word.