English 10 Literary Terms (Literary Devices)

Giving inanimate objects human characteristics

Universal idea or lesson about life; understood by most cultures

Step mother and fairy godmother in Cinderella

Where and when a story takes place

Anything that stands for or represents something else

Writer's attitude toward his or her subject

The opposite of what is expected actually occurs.

A description that appeals to one's five senses

A necessary part of a story that can be identified in all works of fiction.

Atmosphere or feeling we get from the story

Words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant.

An over-exaggeration

A character telling the story is taking part in the story; i.e. I, me, my

The main character in a story

Jumbo Shrimp

In a story, the highest or most intense point in the development

A comparison between two things using like or as

An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of characters, reader, or audience

A conversation between characters; can be used to move the action along.

When the character telling the story is an outside observer; i.e. they, he, she, it

An author's word choice

An element to a story that is left open to interpretation

Paradox and oxymoron are both contradictory. How are they different?

A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the audience knows to be true.

Denotation refers to the

Problem or struggle between opposing forces

Reference to a well-known person, event, place, literary work or work of art.

Comparison of two things without using like or as.

The introduction of setting, character, and basic situation in a story