English Honors 9 Literary Devices

repetition of consonant sound within words

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

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

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

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

The use of words that imitate sounds.

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

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

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

A written or typed note to help one remember something.

The fundamental or core meaning of a word.

poem with five lines rhyming aabba and a set rhythm

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

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

Events after the climax, leading to the resolution.

An account of the writer's own life.

A belief or statement taken for granted without proof.

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

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

the literal dictionary meaning of a word

introduces the character, setting and basic situation

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

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

A humorous imitation of a serious work.

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

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

repetition of similar vowel sounds

 A worn-out idea or overused expression.

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

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

end of the story where loose ends are tied up

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

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

The direct opposite, a sharp contrast.

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

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

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

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

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

a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

The skillful manipulation of words, often for humorous effect. 

A humorous play on words.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Words that have similar or the same meaning.

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

An expression that cannot be understood if taken literally.

When an object or event represents or stands for something.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in poetry.

most exciting moment of the story; turning point

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

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

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

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

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