KS4 Literary Terms & Devices

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

A character that has both positive and negative characteristics (like a real person)

An author's word choice

Anything that stands for or represents something else

A description that appeals to one's five senses

Universal idea or lesson about life; understood by most cultures

Where and when a story takes place

Hints that the author gives of things that are to come in the story.

Shows events from before the present time of the story, often to reveal a character's motives

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

Force or character working against the main character in a story

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

Problem or struggle between opposing forces

Atmosphere or feeling we get from the story

Conclusion of the story

A character that stays the same throughout a story

A contrast between what appears to be real and what is actually real.

Writer's attitude toward his or her subject

A comparison between two things using like or as

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

The main character in a story

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

A character that is stereotypical or only shows a few, one-sided traits

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

A character that undergoes a major change over the course of the story

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

Giving inanimate objects human characteristics

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

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

Comparison of two things without using like or as.