Grade 8 Literary Devices

Character who changes permanently over time

An umbrella term for language that does not take a literal approach but rather imparts a deeper meaning through language

Hints or clues about what will happen later

A contradiction that is somehow true

Object, action, person, animal, or plant representing an idea or feeling

Controlling idea, central insight or unifying generalization about life in a text

Repetition of consonant sounds within a phrase

Stating one thing is another thing to imply a shared quality

Saying the opposite of what you mean

Minor character who still contributes to the story

Characters with contrasting traits to highlight differences

A word formed by imitating a sound

Character who does not change through the story

Repetition of vowel sounds within a phrase

The main character who undergoes the central conflict

A complex character with many facets

Presenting something as less serious than it is

Placing things side by side for contrast

Vivid pictures that form in the reader's imagination. Appeal to the reader's senses and establish setting, characters...

Use of words to mean the opposite of literal meaning

The force or person in conflict with the protagonist

An indirect reference to something outside the story

Author’s attitude toward subject or audience

Repetition of similar sounds at the beginning of several words

Giving human qualities to something non-human

An obvious and extreme exaggeration

Opposite of what is expected happens

A stereotypical or archetypal character

Common expression that can't be understood literally

A wordplay on multiple meanings (often for a humorous effect)

A milder way of saying something harsh

Character with one or two defined traits, which can be summed up easily

Putting two contradictory terms together

The general feeling a text creates for the audience

Audience knows something characters don’t

Comparing two unlike things to imply a shared quality using like or as