Stylistic Devices

Placing two concepts, characters, or ideas near or next to each other so that the reader will compare and contrast them

Giving human characteristics to animals, ideas, or objects

When the reader knows what will happen in the story, but the characters do not

Occurs when there is an unexpected turn of events; the opposite of what the the reader expects to happen

An object or action that stands for or represents something else

Defining or explaining something by saying exactly the same thing again in different words

Literary techniques that involve differences between the expected outcome and the actual outcome

An exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis

Using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance

A stylistic device where several coordinating conjunctions are used in succession in order to achieve an artistic effect

The writer’s attitude toward the audience and subject

A comparison that asserts that one thing IS the other thing

A casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure

Grammatical arrangement of words

Makes an abstract idea more concrete; emphasizes an idea through quantity of description

The repetition of initial consonant sounds at the beginning of words

The feeling created in the reader by the literary work or passage

A comparison between two unlike things that uses “like” or “as”

Saying the opposite of what you mean; sarcasm

A reason that explains or partially explains a character’s thoughts, feelings, actions, or behavior

Words that create a vivid picture

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing