Literary Devices

Visually descriptive language that forms mental images, figures, etc. of the text.

An object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work.

This occurs when the audience knows something the characters do not.

A phrase comparing two things in an interesting way using like or as.

A joke that makes a play on words.

A warning or indication of a future event.

A series of words in a row (or close together) have the same first consonant sound.

A story in which people, things or happenings have a symbolic meaning.

A satire where trivial subjects and events are treated in the manner of the heroic style.

A device introduced and developed throughout all or part of a literary work, especially a poem.

An event, conclusion, statement, that is less important, powerful, or striking than expected.

The study of the patterns of formation of sentences and phrases from words.

An attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience.

A main idea or meaning of a literary work, which may be stated directly or indirectly.

A comparison of two things to show their similarities.

A deliberate use of inharmonious words, phrases, or syllables to create harsh sounding effects.

The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.

A phrase used to compare two things that aren't alike but have something in common.

A typical character, action or situation that represents universal patterns of human nature.

Describing something in a way that is other than it seems.

The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words to emphasize meaning.

Polite, indirect expressions which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite.

Variety of language that a group of people speak, separated by geography, class, or ethnicity.

This occurs when the expected outcome does not happen.

Assigning human qualities to something that isn't human, like nature or emotions.

A sudden memory or scene of an event in the past.

A saying in a culture that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning.

The arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables into a pattern.

The presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.

The state or quality of feeling that a text evokes in the READER.

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

An understatement in which a positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite.

A device that contains several layers of meaning; it means more than its' literal meaning.

The deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence to achieve an artistic effect.

The style of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words.

An indirect reference to a person, place, or idea of historical, literary or political value.