Literary Devices

Author uses words and phrases to help reader visualize the author's writings.

The main character of a story, novel, or play.

My Achilles' heel is shopping, eating out, and watching the Real Housewives franchise.

The dictionary or literal definition of a word.

Use of words to mean something different than what is actually said

Author makes a passing reference to a significant person, place, historical event, etc.

process wherein an author introduces and then describes a character

[His] high-backed chair was of deadly black horse-hair with rows of brass nails...like a coffin

A subject is compared to another, using a form of "to be," to show similarity/ emphasize trait

"His mouth was such a post office of a mouth that he had a mechanical way of smiling" (180).

While To Let To Let To Let glared at me from empty rooms, as if no new wretches ever came there

The resistance the protagonist of the story finds in achieving his/her aims or dreams.

Pip struggles between admiration and shame for Joe.

The audience is aware of something the characters are not

A discrepancy between what is expected to happen versus what actually happens

Attaching human traits to inanimate objects, phenomena, and animals

Logical sequence of events that develops a story

Comparison between two unrelated/dissimilar things, people, objects, etc using "like" or "as"

Miss Havisham's conflict with her half-brother would be considered...

Technique where the author hints at a future event in the story.

An extreme exaggeration to emphasize a point

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose/criticize people's stupidity/vices

An object, person, place, or situation has another meaning than its literal one.

The author specifically reveals traits about a character in a straightforward manner.

The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.

"coming of age story" in which the plot focuses on the overall growth of the central character

Associations people make with words beyond literal or dictionary definitions.

Time and place in which a story takes place.

The emotional atmosphere of a work evoked by an author; how we are made to feel about a text...

Character is at odds with a force of nature, such as a natural disaster.

The personality of a character is revealed through speech, actions, appearance, etc.

Author's choice of words that help establish tone, mood, imagery, etc.

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning as a whole

Flopson and Millers had got the children into the house, like a little flock of sheep...

The eggs from which young insurers were hatched were incubated in dust and heat

Internal conflict where one struggles between right and wrong/must overcome his own nature.

An owl is often used to represent wisdom.

The author's overall attitude towards a subject.

Conflict where character is placed at odds against government or cultural tradition or norms.

External conflict between two more characters - usually protagonist and antagonist