Literary Devices & Terms

words in a poem that almost rhyme, but not quite

descriptive language that appeals to the senses

a true statement that seems contradictory

Point of view in which the narrator knows the thoughts and emotions of many characters

the feeling a reader gets from a text

downplaying something for emphasis or humor

details an author uses to describe and develop a character

a question asked for effect, not an answer

a reference to a person, place, thing, or other literary work

when the audience knows something characters don’t

when an author presents one-sided opinions or attempts to influence the reader

a direct comparison between two unlike things

Point of view in which the narrator talks directly to the reader (uses "you" pronoun)

A struggle against an outside force

giving human traits to something non-human

extreme exaggeration for emphasis

writing that criticizes society, politics, or people using humor or irony

when the opposite of what is expected happens

an interruption in the chronological events of a narrative to show something from the past

Point of view in which the narrator knows the thoughts and emotions of one character

using an object or character in a story to represent a deeper meaning

A struggle within a character’s mind (character vs. self)

saying the opposite of what you mean

Point of view in which the narrator is a character in the story (uses "I" and "me" pronouns)

the author’s attitude toward the subject

rhyme within the lines of poetry

rhyme at the end of lines of poetry

the repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of words

placing two contrasting things side by side for effect

the combination of two opposite or contradictory words

the main message or lesson of a story

a comparison using "like" or "as"

the struggle between opposing forces in a story

hints or clues about what will happen later in the story

a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification