Keystone Literary Devices

Groups of letters placed after a word that alter its meaning (such as "ing" or "ed")

The subtle presence of a positive or negative approach toward a topic.

An implied or indirect reference in literature to a familiar person, place, or event.

To make a judgement or decision based on reasoning rather than direct or implicit statements.

A word that is opposite in meaning to another word (For example, Boiling / Freezing)

The attitude of the author toward the audience, characters, subject, or work itself.

To examine and judge carefully

The voice used by an author to tell/narrate a story or poem.

States a conclusion as part of the proof of the argument (Propaganda form)

A variety of language distinct from the standard in pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary

A genre of writing designed to present ideas and evoke emotions - has many forms

A perspective in literature presenting the story from an outside point of view (uses he/she)

The repetition of initial sounds in neighboring words. "Peter Piper Picked a Peck"

A struggle or clash between two opposing characters, forces, or emotions

The turning point in a narrative; the moment when the conflict is most intense.

The genre of literature including works intended for television, the stage, movies, or radio.

The structure of the story - the chain of events - Includes rising action, climax, etc...

Persuades the reader by using words that appeal to his emotions instead of to reason/logic (P)

The use of language to create sensory impressions

Traits that mark a work as imaginative or narrative discourse (eg. plot, theme, symbol...)

A device used to present information that happened before current events in the story

To give reasons through an explanation to convey and represent the meaning of a text

"Personal" point of view relating events as they are perceived by the narrator

Persuades the reader by showing how many people think something is true (Propaganda form)

The author's central thought; the chief topic of a text; the topic sentence of a paragraph.

When you try to persuade someone to do something because "everyone's doing it"(Propaganda form)

Information aimed at positively or negatively influencing the opinions of large #s of people -P

Elements of literature that emphasize sound

The portion of a story where the conflict is resolved

Traits that mark a work as analytical, informative or persuasive (facts, charts...)

An exaggeration or overstatement

To capture all the most important information in a text, but express it in a shorter way

A judgement based on reasoning, rather than on a direct or explicit statement.

Any story that is the product of imagination rather than documentation

The rhyming pattern, meter, grammar, and imagery used by a poet to convey a meaning

A category used to classify literary works by form, technique, or content

One or more letters attached to the beginning, end, or base of a word that changes its form

The author's choices regarding language, sentence structure, voice, and tone to communicate

Tools used by the author to enliven and provide voice to his/her story

Attempts to persuade the reader by repeating a message over and over again (Propaganda form)

A device in literature where an object represents an idea

A written account of another person's life

An extended speech spoken by a single character in a drama

Persuades the reader by using a famous person to endorse a product or an idea (Propaganda form)

An object or abstract idea given human qualities or human form

Language that cannot be taken literally, since it was written to make a special effect/feeling

Makes an oversimplified statement about a group based on limited information (Propaganda form)

The method an author uses to reveal characters and their various traits and personalities

To make understandable, plain, or clear

Conversations between characters in a literary work

The time and place in which a story occurs

A narrative device, often used at the beginning of a work, that gives necessary background.

An attempt to distract the reader with details not related to the argument (Propaganda form)

A person, animal, or thing telling the story or giving an account of something

The center of interest or attention

A comparison of 2 things that does not use "like" or "as"

Clearly expressed or fully stated in the actual text

The part of a literary plot wherein tensions are diminished and the resolution can be seen

A word that is similar in meaning to another word (for example happy and joyous)

The written text of a play, including dialogue between characters stage directions, and more

A comparison of 2 things that uses "like" or "as"

A piece of clear information provided objectively, presented as true.

A person, animal, or inanimate object portrayed in a literary work 

A topic of discussion or work; a major idea in a work of literature - may be stated or implied

Specific word choices in a text that strongly support the tone, mood, or meaning of it.

A personal view, attitude, or appraisal

The author's intent either to inform, to entertain people, or to persuade.

Words that have several meanings depending on how they are used in a sentence

The position of the narrator in relation to the story-first person, second person, third person

Text that is not fictional; designed primarily to explain, argue, instruct, or describe

A conclusion drawn from specific information and used to make a broad statement about the topic

Words and phrases in a passage that help to reason out the meaning of an unfamiliar word.

To place together characters, situations, or ideas to show common and/or differing features

The emotions that the story causes in the reader

When you attack a person instead of an issue (Propaganda Form)