Literary Terms and Devices

Anything that stands for or represents something else

Reference to a well-known person, event, place, literary work or work of art.

A comparison between two things using like or as

A directly stated comparison of two things, such as "She is the sun."

A character that stays the same throughout a story

A contrast between what appears to be real and what is actually real.

An event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the reader or audience

In a story, the highest or most intense point in the development

A character that has both positive and negative characteristics (like a real person)

Conclusion of the story

When the character telling the story is an outside observer; i.e. they, he, she, it

The introduction of setting, character, and basic situation in a story

When the author uses "you" to speak to the reader directly..

A character that is stereotypical or only shows a few, one-sided traits

When two or more ideas or subjects are placed side by side to compare and contrast the two.​

Language that is particular to a specific region or social group

The arrangement of words, sentence types, punctuation, etc.

A conversation between characters; can be used to move the action along.

Shows events from before the present time of the story, often to reveal a character's motives

Writer's attitude toward his or her subject

An author's word choice

A description that appeals to one's five senses

Giving inanimate objects human characteristics

A character telling the story is taking part in the story; i.e. I, me, my

A statement that contradicts itself, yet it appears to be true.

A character that undergoes a major change over the course of the story

Force or character working against the main character in a story

Problem or struggle between opposing forces

A device in which characters or events in a literary work symbolize a hidden meaning...

The main character in a story

Words are used to suggest the opposite of what is meant.

A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the audience knows to be true.

Where and when a story takes place

Universal idea or message about life; understood by most cultures

Hints that the author gives of things that are to come in the story.