Literary Devices Flashcards

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1
Q

Doubtfulness or uncertainty as regards interpretation.

A

Ambiguity

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2
Q

Something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time.

A

Anachronism

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3
Q

A true story that is generally amusing, thought-provoking, strange, humorous etc.

A

Anecdote

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4
Q

Contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, phrases or clauses.

A

Antithesis

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5
Q

The prevailing mood or feeling of a literary work.

A

Atmosphere

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6
Q

The act or process of forming reasons and of drawing conclusions and applying them to a case in discussion. It is also known as a debate.

A

Argumentation

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7
Q

The particular group of readers or viewers that the writer is addressing.

A

Audience

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8
Q

Constructing a sentence so that both halves are about the same length and importance. Sentences can be unbalanced to serve a special effect as well.

A

Balance

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9
Q

A preference or tendency towards a particular perspective, idea or result, usually when it impairs the ability to be objective or impartial.

A

Bias

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10
Q

A final event or conclusion, usually an unfortunate one.

A

Catastrophe

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11
Q

Two events that are related when one event makes the other occur.

A

Cause and Effect

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12
Q

An expression not used in formal speech, writing or paralinguistics.

A

Colloquialism

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13
Q

The act of conceding or yielding, as a right, a privilege, or a point or fact in an argument.

A

Concession

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14
Q

The suggestive or associative significance of an expression, additional to the explicit literal meaning; implication.

A

Connotation

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15
Q

The associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning.

A

Connotation/Denotation

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16
Q

The specific meaning of, or the object or objects designated by, a word as distinct from what it suggests: distinguished from connotation.

A

Denotation

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17
Q

The effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier.

A

Consequences

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18
Q

A statement, picture in words, or account that describes; descriptive representation.

A

Description

19
Q

A word or phrase that has an acceptable connotation and that in an indirect way expresses what may be upsetting or unpleasant.

A

Euphemism

20
Q

The act of describing, analyzing, or explaining. It is a detailed statement or explanation primarily in the form of writing or speech intended to convey information and presenting a view or display.

A

Exposition

21
Q

An act that is brought on by pride and arrogance, usually resulting in pain or suffering.

A

Hubris

22
Q

Act or process of deriving a logical consequence conclusion from premises.

A

Inference/Implication

23
Q

An indirect remark about somebody or something, usually suggesting something bad or rude.

A

Innuendo

24
Q

Special words that are used by a particular group of people in a particular profession and that other people do not understand.

A

Jargon

25
Q

To put two people or things etc. very close together, especially in order to show how they are different.

A

Juxtaposition

26
Q

Substituting a correct word for another incorrect one, usually for to make a witty, clever, or comedic statement.

A

Malapropism

27
Q

Emotional atmosphere created by the characters and setting and by the language chosen to present it.

A

Mood

28
Q

A subject or theme that appears frequently in a novel or literary work.

A

Motif

29
Q

A recital of events, usually in chronological order, as the story narrated in a poem or the exposition in a drama.

A

Narration

30
Q

The person who is telling the story.

A

Narrative voice

31
Q

Ideas and facts that are probably true.

A

Objective

32
Q

Conjoining contradictory terms.

A

Oxymoron

33
Q

A technique where the author uses words, phrases or clauses that are of equal value and function. The similarity between the words (etc.) not only allows for pleasing flow in the work, but also provides a more forceful meaning.

A

Parallel Structure

34
Q

Express the same message in different words or rewording for the purpose of clarification.

A

Paraphrase

35
Q

A humorous imitation of literature or of real life events.

A

Parody

36
Q

A technique where inanimate objects that relate to some aspect of nature, are attributed with human feelings, seem to reflect the emotions of characters, or portray the mood in a story.

A

Pathetic Fallacy

37
Q

The art of using language as a means to persuade. A technique that an author or speaker uses to evoke an emotional response in the audience.

A

Rhetoric

38
Q

A keen, reproachful expression; a satirical remark uttered with some degree of scorn or contempt; a taunt; a gibe; a cutting jest.

A

Sarcasm

39
Q

The time and place in which the story occurs. The time or place may be either stated or suggested.

A

Setting

40
Q

Ideas and opinions held by groups or individuals usually with some sort of bias.

A

Subjective

41
Q

The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work. It differs from the subject or topic of a literary work in that it involves a statement or opinion about the topic.

A

Theme

42
Q

An idea the author returns to time and again, becoming one of the most important ideas in the story.

A

Central Theme

43
Q

The author’s attitude, which can be stated or implied, toward a subject. It can be revealed through punctuation, choice of words and details.

A

Tone