Literary Devices Flashcards
(19 cards)
Alliteration
Two or more words next to each other in a sentence that begin with the same sound
Anaphora
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences
Antithesis
Two opposite ideas put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words
Apostrophe
When a speaker directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or a personified abstraction
Chiasmus/Antimetabole
Two or more clauses balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures
Consonance
The repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words in a phrase or sentence
Epigraph
A short quote or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme
Epistrophe
The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences
Diction (word choice)
- Denotation vs. Connotation
- Colloquialism
- JargonDialect & Vernacular
Denotation: The literal, dictionary definition of a word
Connotation: The emotional, cultural, or implied meaning associated with a word beyond its literal definition
Colloquialism: Informal words or phrases used in everyday conversation, often specific to a region or group
Jargon: Specialized language used by a specific profession, group, or field that may be difficult for outsiders to understand
Dialect: A regional or social variety of a language with distinct vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
Vernacular: The everyday spoken language of ordinary people in a particular region or group
Plot Structure/Development
- POV
- Conflict
- Internal vs. external
- Foreshadowing
- Flashback
- Suspense
Point-of-view: The perspective from which a story is told.
- First-person: Narrator is a character in the story; uses “I” or “we.”
- Second-person: Narrator speaks directly to the reader using “you.” (Rare in fiction)
- Third-person: Narrator is outside the story
Conflict: the struggle or opposition between two or more forces, typically driving the plot and narrative forward
- Internal = Character vs. themselves
- External = Character vs. character or environment
Foreshadowing: Hints or clues about events that will happen later in the story
Flashback: An interruption in the present narrative to show an event from the past
Suspense: A feeling of tension or anxiety about what will happen next
Characterization/Character Development
- Flat vs. Round
- Static vs. Dynamic
- Direct vs. Indirect
- Protagonist & Antagonist
- Foil
Flat: undeveloped, one-dimensional
Round: layered characters with complex emotions and traits
Static: character who does not go through a significant change in the text
Dynamic: undergoes significant change over the course of the text
Direct: when the author explicitly states a character’s traits
Indirect: author showing the character traits through their speech, thoughts, effects on others, actions, and looks
Protagonist: main character
Antagonist: character who opposes the protagonist to create conflict
Foil: characters who contrast each other to highlight the qualities of the main character
Imagery
descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the five senses — sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch — to create vivid mental pictures for readers
Irony: verbal, situational, dramatic
Verbal: saying the opposite of what you mean
Situational: the opposite than what is expected happens
Dramatic: the readers know something the audience does not
Juxtaposition/Contrast
two or more contrasting ideas, characters, settings, or images placed side by side to highlight their differences or create an effect (such as tension, irony, or surprise)
Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate/suggest the sound they describe
Setting: Micro and Macro
Micro: specific, detailed location or environment where a scene takes places (such as the time or weather)
Macros: larger, broader context of the story (geographical location, historical time period, cultural environment)
Synecdoche
Part of something is used to represent the whole, or the whole is used to represent a part
Syntax
The arrangement of words and phrases in a sentence
