Literary Devices Flashcards
Learn Literary Devices
Allegory
An allegory is a device where the meaning of a greater, often abstract moral or political concept is conveyed with the aid of more material objects or ideas being used as an example.
Examples: Allegory of the cave (for enlightenment)
Faith is like a stony uphill climb: a single stumble might send you sprawling but belief and steadfastness will see you to the very top
Alliteration
A literary device where words are used in quick succession and BEGIN with letters belonging to the same sound group. Whether it is the consonant sound or a specific vowel group, the alliteration involves creating repetition of similar sounds in the sentence.
Example: Words beginning with the same letter
The Wicked Witch of the West
Allusion
a figure of speech whereby the author refers to a subject matter such as a place, event, or literary work by way of a passing reference. It is up to the reader to make a connection to the subject being mentioned.
Example: It’s no wonder everyone refers to Mary as another Mother Theresa in the making; she loves to help and care after people everywhere, from the streets to her own friends.
Amplification
refers to a literary practice wherein the writer embellishes the sentence by adding more information to it in order to increase its worth and understandability
Example: Original sentence: “The thesis paper was difficult.” After amplification: “The thesis paper was difficult: it required extensive research, data collection, sample surveys, interviews and a lot of fieldwork.”
Anagram
literary device wherein the writer jumbles up parts of the word to create a new word. From the syllables of a phrase to the individual letters of a word, any fraction can be jumbled to create a new form.
Examples: An anagram for "debit card" is "bad credit" Tom Marvolo Riddle- I am Lord Voldemort Stressed and Desserts Silent and Listen Redrum and Murder
Analogy
literary device that helps to establish a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas. By using an analogy, we can convey a new idea by using the blueprint of an old one as a basis for understanding. With a mental linkage between the two, one can create understanding regarding the new concept in a simple and succinct manner.
Anastrophe
literary device wherein the order of the noun and the adjective in the sentence is exchanged. In standard writing, the adjective comes before the noun but when one is employing an anastrophe the noun is followed by the adjective.
Example: He spoke of times past and future, and dreamt of things to be
Anecdote
A short verbal accounting of a funny, amusing, interesting, event or incident. The story is usually a reminiscence from the teller’s life but at best is a related story of fact, as opposed to a contrived work of fiction.
Example: Story of “what’s with the hands” story of “pizza crust up nose” story of “Justin scaring me over the couch” Anecdotal evidence from a mother to pediatrician regarding child’s health prior to visit
Anthropomorphism
the act of lending a human quality, emotion, or ambition to a non-human object or being.
Example: the raging storm brought with it howling winds and fierce lightning as the residents of the village looked up at the angry skies in alarm.
Antithesis
used when a writer employs two sentences of contrasting meanings in close proximity to one another. Whether they are words or phrases of the same sentence, an antithesis is used to create a stark contrast using two divergent elements that come together to create one uniform whole.
Example: When Neil Armstrong walked on the moon it might have been one small step for a man but it was one giant leap for mankind.
Aphorism
a concise statement that is made in a matter of fact tone to state a principle or an opinion that is generally understood to be a universal truth. They are often wise sayings aimed at imparting sense and wisdom. It is to be noted that aphorisms are usually witty and curt and often have an underlying tone of authority to them.
Example: Upon seeing the shoddy work done by the employee, the boss told him that anything worth doing, is worth doing well.
Archetype
a reference to a concept, a person, or an object that has served as a prototype of its kind and is the original ideal that has come to be used over and over again. They employ the use of a famous concept, person or object to convey a wealth of meaning. Archetypes are immediately identifiable and even though they run the risk of being overused, they are still the best examples of their kind
Examples: Romeo and Juliet are an archetype of eternal love and a star-crossed love story.
Assonance
Refers to the repetition of sounds produced by vowels WITHIN a sentence or phrase. It is a type of alliteration, but what sets it apart is the repetition of ONLY VOWEL sounds. Assonance is the exact opposite of Consonance.
Examples: “A long song” Where the ‘o’ sound is repeated in the last two words of the sentence.
Asyndeton
A practice in literature whereby the author purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase.
Examples: 1. Read, Write, Learn
- Watch, Absorb, Understand
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Authorial Intrusion
When the author penning the story, poem or prose steps away from the text and speaks out to the reader.
Example: Several authors in children’s novels who address the reader; Treasure Island by Robert Stevenson, Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.
Bibliomancy
the practice of basing a plot happening or event and anticipating the results it will have on a faction of the Bible. Refers to foretelling the future by turning to random portions of the Bible for guidance.
Example: Anytime a Chrisitan (or other types of religious people) picks a random scripture they are practicing Bibliomancy and seeking spiritual meaning.
Bildungsroman
Storytelling whereby the author bases the plot on the overall growth of the central character throughout the timeline of the story. As the story progresses the subject undergoes noticeable mental, physical, social, emotional, moral, and often spiritual advancement and strengthening before the reader’s eyes.
Example: A lot of Children’s books
Cacophony
refers to the use of words and phrases that imply strong, harsh sounds within the phrase. These words have jarring and dissonant sounds that create a disturbing, objectionable atmosphere.
example: His fingers rapped and pounded the door, and his foot thumped against the yellowing wood.
Caesura
a literary device that involves creating a fracture of sorts within a sentence where the two separate parts are distinguishable from one another yet intrinsically linked to one another. The purpose of using a caesura is to create a dramatic pause, which has a strong impact. The pause adds an emotional and theatrical touch.
Example: Mozart- oh how your music makes me soar!
Characterization
Step by step process wherein an author introduces and then describes a character.
Example: Michael Corleone was not jus’ a mafiaso, but a family man. A man who walked the knife’s edge to preserve his sanity.
Chiasmus
a figure of speech containing two phrases that are parallel but inverted to each other
Example: You can take the patriot out of the country, but you cannot take the country out of the patriot.
Circumlocution
Form of writing where the writer uses exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence. It involves stating an idea or a view in an indirect manner that leaves the reader guessing and grasping at the actual meaning.
Example: William Faulkner
Conflict
A Literary device used for expressing a resistance the protagonist of the story finds in achieving his aims or dreams.
Example: John tried to convince himself that his Hollywood dreams were worth the struggle but his parents, and his inner voice of reason, failed to agree
Connotation
Connotations are the associations that people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition.
Example: And once again, the autumn leaves were falling. This phrase uses’ autumn to signify something coming to an end.
Consonance
the repetition of sounds in quick succession produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase. Often found at the end of a word. Opposite of Assonance
Example: He struck a streak of bad luck
Denotation
refers to the use of the dictionary or literal meaning of a word.
Example: They built a house.
In the above sentence, “house” is meant literally as in a building where a family lives. If the word “home” was used in place of “house” the meaning would not be so literal.
Deus ex Machina
a debatable and often criticized form of literary device. It refers to the incidence where an implausible concept or character is brought into the story in order to make the conflict in the story resolve and to bring about a pleasing solution.
Example: GOT t.v. show
If in a suspense novel, the protagonist suddenly finds a solution to his dilemmas because of divine intervention
Diction
Diction is the writer’s choice of words that leads to a specific mood, attitude, dialect, and style of writing.
Example: Certain writers in the modern day and age use archaic terms such as ‘thy’, ‘thee’, and ‘wherefore’ to imbue a Shakespearean mood to their work.
Doppelganger
Derived from the German language and literally translates into ‘double walker.’ It refers to a character in the story that is actually a counterfeit or a copy of a genuine character.
Example: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Ekphrastic
refers to a form of writing, mostly poetry, wherein the author describes another work of art, usually visual. It is used to convey the deeper symbolism of the corporeal art form by means of a separate medium. It has often been found that ekphrastic writing is rhetorical in nature and symbolic of a greater meaning.
Example: A photograph of an empty landscape can convey desolation, abandon and loss. Similarly, one can convey the same sentiments and concepts by using phrases such as ‘an empty doorway’ or ‘a childless nursery.’
Epilogue
The epilogue is an important literary tool that acts as the afterword once the last chapter is over. The purpose is to add a little insight to some interesting developments that happen once the major plot is over.
Example: at the end of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the wizard Prospero addresses the audience directly, breaking down the boundaries of the play. He informs them that the play is over, his powers are gone, and thus his escape from the play’s island setting depends on their applause that they, in effect, get to decide his fate.
Epithet
literary device that is used as a descriptive device. It is usually used to add to a person or place’s regular name and attribute some special quality to the same.
Example: “Alexander the Great”
Euphemism
refers to the literary practice of using a comparatively milder or less abrasive form of a negative description instead of its original, unsympathetic form. This device is used when writing about matters such as sex, violence, death, crimes and things ‘embarrassing’
Examples: “to put out to pasture” “downsizing” “friendly fire” “golden years” “gone to heaven”
Euphony
refers to the use of phrases and words that are noted for possessing an extensive degree of notable loveliness or melody in the sound they create. Predominately in literary prose and poetry where devices such as alliteration, rhyme, and assonance are used to create pleasant sounds. Opposite of cacophony which is unpleasant and harsh sounds.
Example: It’s in the ear of the listener. The pleasantness of a word’s sound all depends upon one’s regional roots.
Faulty Parallelism
Involves placing sentence items in a parallel grammatical format wherein nouns are listed together, specific verb forms are listed together and the like. When one fails to follow this parallel structure, it results in faulty parallelism.
Example: On the TV show The Simpsons, lead character Bart Simpson says, “they are laughing, not with me”
Flashback
a literary device wherein the author depicts the occurrence of specific events to the reader, which have taken place before the present time the narration is following, or events that have happened before the events that are currently unfolding in the story.
Example: Back in the day when Sarah was a young girl…
