Literary devices - A to D

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

An allegory is a symbolism device where the meaning of a greater, often abstract, concept is conveyed with the aid of a more corporeal object or idea being used as an example.

Question 2

Alliteration

Answer 2

Alliteration is a literary device where words are used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group.

Question 3

Allusion

Answer 3

An allusion is 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.

Question 4

Amplification

Answer 4

Adding information in order to increase its worth and understandability, in a simple sentence.

Question 5

Anagram

Answer 5

The writer jumbles up the letters of a word to make a new word.

Question 6

Analogy

Answer 6

Literary device to establish a relationship based on similarities between two ideas.

Question 7

Anastrophe

Answer 7

The order of the noun and adjective in the sentence is exchanged.

Question 8

Anecdote

Answer 8

Short verbal accounting of a funny, amusing, interesting event or incident.

Question 9

Anthropomorphism

Answer 9

Act of lending a human quality, emotion or ambition to a non-human object or being.

Question 10

Antithesis

Answer 10

Two sentences of contrasting meanings in close proximity to one another.

Question 11

Aphorism

Answer 11

Concise statement that is generally understood to be the universal truth.

Question 12

Archetype

Answer 12

Reference to a concept, a person or an object that has served as a prototype of its kind and is the original idea that is now used over and over again.

Question 13

Asyndeton

Answer 13

Author purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence.

Question 14

Authorial Intrusion

Answer 14

The author penning the story, poem or prose steps away from the text and speaks out to the reader.

Question 15

Bibliomancy

Answer 15

Basing a plot happening or event and anticipating the results it will have on a faction of the Bible.

Question 16

Bildungsroman

Answer 16

Author bases the plot on the overall growth of the central character throughout the timeline of the story.

Question 17

Cacophony

Answer 17

Use of words and phrases that imply strong, harsh sounds within a phrase.

Question 18

Caesura

Answer 18

Creating a fracture of sorts within a sentence where the two separate parts are distinguishable from one another yet intrinsically linked to one another.

EG: Mozart - oh how your music makes me soar!

Question 19

Characterization

Answer 19

Step by step process wherein an author introduces and then describes a character.

Question 20

Chiasmus

Answer 20

A figure of speech containing two phrases that are parallel but inverted to each other.

Question 21

Circumlocution

Answer 21

Form of writing where the writer uses long sentences when the same idea could have been conveyed using shorter ones.

Question 22

Conflict

Answer 22

Expressing a resistance the protagonist of a story finds in achieving their aims and dreams.

Question 23

Connotation

Answer 23

Associations people make with words that go being the literal or dictionary definitions.

Question 24

Consonance

Answer 24

Repetition of sounds in quick succession produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase.

Question 25

Denotation

Answer 25

Use of the dictionary definition or literal meaning of the word.

Question 26

Deus ex Machina

Answer 26

Character is brought into the story to make the conflict of the story resole and to bring about a pleasing solution. POOR PLOT.

Question 27

Diction

Answer 27

Distinctive tone of an author's writings. Includes: mood, attitude dialect and style of writing.

Question 28

Doppelganger

Answer 28

A character in a story that is actually a copy of a genuine character.