Simile
A figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as”.
Protagonist
Main character
Onomatopoeia
Words or the use of words with sounds that imitate the meaning of what they are describing.
Conflict
The main source of tension in a story.
Foreshadowing
A literary device that indicates what is to come.
Metaphor
A figure of speech that compares two different things without the words “like” or “as”.
Symbolism
Using an object, person, situation, or word in a story or poem to represent a larger, abstract idea beyond its literal meaning
Antagonist
Person/force against main character
Tone
The writer or speaker's attitude toward the subject.
Imagery
Uses vivid description that appeals to a reader’s senses to create an image or idea in their head
Alliteration
The repetition of initial consonant sounds in words that are close to each other to create a rhythm or lyrical effect.
Irony
Linguistic and literary device, in spoken or written form, in which real meaning or outcome is the opposite.
Hyperbole
Exaggeration or overstatement, not meant to be taken literally
Oxymoron
A short phrase that combines two ordinarily contradictory terms.
Analogy
A statement that shows that a pair of things has the same relationship as another pair of things.
Personification
Giving human traits to non-humans.
Dramatic Irony
When the audience knows something characters do not, often used to create humor, suspense or tension.
Idiom
An expression that doesn’t exactly mean what the words say.
Allusion
An indirect reference to something, meant to call it to mind without mentioning it by name.
Mood
The particular feeling or atmosphere something has or creates for the reader or listener.
Situational Irony
The unexpected outcome of an event creates humor, suspense, or tension.
Verbal Irony
The use of language to mean something different or opposite from its literal meaning, often to create humor, suspense, or tension.
Stanza
A group of lines in poetry, kind of the paragraph of a poem.
Diction
Word choice: formal/informal, colloquial & slang, abstract/concrete, poetic, descriptive. The specific words a writer uses to convey meaning, tone, mood etc...
Theme
Universal insight, life lesson, think what message is this writer trying to tell through this story.