Writing Techniques
Dramatic Devices
Language Styles
Literary Forms
Critical Concepts
100

This technique uses logical, ethical, or emotional appeals to persuade an audience.

What is rhetoric?

100

A conversation between two characters in a literary work, enhancing the story's development.

What is dialogue?

100

This style of writing rejects ornate language to focus on simple and clear communication.

What is plain style?

100

A brief fictional story that presents a moral lesson at the end.

What is a parable?

100

This is a phrase, idea, or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in an essay or discourse.

What is a motif?

200

This term describes the character's long speech expressing their thoughts alone on stage.

What is a soliloquy?

200

This term refers to the use of indicative or descriptive language to create vivid mental pictures.

What is imagery?

200

The use of specific regional details to add authenticity and flavor to the setting of a narrative.

What is local color?

200

A long, often book-length, narrative in verse form that tells a story about a heroic figure.

What is an epic?

200

This type of character undergoes significant internal development, often a change in personality or attitude.

What is a dynamic character?

300

A type of balance in which two or more elements of a sentence have the same or very similar grammatical structure.

What is parallel structure?

300

The repeated inclusion of a significant item or idea that represents something beyond itself in a narrative.

What is symbolism?

300

A style of speech or writing that is typical of ordinary conversations which includes slang and idioms.

What is colloquialism?

300

A lighter form of drama that aims primarily to amuse and that ends happily.

What is a comedy?

300

A distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition.

What is a theme?

400

This term refers to the author's specific word choice used to convey a particular tone, atmosphere, or character.

What is diction?

400

When a character speaks to a character or object that is not present or is unable to respond.

What is an apostrophe?

400

An elevated, formal language intended to convey a heightened tone and is often used in classical literature.

What is high diction?

400

This poetic form is structured in three parts; the first and last parts have four lines each, and the middle part has seven, typically focusing on romantic or philosophical themes.

What is a villanelle?

400

The overall mood or prevailing atmosphere within a narrative.

What is tone?

500

This is a narrative technique that presents thoughts as if they are flowing spontaneously from the characters' minds.

What is stream of consciousness?

500

A speech given by a single character in order to express their mental thoughts aloud, though other characters may be on stage.

What is a monologue?

500

A literary style used to poke fun at or satirize social conventions, often with the intention of inspiring reform.

What is satire?

500

An eighteen-line poem that follows a specific rhyme scheme and is often serious in nature.

What is a sonnet?

500

The narrative voice or perspective from which the events of a story are presented.

What is point of view?

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