Literary Devices
A literary tool that makes the audience laugh. ___________________________________
humor
A similar feature or aspect.
similarity
A specific perspective or interpretation of that same event. ___________________________
Account
The narrator’s or author’s viewpoint, outlook, or way of seeing the story’s events, characters, & world. _____________________________________________
perspective
How the author establishes a relationship with their reader & subject matter by declaring their stance on a topic. ______________________________
position
A rhetorical device where a writer intentionally downplays the importance or seriousness of something, often for comedic effect or emphasize the situations true gravity. ___________________________________
Understatement
A broad, often over simplified & potentially harmful generalization or characteristics used to describe an entire group of people or characters. ____________________________
Stereotype
The perspective from which a story is told, determining, the reader’s access to the characters’ thoughts, feelings, & the narrative’s events. ______________________________
viewpoint
The author’s personal opinions, beliefs, & experiences that unconsciously or consciously influence how they present information, interpret events, & portray characters or ideas potentially affecting the objectivity & fairness of their work. ____________________________
Author's bias
A structured framework of ideas, values, & convictions that individuals or groups use to understand the world & their place within it often encompassing religious, philosophical, or cultural events. ___________________________________________
belief system
a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid. Hint uses like or as.
simile
To analyze the sources critically compare methodologies, and consider potential biases to determine the most reliable & credible information for your research or argument. __________________________________________________
Conflicting evidence
The presence of different, often opposing interpretations or understandings of the same event, characters, or theme within a text, showcasing the subjectivity of truth & adding complexity to the narrative. ___________________________________________________
conflicting viewpoints
The writer’s ability to clearly communicate their intended message, theme, or argument to the reader, ensuring the text is easily understood & avoids ambiguity. ____________
Clarity of purpose
The ways a piece of literature reflects & engages with the cultural context, values, beliefs, & practices of a particular time and place offering insights into the human experience within that context. _________________________________________
Cultural Experience
A literary technique originally used in Greek Tragedy, by which is the full significance of a character’s words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character. ____________________________________________
dramatic irony
The representation of the cultural traditions, histories, and perspective of indigenous peoples in literary works, encompassing oral traditions, written works, and diverse literary forms. _______________________________________________
Native culture
The impact and lasting effect that a literary work, author, or literary movement has on other works, authors, or society as a whole, whether directly or indirectly. ___________________________________________
influence
The art of using language effectively and persuasively encompassing the study of how writers & speakers craft their message to achieve a specific purpose or effect on their audience. ______________________________
Rhetoric
A way of writing about a flaw or failure in society by inflating it to absurdity. ____________
Satire
A literary device that creates a feeling of unease or anticipation in the reader, often about what will happen next or what is hidden, through a careful withholding and release of information. ______________________________________________
suspense
A narrative style where the narrator reports events & actions without revealing the characters’ thoughts, or feelings, acting as a detached observer, similar to a camera recording an event. ___________________________________________
Objective view
A perspective that is based on personal feelings, opinions, & experiences rather than objective facts. ______________________________________
Subjective view
The story is told from the perspective of a single character, limiting the reader’s knowledge to what that character knows, feels, & perceives without access to the thoughts or feelings of other characters. ___________________________
Limited Point of View
A narrative perspective where the narrator possesses complete knowledge & awareness of all characters, events, & thoughts within a story, acting as a “godlike” observer. ___________________
Omniscient Point of View