Literary Device
Alliteration
A repetition of familiar sounds at the beginning of a sentence.
Foreshadowing
When an author hints at something that will occur later on in the story.
Imagery
When an author uses explicit visual details that are powerful enough to draw an image to mind.
Indirect Characterization
When an author is able to tell describe a character through words, actions, and personality traits.
Direct Characterization
When an author describes a character through physical traits (ie. blonde hair, tan skin).
Allusion
When an author uses an expression in order to call something to mind.
Hyperbole
an extremely exaggerated statement
Tone
The overall attitude of a work.
A comparison that does not use "like" or "as". This comparison is stronger than a simile. (ie. He is a bear in the mornings).
Irony
when an author uses a word that means the opposite of its literal meaning, it is often used to be sarcastic or funny.
Soliloquy
Typically found in poetry or in theatre, when a character gives their thoughts aloud as though they were alone.
Synecdoche
When a part of something is able to represent the whole. (ie. Jonesboro won the football game. Jonesboro=JHS)
Onomatopoeia
Sound word!
Personification
Giving Human-like characteristics to an inanimate object.
Euphony
A sound that is pleasing to the ear.
Anaphora
When repetition occurs at the beginning of a sentence. (ie. three or four sentences will begin with the same word or phrase).
Syntax
Word order! (ie. Yoda has a funny syntax because he inverts the order of most words).
Parallelism
When verbs appear in the same tense.
(I am running to the store, I am buying some juice, I am driving home.)
Assonance
When vowels rhyme at the conclusion of a word.
(Fight, Might, Kite)
An author's purpose can typically be defined as one of these three types:
1. Informational
2. Persuasive
3. To entertain
Paradox
A seemingly absurd statement / a self-contradicting statement. (ie. "I am nobody")
Euphemism
Denotation
The literal meaning of a word.
Diction
Word Choice