Literary Devices
A reference to another work of literature, person, or event.
What is an allusion?
The character who opposes the protagonist.
Who is the antagonist?
This is the author of Antigone.
Who is Sophocles?
The attitude a writer takes toward a subject.
What is tone?
Appeals to the speaker’s credibility or trustworthiness.
What is ethos?
When the opposite of what is expected occurs.
What is irony?
A character who contrasts with another to highlight traits.
What is a foil?
A drama with serious themes that ends in catastrophe.
What is a tragedy?
The reason an author writes a text is to inform, persuade, and entertain.
What is the author’s purpose?
Appeals to emotions.
What is pathos?
When an author hints at events to come later in the story.
What is foreshadowing?
This type of character does not change throughout the story.
What is a static character?
A literary form that expresses ideas through rhythm and style.
What is a poem?
The main message or moral of a story.
What is the theme?
Appeals to logic and reason.
What is logos?
A difference between appearance and reality, often used to create humor or tension.
What is situational irony?
The central figure (main character) in a literary work.
Who is the protagonist?
A short fictional narrative focusing on a single conflict.
What is a short story?
The narrator directly describes a character’s traits.
What is direct characterization?
This rhetorical device uses similar grammatical structures to create rhythm and balance in a sentence. For example: "She likes cooking, jogging, and reading."
What is parallelism?
Language that means the opposite of what is said, often used to mock.
What is sarcasm?
Revealing character traits through actions and dialogue.
What is indirect characterization?
The tragic flaw that causes the downfall of a tragic hero.
What is a character flaw?
A narrator who only knows the thoughts of one character.
What is third-person limited?
The use of language to influence or persuade an audience.
What is rhetoric?