Literary Devices
repeating initial consonant sounds
What is alliteration?
When the narrator uses “I” and tells the story from their own perspective, this is the point of view.
What is first person?
This story element is the message or lesson the author wants readers to take away.
What is theme?
"Beads of sweat began to form on her upper lip, and she felt sick to her stomach."
What is an internal conflict?
Choose the correct pronoun: “Neither of the characters knew that the truth belonged to ___.”
What is ‘them’?
an exaggeration
What is a hyperbole?
In many flash‑fiction stories, the narrator knows only what one character sees and feels — but is NOT that character.
What is third‑person limited?
A flash‑fiction story where a character learns that small choices have big consequences likely explores this theme.
What is choices have consequences or responsibility is an important aspect of maturity?
A character must decide whether to return a lost wallet or keep the cash. This type of conflict happens inside the character’s mind.
What is internal conflict (man vs. self)?
Identify the type of sentence: “She wanted to apologize, but the words wouldn’t come.”
What is a compound sentence?
"The darkness that oozed from the opening slowly wrapped itself around her brain, and she felt her vision tunnel."
What is personification?
This rare point of view speaks to the reader as “you,” placing them inside the story.
What is second‑person point of view?
If a story shows a character realizing that judging others too quickly leads to misunderstanding, this is the central concept.
What is not judging others/empathy/understanding?
In a flash‑fiction story, a character argues with a friend after a misunderstanding. This is an example of this type of conflict.
What is man vs. man (or external)?
In the sentence “The story’s ending surprised everyone,” the word story’s is an example of this type of noun form.
What is a possessive noun?
"She turned now, and Elaine saw bleary eyes and splotched face. There was an ugly gash below one eye, and the skin around it had swollen up and turned purple. There seemed to be an older scar on her nose, and dried blood in the corner of her mouth. Her stare was bitter and bold, and it made Elaine look away."
What is imagery?
A story where the narrator knows every character’s thoughts and feelings uses this all‑knowing perspective.
What is third‑person omniscient?
In "The Wallet", the character learns that doing the right thing isn’t always easy. This big idea is known as this story element.
What is the theme?
A character struggles to escape a dangerous storm on the way home. This conflict pits the character against this force.
What is man vs. nature?
"She bites her lip. She smiles a smile that isn’t really her own. She leans into his side, nudging him a little with her shoulder. She presses the button." The grammatical repetition seen in the quote is called---
What is parallelism?
If a character suddenly remembers a moment that explains their fear or motivation, the author is using this device.
What is a flashback?
"The noise of the party dissolves as Jane moves past the curtain and into the small photo booth, tugging Louis behind her by the front of his shirt. In the confines of the tiny space, the music has become more of a feeling than actual sound. The cheers and laughter from outside are still there, but it’s all like a conversation at a different restaurant table, everything indistinct and unimportant." Without third-person omniscient narration/POV, the reader would be missing these types of details.
What are sensory details?
Thematic statements should be written in _____ person.
What is third-person?
A character tries to speak up about an unfair school rule but faces pressure to stay silent. This conflict is between the character and a larger system.
What is man vs. society?
The word "FLASH!" is in all caps because it is meant to represent--
What is a sound?