A Devices
story or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning
What is an ALLEGORY?
the direct opposite, a sharp contrast
What is ANTITHESIS?
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning
What is CONNOTATION?
the literal meaning of a word
What is DENOTATION?
a scene that interrupts the normal chronological sequence of events in a story to depict something that happened at an earlier time.
What is a FLASHBACK?
indirect or passing reference
What is an ALLUSION?
A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life
What is an APHORISM?
A word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing (y'all, ain't)
What is a COLLOQUIALISM?
the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing
What is DICTION?
the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot
What is FORESHADOWING?
open to more than one interpretation
What is AMBIGUOUS?
the feeling, emotion, or mood that an author creates
What is ATMOSPHERE?
a picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect
What is a CARICATURE?
intended to teach
What is DIDACTIC?
A character who acts as contrast to another character. Often a funny side kick to the dashing hero, or a villain contrasting the hero.
What is a FOIL?
repetition of vowel sounds
What is ASSONANCE?
The repetition of words in an inverted order to sharpen a contrast
What is ANTIMETABOLE?
the use of words with sharp, harsh, hissing, and unmelodious sounds - primarily those of consonants - to achieve desired results
What is a CACOPHONY?
a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent
What is a DOUBLE ENTENDRE?
a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction
What is an OXYMORON?
repetition in first part of a sentence for artistic meaning
What is ANAPHORA?
one word irony, established by context
What is ANTIPHRASIS?
A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects
What is a CONCEIT?
a figure of speech that is defined as the use of disparaging or offensive expressions instead of inoffensive ones; the use of negative expressions instead of positive ones
What is DISPHEMISM?
the use of successive verbal constructions in poetry or prose that correspond in grammatical structure, sound, meter, meaning, etc.
What is Parallelism?