A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
100
Personification
The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in an inanimate object.
100
Hyperbole
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
100
Satire
The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices
100
Alliteration
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
200
Simile
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, (e.g., as brave as a lion).
200
Tone
The overall quality of a musical or vocal sound
200
Conflict
A serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one: "the eternal conflict between the sexes".
200
Symbolism
The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.
200
Protagonist
The leading character or a major character in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text. THE GOOD GUY.
300
Setting
The location in which the piece takes place.
300
Foreshadowing
A warning or indication of (a future event).
300
Plot
The basis or outline of the story or piece.
300
Allusion
An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.
300
Paradox
A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.
400
Moral
A lesson, esp. one concerning what is right or prudent, that can be derived from a story, a piece of information, or an experience.
400
Theme
The subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic: ex. "the theme of the sermon was reverence".
400
Parallelism
The use of successive verbal constructions in poetry or prose that correspond in grammatical structure, sound, meter, meaning, etc.
400
Epithet
An adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.
400
Mood
A temporary state of mind or feeling.
500
Imagery
Visually descriptive or figurative language, esp. in a literary work: "Tennyson uses imagery to create a lyrical emotion".
500
Allegory
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
500
Motif
A distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition.
500
Apostraphe
A punctuation mark (') used to indicate possession
500
Epiphany
An idea that comes to a character or individual randomly.