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Literary Devices - 1D

Terms in this set (44)

Anaphora
The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several successive verses, clauses, or paragraphs
Archaism
The use in literature of words and expressions that have become obsolete in the common speech of an era
Assonance
The repetition of similar vowel sounds within the stressed syllables of a series of words to create a particular effect
Ballad
Narrative poetry, which tells a story and are set to music. They usually have singable four line stanzas, with rhyme at the ends of lines two and four
Blank Verse
Consists of non-rhyming lines written in iambic pentameter. Generally used in dramatic verse and is commonly found in long poems
Cacophony
Language which seems harsh, rough, and unmusical
Caesura
A natural pause or break
Connotation
An implied meaning of a word
Consonance
The repetition of the same consonant sounds, not vowels. It may occur in the middle or at the end of a series of words
Denotation
The literal meaning of a word, from the dictionary
Diction
The choice of words that a writer makes
Dramatic Monologue
A poem where the character speaks to an identifiable but silent listener in a dramatic moment of the speaker's life. Revealing about the speaker.
Elegy
A poem which is sad and reflective in tone. It is often inspired by the death of a particular person.
Epic
A lengthy narrative poem. The main character is a figure of heroic stature, the setting is vast, the action contains deeds of great valour, strength, and courage
Euphony
Language which strikes the ear as smooth, pleasant and musical
Free Verse
Poetry which has irregular line lengths and lacks rhyme
Imagery
Refers to the sights, sounds, tastes, feelings, and touch that we can envision through pictures in the words of poetry
Lyric Poem
A short poem wherein the poet expresses an emotion or illuminates some life principle, thought or feeling
Meter
A regular pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables in a line or lines of poetry
Narrative Poetry
A poem which tells a story. Usually a long poem, sometimes even book length
Ode
A poem in praise of something divine or expressing some noble idea
Parody
A literary work that imitates the style of another literary work
Poetic License
The poet or writer departs from the rules and conventions of standard spoken and written prose (syntax, word order, use of archaic or newly coined words) and the placing of an event or person or thing outside of its historical era.
Quatrain
A four-line stanza which may be rhymed or unrhymed.
Rhyme
In poetry, a pattern of repeated sounds. In end rhyme, the rhyme is at the end of the line.
Rhyme Scheme
The pattern with which the lines rhyme (abba, abab).
Rhythm
Recurrences of stressed and unstressed syllables at equal intervals, similar to meter
Sonnet
A lyric poem of fourteen lines whose rhyme scheme is fixed. Two kinds are Italian and English.
Stanza
A major subdivision in a poem
Symbol
A device in literature where an object represents an idea
Tone
Tone expresses the author's attitude toward his or her subject
Villanelle
A genre of poetry consisting of nineteen lines--five tercets and a concluding quatrain. The form requires that whole lines be repeated in a specific order, and that only two rhyming sounds occur in the course of the poem.
Alliteration
The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of each word.
Personification
An inanimate object or idea is given human qualities
Hyperbole
Overstatement or extreme exaggeration
Pun
Play on words
Simile
a comparison between two things using like or as
Metaphor
A comparison between two unlike things; does not use like or as; metaphor describes the subject as being the thing that it is compared to.
Onomatopoeia
The sound of the word reflects its meaning.
Malapropism
Deliberate misuse of words to create comic effect
Protagonist
the central figure of a story, and is often referred to as a story's main character
Antagonist
represents the opposition against which the heroes and/or protagonists must contend
Foreshadowing
the use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in literature
Dramatic Irony
when the audience has knowledge of something that characters in a literary work do not
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