Literary Devices

Front 1

when an author says one thing and means something else.

Back 1

Verbal Irony

Front 2

when an audience can see something that a character in the literature cannot.

Back 2

Dramatic Irony

Front 3

the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

Back 3

Situational Irony

Front 4

when an author says one thing and means another.

Back 4

Verbal Irony

Front 5

when an audience can see something that a character in the literature cannot.

Back 5

Dramatic Irony

Front 6

the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

Back 6

Situational Irony

Front 7

a hint of things to come-it is usually a very unpleasant event.

Back 7

Foreshadowing

Front 8

the author's attitude toward his or her subject.

Back 8

Tone

Front 9

the atmosphere or feeling created by a literary work. It is a description of objects.

Back 9

Mood

Front 10

the use of words that sound like what they mean.

Back 10

Onomatopoeia

Front 11

a self-contradictory statement of expression like "pretty ugly" or "bitter sweet".

Back 11

Oxymoron

Front 12

the time and place in which the story happens.

Back 12

Setting

Front 13

the meaning or moral of the story.

Back 13

Theme

Front 14

the process of growing up. The character faces conflict, gains new awareness, and becomes more mature.

Back 14

Coming of Age

Front 15

people, animals, or imaginary creatures who take part in the action of the story.

Back 15

Characters

Front 16

one or two individuals who are most important to the story.

Back 16

Main Characters

Front 17

other individuals who are not as important.

Back 17

Minor Characters

Front 18

a struggle between two opposing forces.

Back 18

Conflict

Front 19

when a character struggles within himself because of a choice he must make.

Back 19

Internal Conflict

Front 20

when a character struggles with another character or outside force.

Back 20

External Conflict

Front 21

the comparison of two unlike things, using "like" or "as".

Back 21

Simile

Front 22

the comparison of two unlike things, without using "like" or "as".

Back 22

Metaphor

Front 23

a word that has a meaning similar to that of another word.

Back 23

Synonym

Front 24

a word having a meaning opposite to that of another word.

Back 24

Antonym

Front 25

giving human-like qualities to non-living objects.

Back 25

Personification

Front 26

a reference to a person, event, or figure that the reader would be able to recognize.

Back 26

Allusion

Front 27

the repetition of identical sounds at the ends of words or in close proximity to each other.

Back 27

Rhyme

Front 28

the repetition of repeated consonant sounds.

Back 28

Alliteration

Front 29

the repetition of similar vowel sounds in a sequence of words that do not rhyme.

Back 29

Assonance

Front 30

tools needed to get a better understanding of the text.

Back 30

Literary Devices

Front 31

logical guesses based on clues in the text and on the reader's own knowledge of common sense.

Back 31

Inferences

Front 32

a strategy or plan of analysis that examines the reasons for actions or events, and the consequences or results of those actions.

Back 32

Cause and Effect

Front 33

the most important point that the writer or author is trying to express to the reader.

Back 33

Main Idea

Front 34

the writer or author's objective, aim, or goal for introducing a topic.

Back 34

Author's Purpose

Front 35

the author's suggestion or proposed solution to the problem.

Back 35

Author's Message

Front 36

the sequence of events in a story.

Back 36

Plot

Front 37

to draw a mental picture in your head about characters, events, and setting to help you understand what's happening.

Back 37

Visualize

Front 38

to guess what will happen, by trying to figure out the text.

Back 38

Predict

Front 39

to search for reasons behind events and characters' feelings; It can help you feel closer to what you're reading.

Back 39

Question

Front 40

to link personally with what you're reading. Think of similarities between the descriptions in the selection and what you've personally experienced, heard, or read about.

Back 40

Connect

Front 41

To form an opinion or make a judgement about what you've read; To develop your own ideas about the characters and events.

Back 41

Evaluate

Front 42

To stop occasionally to review your understanding of what you've read. You do this by summarizing what you've read, identifying the main idea and making inferences (logical guesses). If you don't understand, reread the passage again.

Back 42

Clarify

Front 43

the conclusion of the play/story.

Back 43

Resolution/Denouement

Front 44

the events that occur immediately after the crisis is revealed.

Back 44

Falling Action

Front 45

moment of tension/conflict in the story where the main character must make a decision that ultimately affects the outcome of the story.

Back 45

Climax/High Point/Turning Point

Front 46

events that occur immediately after the conflict or problem is revealed.

Back 46

Rising Action