allegory
the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence
alliteration
the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of successive words
allusion
a reference, explicit or implicit, to something in previous literature or history
analogy
an extended comparison between two things/instances/people/etc. that share some similarity to make a point
connotation
the set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal meaning
denotation
the literal meaning of a word; the dictionary definition
diction
a writer's choice of sentence structures to help create meaning
enjambment
the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line or stanza
ethos
appealing to credibility
euphemism
the substitution of an inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant
foreshadowing
providing vague advance indications
hyperbole
extravagant exaggeration for the sake of emphasis
imagery
descriptive language that provides vivid images that evoke the senses
irony
stating the opposite of what is said or meant
logos
appealing to logic
metaphor
a figure of speech that suggests a non-literal similarity without using "like" or "as
mood
a reader's emotional response to an author's writing
onomatopoeia
using words that imitate the sound they denote
parallel structure
a repetition of words, phrases, or sentences using the same grammatical structure emphasizing all aspects of the sentence equally
pathos
appealing to emotion
personification
attributing human characteristics to abstract idea
repetition
the purposeful reuse of words, phrases, or ideas
rhetorical question
a question presented by the author that is not meant to be answered
rhyme
correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when these are used at the ends of lines of poetry
satire
technique used in literature, art, media, speech, and music to ridicule various aspects of popular culture, most commonly a political topic, in order to draw attention to social or cultural criticism and bring about change, and/or improvement
simile
a figure of speech expressing a resemblance between things using "like" or "as
stanza
a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem
symbol
something visible that represents something invisible
thesis
a statement of purpose, intent, or main idea in a literary work
tone
the attitude a writer takes toward the reader, a subject, or a character