Literary Devices

Simile

A comparison of two unlike things using the words "like" or "as"
Example: Mrs. Borton is like a bear in the morning

Metaphor

A comparison of two unlike things without the words "like" or "as"
Example: Mrs. Borton is a chihuahua when she's angry

Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration
Example: He's the funniest man alive

Personification

Giving human characteristics to non-human things
Example: The sunlight danced across the floor.

Alliteration

The same beginning consonant sounds of two or more words in a sentence or line of poetry
Example: The beautiful bluebonnets blossomed in the bright sun.

Onomatopoeia

A word that sounds like what it is imitating
Example: crash! boom! bang! zip! zoom!

Idiom

A figurative saying that has a different meaning that its literal meaning
Example: She let the cat out of the bag.

Allusion

A reference to something well-known in literature, history, religion, or pop culture
Example: He is a real Romeo with the ladies (reference to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet)

Flashback

When a scene is interrupted to show a previous event

Foreshadowing

The author's use of hits or clues to suggest future events

Irony

The opposite of what you would expect
Example: A fire truck catching on fire

Suspense

A quality in literature that makes the reader uncertain or tense about the outcome of events

Symbolism

The use of any object, person, place, or action that has a higher meaning than itself
Example: The stars on the American flag represent the 50 states

Satire

The use of humorous devices like irony and hyperbole to highlight human folly or social problems

Mood

The overall feeling of a work of literature

Tone

The author's attitude toward a particular subject or character

Theme

The central message or lesson of a literary work

Exposition

The beginning of plot that introduces characters, setting, and conflict

Rising Action

The events of a story that lead up to the climax or turning point

Turning point or Climax

The one event in a story that changes the plot. This is usually the most exciting point of the story or the biggest conflict.

Falling Action

The events that happen in a story after the turning point or climax

Resolution

How the problems are solved or not solved in a story.