Allegory
A work with two levels of meaning - a literal one a symbolic one.
Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
Allusion
An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary
work with which the author believes the reader will be familiar.
Anaphora
A repetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive
lines, clauses, or sentences.
Anecdote
A brief story that focuses on a single episode or event in a
person�s life and that is used to illustrate a particular point.
Antihero
A protagonist who has the qualities opposite to those of a
hero; he or she may be insecure, ineffective, cowardly, sometimes
dishonest or dishonorable, most often a failure.
Antithesis
Opposite and is used as a literary device to put two
contrasting ideas together.
Aphorism
A brief statement, usually one sentence long, that expresses a
general principle or truth about life.
Archetype
A pattern in literature that is found in a variety of works
from different cultures throughout the ages.
Aside
A short speech to the audience, or another character, that is
not heard by the other characters on stage.