Allegory
The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning.
Alliteration
The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words
Allusion
A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art
Ambiguity
Multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage
Analogy
A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them
Antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun
Antithesis
The opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite
Aphorism
Statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle
Apostrophe
Figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction
Atmosphere
The emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the authors choice of objects that are described
Caricature
A verbal description to exaggerate for comic effect a persons distinctive physical features or other characteristics
Clause
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb
colloquial/colloquialism
The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing; conversational or familiar tone.
Conceit
A fanciful expression in the form of an extended metaphor displays intellectual cleverness
Connotation
The implied, suggested meaning. Involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes
Denotation
The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word
Diction
Refers to the writers word choices
Didactic
From the Greek word for teaching
Euphemism
A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept
extended metaphor
Metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work
figurative language
Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid
Figure of speech
A device used to produce figurative language; include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement
Genre
The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose and drama
Homily
Literally means sermon. It can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice
Hyperbole
A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement
Imagery
Sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions; uses terms related the five senses
Inference/infer
To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented
Invective
An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language
Irony/ ironic
The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant; the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true. Verbal, situational, dramatic
Litotes
A form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite. Opposite of hyperbole
Loose sentence/non-periodic sentence
Type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses
Metaphor
A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things
Metonymy
A figure of speech in which the name of object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it
Mood
The prevailing atmosphere of emotional aura. Similar to tone and atmosphere
Narrative
The telling of a story or an account of an event or series (includes narrator)
Onomatopoeia
A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.
Oxymoron
Figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox
Paradox
A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity
Parallelism
Also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure comes from Greek roots meaning "beside one another
Parody
A word that closely imitates the style of content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule
Pedantic
An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish. Using big word for the sake of using big words.
Periodic sentence
The opposite of loose sentence. Presents it's central meaning in a mean clause at the end.
Personification
A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.
Point of view
The perspective from which a story is told
Prose
One of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including. All it's forms.