50 Literary Devices (Definitions) - BC English 12 Provincial Exam Review
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alliteration
the repetition of the initial consonant sound in words
assonance
the repetition of vowel sounds
consonance
the repetition of consonant sounds in the middle or at the end of words
enjambment
when the writer uses line breaks meaningfully and abruptly to either emphasize a point or to create dual meanings
imagery
when the writer or speaker uses their descriptions to access the senses of the reader of listener
repetition
when the writer or speaker knowingly repeats a word or group of words for effect
rhyme
when the end or final sound of two or more words are identical
rhythm
when the arrangement of words creates an audible pattern or beat when read out loud
onomatopoeia
when the words sound like what they mean
idiom
an accepted phrase or expression having a meaning different from the literal
simile
a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with ‘like’ or ‘as’)
metaphor
a comparison between two unlike things
hyperbole
a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor
personification
representing an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature
meter
a pattern of stressed/unstressed syllables in poetry
end rhyme
rhyme that occurs at the end of two or more lines of poetry
allegory
a story, play, or picture in which characters or settings are used as symbols or abstract ideas
allusion
a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize
slant rhyme
two words that have some sound in common but do not rhyme exactly
tone
the attitude a writer takes towards a subject, character, or the reader
internal rhyme
rhyme that occurs within a line, rather than at the end
diction
a writer’s or speaker’s choice of words
oxymoron
an expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined
cacophony
loud, harsh, or disagreeable sounds
blank verse
poetic form written in unrhymed iambic pentameter
free verse
poetic form that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme
ballad
a type of poem that is meant to be sung and is both lyric and narrative in nature
colloquial language
informal language; language that is “conversational”
euphemism
an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant
elegy
A sad or mournful poem, especially one mourning the dead
irony
a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens
foil
two characters that highlight each other by their differences
foreshadowing
the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot
juxtaposition
placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast
lyric
a short poem of songlike quality
monologue
a speech made by one actor or speaker
ode
a poem usually addressed to a particular person, object or event that has stimulated deep and noble feelings in the poet
paradox
an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth
pun
a play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings
rhetorical question
a question asked for an effect, not actually requiring an answer
sarcasm
harsh words intended to hurt someone
satire
a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision
symbol
something that stands for or represents something else
understatement
saying less than one means, for effect
wit
intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights
stream of consciousness
a style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind
sonnet
Fourteen-line poem that is usually written in iambic pentameter and has one of several rhyme schemes.
epiphany
a moment of sudden realization or insight
epitaph
an inscription on a tombstone or monument in memory of the person buried there
atmosphere
The emotional mood created by a literary work
50 Literary Devices (Definitions) - BC English 12 Provincial Exam Review. (2018, Jan 05). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/paper-on-50-literary-devices-definitions-bc-english-12-provincial-exam-review/
