Pre Flashcard Literary Terms 2024-25

Front

What is Personification?

Back

A literary device where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts.

Front

What does the term 'Good Samaritan' refer to?

Back

A person who goes out of the way to help another, derived from a biblical parable.

Front

What is Symbolism?

Back

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities; for example, a black cat symbolizing good marriage in southern England.

Front

What is Hyperbole?

Back

An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, such as 'This class is a million years long!'

Front

What is a Simile?

Back

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using 'like' or 'as', e.g., 'as brave as a lion'.

Front

What is Imagery?

Back

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

Front

What is Alliteration?

Back

The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words, e.g., 'She sells sea shells by the sea shore.'

Front

What is a Metaphor?

Back

A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as', e.g., 'Time is a thief.'

Front

What is Irony?

Back

A literary device where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning, often highlighting a contrast.

Front

What is Euphemism?

Back

A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt, e.g., 'passed away' instead of 'died'.