LITERARY DEVICE DEFINITIONS

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What is an oxymoron?

Back

An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction, such as 'deafening silence'.

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What is an allusion?

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An allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.

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What is assonance?

Back

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in neighboring words, such as in the phrase 'mellow wedding bells'.

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What is imagery?

Back

Imagery is a literary device that creates vivid images in the reader's mind by appealing to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell).

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What is a simile?

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A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things using the words 'like' or 'as', such as 'as brave as a lion'.

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What is a metaphor?

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A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things without using 'like' or 'as', such as 'time is a thief'.

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What is personification?

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Personification is a literary device that gives human traits and qualities to non-human things, such as 'the wind whispered through the trees'.

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What is irony?

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Irony is a literary device where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning, often used for humor or emphasis.

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What is alliteration?

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Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a series of words, such as 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers'.

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What is consonance?

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Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity within a sentence or phrase, such as 'pitter patter'.