LITERARY DEVICE DEFINITIONS

Front

What is an allusion?

Back

A brief and often indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.

Front

What is a pun?

Back

A play on words that has a humorous effect by using a word that suggests two or more meanings, or by using similar sounding words that have different meanings.

Front

What is an idiom?

Back

An expression or phrase that cannot be understood if taken literally.

Front

What is imagery in literature?

Back

A literary device that uses word choice and language to appeal to a reader's senses.

Front

What is alliteration?

Back

The repetition of beginning consonant sounds in neighboring words.

Front

What is personification?

Back

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

Front

What is onomatopoeia?

Back

A literary device where a word imitates the natural sound of a thing, e.g., 'buzz', 'whisper', 'bang'.

Front

What is irony?

Back

A literary device where the intended meaning is different from the actual meaning, often highlighting a contrast.

Front

What is a metaphor?

Back

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.

Front

What is simile?

Back

A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'.