Literary Terms and Definitions

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juxtaposition

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The placement of two or more ideas, characters, settings, or themes side by side in a narrative or poem to highlight their contrasts or similarities, often used to create depth and provoke thought.

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A discrepancy between expectation and reality. Types include situational, verbal, and dramatic.

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Irony

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paradox

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A statement that appears contradictory or self-defeating but may reveal an underlying truth when examined closely.

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A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms to create a unique or thought-provoking expression.

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Oxymoron

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Conceit

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An extended metaphor that draws an elaborate and often surprising comparison between two seemingly dissimilar things, typically used to illustrate a complex idea or theme within a literary work.

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A rhetorical device in which a speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a non-human entity as if it were present and capable of responding.

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Apostrophe

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Antithesis

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A rhetorical device that juxtaposes contrasting ideas or phrases in a balanced structure, often used to highlight differences and create a sense of tension or conflict within a text.

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A form of understatement that employs double negatives or negation to express a positive statement, often used for ironic or emphatic effect. For example, saying "not bad" to mean "good."

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Litotes

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Allegory

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A narrative technique in which characters, events, and details symbolize deeper moral, political, or social meanings, often conveying complex ideas through figurative language and storytelling.

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A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated, often used to create a vivid image or evoke a particular idea. For example, using "the crown" to refer to royal authority.

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Metonymy