Literary Terms

A gross exaggeration; describing a situation or event by making it more than it really is; used to evoke feelings or make a point.

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

A person, place, object, or action that stands for something beyond itself.

When the reader knows something the characters do not.

The use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in the story.

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.

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

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

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

The emotional atmosphere created by a piece of writing.