Literary Devices Flashcards

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Alliteration

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Repetition of the same beginning consonant sound in nearby words. Example: 'She sells seashells by the seashore.'

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Allusion

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A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work (literary, historical, etc.). Example: 'He was a real Einstein in math class.'

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Anaphora

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Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses. Example: 'We will fight. We will win. We will overcome.'

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Anecdote

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A short personal story used to illustrate a point or engage the audience. Example: A teacher tells a story about a past student to inspire the class.

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Antithesis

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The use of contrasting ideas in a parallel structure. Example: 'One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'

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Apostrophe

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Addressing an absent person, abstract idea, or object as if it could respond. Example: 'O Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name!'

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Asyndeton

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Omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence. Example: 'I came, I saw, I conquered.'

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Epistrophe

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Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive sentences or clauses. Example: 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.'

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Foreshadowing

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A hint or clue about what will happen later in the story. Example: A character sees storm clouds before a tragic event.

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Hyperbole

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Extreme exaggeration for emphasis. Example: 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.'