Literary Terms Review

Use of a word whose pronunciation suggests its meaning. "Buzz," "Thud," Pop."

• Onomatopoeia

• Imagery

• Plot

Conscious exaggeration used to heighten effect.

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Simile

A thing, event, or person that represents or stands for some idea or event.

• Symbolism

• Euphemism

• Motif

A less offensive synonym; a word or phrase used in place of a term that might be considered
too direct, harsh, unpleasant, or offensive.

• Alliteration

• Paradox

• Euphemism

Hints of what is to come later in the story.

• Foreshadowing

• Tone

• Flashback

When a situation turns out differently than expected.

• Verbal Irony

• Situational Irony

• Dramatic Irony

the reason an author writes about a particular topic (e.g., to persuade, to entertain, to inform, to explain to analyze, etc.); the reason an author includes particular details, features, or devices in a work

• author's purpose

• mood

• motif

• personal narrative

the emotions or set of associations attached to a word that is implied rather than literal (e.g., feeling blue)

• setting

• connotative meaning

• denotative meaning

• figurative language

the dictionary definition of a word; the literal or cognitive meaning

• connotative meaning

• tone

• voice

• denotative meaning

word choice that may be determined by the writer or speaker’s style, purpose, and need to communicate accurately, appropriately, and understandably to a specific audience expression

• context

• conflict

• diction

• denotative meaning