Literary Analysis Study Guide

the repetition at close intervals of the starting sounds for a purpose

• alliteration

• allegory

• cacaphony

• climax

a narrative in which the characters often stand for abstract concepts

• analogy

• ambiguity

• allegory

• assonance

double or more than one meaning

• ambiguity

• antagonist

• assonance

• ballad

a reference to something in literature, history, mythology, etc

• allegory

• allusion

• apostrophe

• catalog

the character or force that opposes the protagonist

• antagonist

• allusion

• ballad

• catalog

the device, usually in poetry, of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person to make a dramatic break within the poem

• apostrophe

• cacaphony

• conceit

• conflict

the repetition at close intervals of vowel sounds for a purpose

• alliteration

• ambiguity

• assonance

• euphony

a narrative poem that was originally meant to be sung

• ballad

• paradox

• oxymoron

• parody

harsh, clashing, or dissonant sounds, often produced by combinations of words that require a clipped, explosive delivery

• ballad

• cacaphony

• foil

• consonance

a long list of anything

• catalog

• inventory

• syntax

• suspense