WorksheetsLiterary/Rhetorical/Poetic Devices
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
Pathetic Fallacy
Nature or inanimate things are described in a way that is sympathetic or prophetic about the events or emotions of the characters. Example: The Witches enter with thunder and lightning in Macbeth.
A literary device where human emotions are attributed to animals or objects.
A technique used to create a sense of irony in a narrative.
A form of exaggeration used to emphasize a point.
Example of understatement in cold weather.
"It's freezing outside!"
"It's a bit cold."
"I'm shivering!"
"It's like an icebox!"
Euphemism
A word used to take the place of another word because it is offensive or would be used in bad taste.
A term used to describe a person who is overly sensitive.
A phrase that means the opposite of what is intended.
A slang term used in informal conversations.
Anaphora
A literary device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences.
A rhetorical device that involves the use of irony to convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaning.
A technique where a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences.
A method of creating a contrast between two opposing ideas.
Reader knows something the character does not.
Dramatic Irony
Situational Irony
Verbal Irony
Cosmic Irony
Metaphor
A direct comparison.
A type of simile.
An exaggerated statement.
A literal description.
Dramatic Irony
When the reader or viewer shares knowledge with the writer that the character does not have.
When a character says one thing but means another.
When the audience knows something that the characters do not.
When the plot twists unexpectedly at the end.
Denotation
The emotional meaning of a word.
The literal meaning from the dictionary.
A word's connotation in a specific context.
A synonym for a word.
Situational irony
occurs when what actually happens is different from what is expected by the reader or viewer.
is when a character's actions lead to an unexpected outcome.
happens when the audience knows something that the characters do not.
is a literary device used to create suspense.
Short sentence
A sentence containing a few words, often used for emphasis.
A long and complex sentence with multiple clauses.
A sentence that is always a question.
A sentence that contains at least ten words.
Cacophony
A pleasant harmony of sounds.
A harsh discordant mixture of sounds.
A rhythmic pattern of music.
A soft whispering noise.
Asyndeton
Omission of conjunctions between phrases, clauses, words.
Inclusion of excessive conjunctions in a sentence.
A rhetorical device that repeats the same word or phrase.
A figure of speech that contrasts two opposing ideas.
Example of Epistrophe
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
“To err is human; to forgive, divine.”
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed.”
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Example of Rhetorical Question
“Have you ever stopped to think about where the human race would be if nobody ever made sacrifices?”
“Isn't it a bit too late to start now?”
“Why do we even bother trying?”
“Can you really believe everything you hear?”
Example of Connotation
A political and economic policy of segregation by race
A term that signifies freedom and equality
A concept related to peace and harmony
A method of promoting racial unity
Hypophora
A rhetorical device where a question is asked and answered by the same speaker.
A type of metaphor used in poetry.
A literary technique that involves the repetition of a phrase.
A form of dialogue between two characters.
Another Example of Parallel Structure
“His words were always soft and simple, his manner gentle and considerate, his heart warm and tender” (Luciano Dinardo, The Angel’s Kissing Spring)
“Her laughter was bright and infectious, her smile warm and inviting, her presence calming and reassuring”
“The sky was clear and blue, the sun bright and shining, the breeze cool and refreshing”
“His thoughts were deep and complex, his ideas innovative and inspiring, his approach practical and effective”
Use of symbols to represent ideas or emotions.
Metaphor
Symbolism
Allegory
Imagery
Juxtaposition
A literary device that involves the repetition of consonant sounds
A technique where two or more ideas, places, characters and their actions are placed side by side for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts
A method of creating suspense by delaying the resolution of a conflict
A form of irony where the opposite of what is expected occurs
Appositive
A noun or noun substitute placed next to another noun to be described or defined by the appositive.
A verb that describes an action performed by the subject.
An adjective that modifies a noun in a sentence.
A prepositional phrase that provides additional information about a noun.
