Literary Terms Cornerstone

Front

Literary Device

Back

A tool used by the author to enliven and provide voice to the text, such as dialogue or alliteration.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

Front

Irony

Back

The use of a word or phrase to mean the opposite of its literal or usual meaning; incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the expected result.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

Front

Personification

Back

An object or abstract idea given human qualities or human form (e.g., 'Flowers danced about the lawn').

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

Front

Diction

Back

An author’s choice of words, phrases, sentence structures, and figurative language that combine to help create meaning and tone.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D

Front

Paradox

Back

A seemingly contradictory statement that is nevertheless true (e.g., 'Less is more').

Front

Metaphor

Back

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

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Front

Simile

Back

A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Front

Alliteration

Back

The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words (e.g., 'She sells sea shells by the sea shore').

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Front

Mood

Back

The emotional atmosphere created by a literary work, influencing how the reader feels.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Front

Theme

Back

The central idea or underlying message in a literary work.

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D