Literary Devices Flashcards

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Alliteration

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repetition of consonant sound in words occurring near one another. Example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

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Dramatic Irony

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when the audience is aware of things the characters are not.

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Foreshadowing

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presentation of material in a way that prepares for later events. Example: A character has a bad dream.

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Hyperbole

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an obvious exaggeration or overstatement. Example: You always say that! I’m starving!

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Imagery

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appeals to the senses, provides a mental picture. Example: The dark, cold room smelt of mold.

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Metaphors

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comparison of two unlike things without using “like” or “as.” Example: He was a statue, waiting to hear the news.

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Onomatopoeia

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word that sounds like its meaning. Example: crunch, zap, whoosh

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Oxymoron

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contradictory combination of words. Example: Jumbo shrimp, act naturally, bittersweet.

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Personification (figurative)

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giving human characteristics to inanimate objects. Example: My car drank the gasoline in one gulp.

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Pun

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is a humorous play on words, often involving double meanings. Examples: A man stole a case of soap from the corner store. He made a clean getaway.