Literary and Rhetorical Terms and Definitions

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Allusion

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A reference to history, literature, art, or the Bible; look for familiar names, stories, or places.

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Data

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Citations of information such as hard evidence.

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Personification

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A figure of speech where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts.

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Irony

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Language that means the opposite; look for opposing ideas in close proximity.

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Listing

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Sharing a list/sequence of words or ideas; look for a series of commas or semi-colons.

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Metaphor

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

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Simile

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

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Hyperbole

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An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally.

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Rhetorical Question

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A question asked for effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.

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Theme

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The central idea or message in a literary work.