Literary Terminology

the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of several words in a sentence or line of poetry

• connotation

• consonance

• alliteration

• assonance

the repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words

• alliteration

• assonance

• rhyme

• consonance

the repetition of the same consonant sound within or at the end of words

• consonance

• connotation

• alliteration

• assonance

the non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning

• diction

• denotation

• connotation

• colloquialism

the dictionary definition of a word

• connotation

• denotation

• diction

• colloquialism

the specific words an author uses in his writing

• connotation

• denotation

• onomatopoeia

• diction

slang or informal in speech or writing, including local or regional dialects

• connotation

• onomatopoeia

• colloquialism

• diction

a story in which characters and events represent qualities or concepts that are meant to reveal an abstraction or a truth.

• allusion

• allegory

• assonance

• colloquialism

a direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.

• symbol

• allegory

• allusion

• onomatopoeia

the use of words whose sound echoes, imitates, or indicates its meaning

• consonance

• assonance

• onomatopoeia

• alliteration