Academic Literacy: Literary Devices

Front

Written conversation between characters.

Back

Dialogue

Front

A writer's or speaker's choice of words and arrangement in sentences.

Back

diction

Front

A conversation or event that occurred before the story begins.

Back

flashback

Front

Hints or clues indicating future events in a plot.

Back

foreshadowing

Front

Descriptive words or phrases that evoke sensory experiences for the reader, engaging the five senses.

Back

Imagery

Front

A person, place, activity, or object that represents something beyond itself.

Back

symbol

Front

Language that conveys ideas beyond literal meanings.

Back

Figurative language

Front

A figure of speech comparing two things using "like" or "as."

Back

simile

Front

A figure of speech comparing two things without 'like' or 'as'.

Back

metaphor

Front

A figure of speech where truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humor.

Back

hyperbole