Literary Terms

Front

What is Alliteration?

Back

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, often used in poetry and tongue twisters.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.RL.2.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

Front

What is an Idiom?

Back

A whole phrase with an implied alternate meaning that is not deducible from the individual words.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5B

CCSS.L.5.5B

Front

What is Characterization?

Back

The process by which an author shows or tells the audience what the personality of a character is.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Front

What is a Metaphor?

Back

A comparison between two things that have something in common without using 'like' or 'as'.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5A

CCSS.L.5.5A

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.W.11-12.2D

Front

What is Onomatopoeia?

Back

The use of words whose sound suggests their meaning, such as 'buzz', 'hiss', or 'pop'.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

Front

What is Connotation?

Back

The implied or suggested meaning of a word, which goes beyond its literal definition.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.5C

CCSS.L.8.5C

CCSS.L.9-10.5B

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Front

What is Denotation?

Back

The literal or primary meaning of a word, as opposed to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.6

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.L.9-10.6

CCSS.W.7.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

Front

What is Personification?

Back

A literary device where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts.

Tags

CCSS.L.6.5A

Front

What is Theme?

Back

The central idea or underlying message in a literary work.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Front

What is Diction?

Back

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing, which can affect tone and meaning.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.6

CCSS.L.8.6

CCSS.W.7.2D

CCSS.W.8.2D

CCSS.W.9-10.2D