AlliterationThe repetition of the first sound of several words in a piece of

literature.~

Aunt Alicia accumulated a lot of antique attire when she acquired her Aunt Abigail’s estate.

AllusionA reference present in one piece of literature that is found in another

literary work.

Levi’s parents were astounded by his Copperfield-liketactics for sneaking out of the house.

AssonanceThe repetition of vowel sounds

in a piece of literature. Muttering

under his breath a

robust Gunther took

his place on the line. The coach’s instructions stuck to

him like glue.

ConsonanceThe repetition of consonant sounds near one another in a piece of literature.A dove moved silently above the waves.

ForeshadowingA method of creating

suspense by hinting about events that

will occur later on in a piece of literature.

“He didn’t know when. He didn’t know where, but

he knew that something was amiss. His fate was yet to be determined.”

MetaphorA statement that makes a direct comparison

between unlike objects, ideas or concepts.

Life is a puzzle.(Life is compared to a puzzle.)

Extended Metaphor:Life is a puzzle; you may have all the pieces, but the “big picture” isn’t complete until the last piece is snapped into place.

SimileA statement that makes

a comparison between unlike objects, ideas or concepts using the words “like” or “as”.

In a flash like lightening, he was

gone.

Your situation can change as quickly as a

blink of an eye.

OnomatopoeiaA word that is spelled like the sound it makes.

PersonificationA statement that gives a nonhuman object human characteristics.

“The chair moaned in agony when I sat down on it.”

FlashbackA device that allows the

writer to present events that happened before the current events in the fiction.

Flashback techniques include memories, dreams, or stories of the past told by characters.

The author might simply say:

"But back in Tom's youth. . . ." or “Tom remember a time when he lived alone on the island.”

IronyIrony is the difference

between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

Three kinds:Verbal: stressing a word

in such a way that you mean the opposite of the word’s literal meaning

Situational: the actions in the scene are ironic

Dramatic: the audience knows something that a character in a drama doesn’t

Verbal irony: Someone trips, and another

person says, “Aren’t you graceful?”

Situational: In The Crucible, Abigail Williams was the only one practicing witchcraft, yet everyone else gets convicted of it and hangs when she accuses them.

Dramatic: In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows that Juliet isn’t really dead, but Romeo thinks she is truly dead.