ALLEGORY

ALLEGORY

story or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for other

people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities.

EXAMPLE:

Animal Farm; Dante’s Inferno; Lord of the Flies

ALLITERATION

ALLITERATION

repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are

close together.

EXAMPLE: “When the two youths turned with the flag they saw that much of the

regiment

had crumbled away, and the dejected remnant was coming slowly

back.” –Stephen Crane (Note how regiment and remnant are being used; the

regiment is gone, a remnant remains…)

ALLUSION

ALLUSION

reference to someone or something that is known from history, literature,

religion, politics, sports, science, or another branch of culture. An indirect reference to

something (usually from literature, etc.).

AMBIGUITY

AMBIGUITY

deliberately suggesting two or more different, and sometimes conflicting,

meanings in a work. An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way-

- this is done on purpose by the author, when it is not done on purpose, it is vagueness,

and detracts from the work.

ANALOGY

ANALOGY Comparison made between two things to show how they are alike

ANAPHORA

Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more

sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer’s

point more coherent. 

ANASTROPHE

Inversion of the usual, normal, or logical order of the parts of a

sentence. Purpose is rhythm or emphasis or euphony. It is a fancy word for inversion.

ANECDOTE

Brief story, told to illustrate a point or serve as an example of something,

often shows character of an individual