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repetition of beginning consonant sounds
EX: “…the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain”-- Poe |
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a reference to a literary work or an event in history that the reader can be
assumed to recognize
EX: “Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed by a kiss.”—Patrick Henry |
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compares two things, which are alike in several respects, for the purpose of
explaining or clarifying some unfamiliar object or idea by showing how the idea or object is
similar to some familiar one.
EX: Knowledge always desires increase: it is like fire, which must first be kindled by some
external agent, but which will afterwards propagate itself. – Samuel Johnson |
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repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of several sentences or
clauses/phrases within a sentence.
EX: Slowly and grimly they advanced, not knowing what lay ahead, not knowing what they
would find at the top of the hill, not knowing they were so near to Disneyland. |
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a small story told to illustrate a point or highlight a characteristic.
EX: A noted one [Tory] who kept a tavern at Amboy, was standing at his door, with as pretty a
child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as I ever saw, and after speaking his
mind…finished with this unfatherly expression “Well, Give me peace in my day,”…a
generous parent should have said,” If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child
may have peace.”—Thomas Paine |
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the contrast of ideas through parallel arrangements of words or sentences;
establishes a clear, contrasting relationship between two ideas by joining them together.
EX: That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.—Neil Armstrong |
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a brief statement of known authorship that expresses a general truth or moral principal; short,
pointed statement that expresses a wise or clever observation about the human experience
EX: Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.—Benjamin Franklin |
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Definition
the emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established
partly by the setting and partly by the author’s choice of objects that are described.
Frequently, atmosphere foreshadows events.
EX: During the whole of a dull, dark and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the
clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a
singularly dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew
on, within the view of the melancholy House of Usher.—Poe |
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Definition
the suggested or implied meanings that are associated with a word beyond its denotative,
or dictionary, definition.
EX: aromatic vs. smelly; melodious vs. cacophonic ; bright vs. garish |
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metaphors, similes, or other literary devices that are used to clarify a point being
made
EX: She’s carrying a lot of baggage; her family was really dysfunctional |
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a figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement, often for comic effect.
May also be of serious intent or may produce irony.
EX: I said “rare” not “raw.” I’ve seen cows hurt worse than this get up and get well. |
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Definition
the sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent
abstractions. Physically, refers to the appeal to the five senses. An image can represent more
than one thing.
EX: What with the dropping blood, and what with the dropping wine, and what with the stream of
sparks stuck out of the stone, all their wicked atmosphere seemed gore and fire.—Charles
Dickens |
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to draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.
EX: From your fierce expression, I can infer that you are angry with me. |
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the placing of two elements side by side for effect
EX: The sainted minister in the church! The woman of the scarlet letter in the market place! What
imagination would have been irreverent enough to surmise that the same scorching stigma was on
them both!—Nathaniel Hawthorne |
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Definition
compares two different things by speaking of one in terms of another – by saying one thing
is another rather than is like another.
EX: Sometimes, he spent hours together in the great libraries of Paris…He was, in a manner, a
literary ghoul, feeding in the charnal-house of decayed literature.—Washington Irving |
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Definition
the use of sentences of a particular length for effect (inserting a short sentence among longer,
complex structures; the use of multiple short sentences to speed up the text or use of long
sentences to slow down the text.
EX: At times, a fearful doubt strove to possess her soul, whether it were not better to send Pearl at
once to heaven, and go herself to such futurity as Eternal Justice should provide. The scarlet letter
had not done its office. –Nathaniel Hawthorne |
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a statement that is seemingly contradictory but is actually true.
EX: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of
foolishness… --Charles Dickens |
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Definition
also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this term comes from the
Greek meaning “beside one another.” It refers to the grammatical framing of words in
which several parts of a sentence or several sentences are expressed grammatically
similarly to show that the ideas in the parts or sentences are equal in importance.
EX: We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness.—Thomas Jefferson |
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Definition
a sentence that presents its central meaning in the main clause at the end, usually
after a series of subordinate clauses.
EX: "And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge;
and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."
--The King James Bible, I Corinthians 13 |
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Term
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Definition
a strong memorable conclusion to an argumentative or persuasive speech or discourse,
sometimes in an essay
EX: I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!—
Patrick Henry |
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Definition
repeating words, phrases, or images for effect
EX: He will be known. He will be known. He will be known.—Nathaniel Hawthorne |
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a question whose answer is obvious or obviously desired, and usually just a yes
or no. It is used for effect, emphasis, or provocation, or for drawing a
conclusionary statement from the facts at hand.
EX: We shrink from change; yet is there anything that can come into being without it? What does
Nature hold dearer, or more proper to herself? Could you be nourished if the food suffered no
change? Do you not see, then, that change in yourself is of the same order, and not less necessary
to Nature? –Marcus Aurelius |
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Term
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Definition
a comparison between two different things that resemble each other n at least one way. In
formal prose, the simile is a device both of art and explanation, comparing an unfamiliar thing
to some familiar thing known to the reader. Usually established with like or as
EX: Fortune is like glass—the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken.—Publilius Syrus |
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Term
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Definition
the way the author chooses to join words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. Syntax refers to the
groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words. Syntax is typically chosen for
effect, and students must analyze its effect. |
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