Ms. Dobson-Efpatridis
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Foreshadowing:
When hints or clues are
given about events that
will happen later in the
story.
Example:
A character breaks a
mirror, a black cat
crosses his path and
then later on in the
story something bad
happens to him/her.
Flashback:
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A useful device that
provides information
about an earlier event;
the writer shifts from
the present to the past
to illustrate an
important point.
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The story is told in the
past tense and relived
through a character’s
memory.
Irony:
 A contrast between
what is said and what
is meant or between
expectations and
reality.
Example:
 “I was never nicer to
the old man as I was
the week before I
killed him.”
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Verbal Irony:
Occurs when a character
says one thing literally,
but really means
something else.
There is an implied
meaning opposite to what
is said.
Example:
When you don’t complete
your homework, and I say
with sarcasm, “I can see
that you are really
working hard in this
course!”
Situational Irony:
 The actual outcome is
different from what is
expected.
Example:
 You study hard for a
test and fail it.
Dramatic Irony:
 When we the reader
or audience member
is aware of
something that is
about to occur, but
the character in the
text is not.
Tone:
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The attitude the author
has towards the subject
he/she is writing about.
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This is most often
created through the
author’s choice of
words.
Do NOT confuse with
Mood or Atmosphere
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Symbol:
An object, image,
character, or action
that stands for an idea
beyond its literal
meaning.
Example:
Rose = Love
Cross = Sacrifice
Lamb = Gentleness
Allusion:
 When casual
reference is made to
a famous historical or
literary figure or
event to add meaning
to the text.
Example:
 Christ
 Greek gods (Zeus)
 “Oh how I long for my
own Rapunzel!”
Allegory:
 A story with an
underlying meaning as
well as a literal one.
Example:
 Little Red Riding Hood
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Metaphor:
Comparing two things
WITHOUT using “like”
or “as”.
Example:
His love was a sponge,
soaking me up.
My students are angels.
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Simile:
Comparing two things
USING “like” or “as”.
Example:
“Our love is like a warm
fire.”
“She was angry as a
bear.”
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Hyperbole:
An exaggeration or
overstatement.
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Example:
“I called you a thousand
times last night.”
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“His feet are about 10
feet long.”
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Alliteration:
The repetition of the
initial letter or
sounds in two or
more words in a line
or group of lines. Or
repetition of
consonant sounds
within the words.
Example:
“He is a witty, whiny,
worthless young
man.”
Oxymoron:
 Two contrasting
words/ideas put
together.
Example:
 Jumbo Shrimp
 Cold Heat
 Hard Love
 Bitter Sweet
Onomatopoeia:
 Words that sound
the way they are
spelled.
Example:
 Bang
 Boom
 Buzzzzz
Pun:
 Is a play on words
for dramatic effect.
Exploit double
meanings for
humorous impact.
Example:
 “I am reading a
book about antigravity. It is
impossible to put
down.”
Diction:
 The author’s choice
of words, which can
create the tone or
atmosphere.
Example:
 Sharp words
 Kind words
Analogy:
 A comparison
between two things
that are different but
have one thing in
common.
Example:
 An extended simile –
He was like Christ in
that he sacrificed
everything he had for
his friends.
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Her face was a
perfect oval, like a
circle that had its two
sides gently
compressed by a
ThighMaster.
Imagery:
 When images are
created by a writer
using concrete
details, adjectives,
and figures of
speech.
Example:
 Blossoming flower,
reaching towards
the sun.
Archetype:
 A basic patter or
concept common to
people of different
times and cultures.
A pattern,
character, or
situation frequently
found in literature.
Example:
 Mother
 Hero
 Christ figure
Pathetic Fallacy:
 When nature mimics
what is happening in
the story.
Example:
 Rain when a
character is sad or
depressed.
 A hail storm when a
character is
experiencing a crisis.
Pathos:
 When the author
writes in such a way
as to arouse feelings
of pity or sympathy in
the reader.
Example:
 He was tortured,
beaten, utterly alone.
Personification:
 When something nonhuman is given human
qualities.
Example:
 Death is knocking at
my door.
 The sun extended its
hand to keep me
warm that day.
Paradox:
 A phrase that seems
to be contradictory,
but actually does hold
some truth.
Example:
 To believe with
certainty we must
begin with doubting.
Juxtaposition:
 Putting opposites
beside each other in
order to show the
differences.
Example:
 Comparing a pure
character with an evil
one, to emphasize
how good the pure
character is.
Understatement:
 Saying less than
what is true for
effect.
Example:
 My parents were
disappointed when I
smashed their new
car!