This document defines and provides examples of various literary devices and story elements including: alliteration, allusion, metaphor, hyperbole, simile, mood, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, paradox, rhyme, tone, antagonist, protagonist, climax, falling action, resolution, suspense, foreshadowing, dilemma, mystery, reversal, conflict, plot, flashback, irony, point of view, setting, symbol, theme, and genre. It examines these concepts in 3 sentences or less to highlight their key attributes and functions.

2. Alliteration
The practice of beginning several consecutive or
neighboring words with the same sound.
“The twisting trout twinkled below.”

3. Allusion
A reference to a mythological, literary, or historic
person, place, or thing.
“He met his Waterloo.”

4. Allusion
A reference to a mythological, literary, or historic
person, place, or thing.
“He met his Waterloo.”

5. Metaphor
A comparison of two unlike things not using “like” or “as.”
“Time is money.”

6. Hyperbole
A deliberate, extravagant, and often outrageous
exaggeration.
“The shot heard ‘round the world.”

7. Simile
A comparison of two different things or ideas through the use of the
words “like” or “as.”
“The warrior fought like a lion.”

8. Mood
 Mood is the emotion that you feel while you are reading. Some
literature makes you feel sad, others joyful, still others, angry.
 The general atmosphere created by the author’s words and
imagery.
 Types of mood: scary, romantic,
violent, hopeful, mysterious, joyful. . .

9. Onomatopeia
The use of words that mimic the sounds they describe.
When onomatopoeia is used on an extended scale in a
poem, it is called imitative harmony.
“Hiss,” “buzz,” and “bang.”

10. Oxymoron
A form of paradox that combines a pair of opposite
terms into a single unusual expression.
“sweet sorrow” or “cold fire”

11. Paradox
When the elements of a statement contradict each other.
Although the statement may appear illogical, impossible, or
absurd, it turns out to have a coherent meaning that reveals a
hidden truth.
“Much madness is divinest sense.”

12. Rhyme
The repetition of sounds in two or more
words or phrases that appear close to each
other in a poem.
End Rhyme, Internal Rhyme, and Slant
Rhyme are all different types of rhyme.

13. Tone
The manner in which written words might be said. For example:
sarcastic, hateful, witty, angry
Tone is different from mood in that a story typically has one mood;
whereas, tone can change a lot throughout a story.

14. Antagonist
The character or force which opposes the main character.

15. Protagonist
The main character in a work of
fiction

16. • the turning point of a story

17. Falling Action
– The action and dialogue
following the climax that lead
the reader into the story’s end.
Resolution
- The conflict is resolved (positively or negatively)
and the story is brought to a close
- Also know as “Denouement”

18. Suspense
The uncertainty or anxiety that a reader feels about what will
happen in a story
– Foreshadowing
– Dilemma
– Mystery
– Reversal

19. Foreshadowing
Clues (real or false) that hint at a
story’s outcome

20. Dilemma
A character that we care
about is in peril or must
choose between two
dangerous courses of
action

21. Mystery
The creation of suspense by
withholding information or by
presenting unusual
circumstances

22. Reversal
A sudden change in a
character’s situation from
good to bad or vice versa

23. Conflict
A problem to be resolved; a struggle within a character,
between characters, or with an outside force

24. Conflict-man v. man

25. Conflict-man v. nature

26. Conflict-man v. himself

27. Conflict-man v. society

28. Plot
A series of related
events that present
and resolve a
conflict

29. Flashback
Reenactment of a past event

30. Irony
Contrary to fact; contrast between appearance and reality, usually one
that is opposite from what is expected
Verbal Irony: Saying one thing, but meaning something else. . . knowingly
exaggerating. (sarcasm)
Example: Teacher: “I can see from the ‘F’ on your paper that you put a lot
of effort into your assignment.”

31. Irony of character

32. Situational Irony

33. Point of View
The perspective that the author has chosen to tell the story.

34. Point of View-first person, author participant
Point of view in which the author is telling the story from the
viewpoint from inside a particular character. "I, me, my"

35. Point of View-second person point of view
Point of view in which the author is telling the story from your viewpoint. The author uses the
pronoun "you" and places the reader within the story. This is rarely used.

36. Point of View-third person, author limited
Point of view in which the
author is telling the story
from the viewpoint of one
character's thoughts,
actions, knowledge."He,
she, it"

37. Point of View-third person, author omniscient
Point of view in which the author is telling the
story from the viewpoint of all the characters,
their thoughts and actions. Narrator is outside
of the story. "He, she, it"

38. Setting
The time and place in which the action of a
narrative occurs
 Place - geographical location. Where is the
action of the story taking place?
 Time - When is the story taking place?
(historical period, time of day, year, etc)
 Weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny,
stormy, etc?

40. Describe the Setting

41. Symbol
Something that stands for something
else

42. Theme
The main/central idea
of a story

43. Genre
A category of literary or artistic work

44. The End