Tone/Literary Devices Cards

Maxim

A literary device, maxim is a simple and memorable line, quote or rule for taking action and leading a good life

Enthymeme

An argumentative statement in which the writer or the speaker omits one of the major or minor premises, does not clearly pronounce it, or keeps this premise implied

Benevolent

Characterized be expressing good will or kindly feelings

Apologetic

Containing apology or tone of fault

Anguish

Excruciating or acute distress

Angst

Feeling of dread

Acerbic

Harsh or severe as of temper

Ambitious

Having a desire to achieve something

Verisimilitude

In a literary work, verisimilitude is likeness to the truth i.e. resemblance of a fictitious work to a real event even if it is a far-fetched one

Litotes

Litotes are figures of rhetoric speech that use an understated statement of an affirmative by using a negative description

Candid

Outspoken, frank , open and sincere.

Persona

The term persona has been derived from a Latin word "persona" that means the mask of an actor, and is therefore etymologically linked to the dramatis personae which refers to the list of characters and cast in a play or a drama

Bantering

To speak in a playful or teasing way

Satire

Use of humor, irony, or satire

Appositive

When a noun or word is followed by another noun or phrase that renames or identifies it, this is called appositive. This is a literary device that appears before or after a noun or noun phrase. It is always used with commas

Mixed Metaphor

a combination of two or more incompatible metaphors

Dynamic Character

a dynamic character also undergoes changes throughout the narrative due to several conflicts he encounters on his journey. A dynamic character faces trials and tribulations and takes time to learn from encounters, other characters, experiences, and mistakes he/she commits

Logos

a literary device that can be defined as a statement, sentence or argument used to convince or persuade the targeted audience by employing reason or logic

Biblical Allusion

a passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication

Internal Rhyme

a poetic device which can be defined as metrical lines in which its middle words and its end words rhymes with each other

Idiom

a set expression or a phrase comprising two or more words

Sonnet

a sonnet has 14 fourteen lines and is written in iambic pentameter, each line has 10 syllables

Paradox

a statement that contradicts itself and still seems true somehow

Allegory

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning

Foreboding

a strong inner feeling or notion of a future misfortune

Homophone

a word that when pronounced seems similar to another word but has a different spelling

Allusion

an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly

Deus Ex Machina

an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel

Foreshadowing

be a warning or indication of (a future event)

Innuendo

can be defined as an indirect or a subtle observation about a thing or a person

Factual

concerning facts

Derisive

contemptuous; mocking; jeering; expressing ridicule

Utopia

denotes an illusionary place that projects the notion of a perfect society to the reader

Refutation

denotes that part of an argument where a speaker or a writer encounters contradicting points of view. Alternatively, refutation can be described as the negation of an argument, opinion, testimony, doctrine, or theory, through contradicting evidence

Detestable

deserving to be detested

Cynical

distrusting or disparaging the motives of others

Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally

Elegiac

expressing sorrow or lamentation

Choleric

extremely irritable or easily angered

Cacophonous

having a harsh or discordant sound

Fervent

having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit

Metonymy

in literature refers to the practice of not using the formal word for an object or subject and instead referring to it by using another word that is intricately linked to the formal name or word

Foil

is a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character with the objective to highlight the traits of the other character

Zoomorphism

is a derivative of a Greek word zōon that means animal and morphē means form or shape. It is a literary technique in which the animal attributes are imposed upon non-animal objects

Zeugma

is a figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas

Hypophora

is a figure of speech in which a writer raises a question and then immediately provides an answer to that question

Oxymoron

is a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect

Catachresis

is a figure of speech in which writers use mixed metaphors in an inappropriate way to create rhetorical effect

Ode

is a form of poetry such as sonnet or elegy, etc. Ode is a literary technique that is lyrical in nature, but not very lengthy

Tragic Flaw

is a literary device that can be defined as a trait in a character leading to his downfall and the character is often the hero of the literary piece

Prosthesis

is a literary device that involves the addition of an extra sound or syllable to the beginning of a word that helps in making it easier to pronounce

Exposition

is a literary device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters etc. to the audience or readers

Syncope

is a literary device which can be defined as the contraction or the shortening of a word by omitting sounds, syllables or letters from the middle of the word

Synecdoche

is a literary devices that uses a part of something to refer to the whole or vice versa

Vernacular

is a literary genre that uses daily used language in writing and speaking. It is different from written works, as they normally follow the formal variety of language

Jargon

is a literary term that is defined as a use of specific phrases and words by writers in a particular situation, profession or trade

Light and Dark Imagery

is a motif in a work of literature wherein various representations of brightness and darkness are placed in proximity to each other in order to compare or accentuate ideas

Parenthesis

is a qualifying or explanatory sentence, clause or word that writers insert into a paragraph or passage

Tautology

is a repetitive use of phrases or words which have similar meanings. In simple words, it is expressing the same thing, an idea or saying two or more times

Amplification

is a rhetorical device writers use to embellish a sentence or statement by adding further information. The objective is to increase readability and worth of the statement or sentence

Hubris

is a typical flaw in the personality of a character who enjoys a powerful position; as a result of which, he overestimates his capabilities to such an extent that he loses contact with reality

Malapropism

is a use of an incorrect word in place of a similar sounding word that results in a nonsensical and humorous expression

Rhetorical Question

is asked just for effect or to lay emphasis on some point discussed when no real answer is expected

Trimeter

is defined as a meter or a line that consists of three iambic feet. It is one of the five main types of iamb

Onomatopoeia

is defined as a word, which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates a sound effect that mimics the thing described, making the description more expressive and interesting

Cumulative Sentence

is known as a loose sentence that starts with an independent clause or main clause, which is simple and straight, provides main idea and then adds subordinate elements or modifiers

Personification

is one of the most commonly used and recognized literary devices. It refers to the practice of attaching human traits and characteristics with inanimate objects, phenomena and animals.

Rhyme Scheme

is the practice of rhyming words placed at the end of the lines in the prose or poetry. Rhyme scheme refers to the order in which particular words rhyme

Extended Metaphor

is when an author exploits a single metaphor or analogy

Situational Irony

it occurs when incongruity appears between expectations of something to happen, and what actually happens instead

Vulgarity

language deficient in taste and refinement, coarse or base

Juxtaposition

literary technique in which two or more ideas, places, characters and their actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts

Bathos

literary term derived from a Greek word meaning "depth". Bathos is when a writer or a poet falls into inconsequential and absurd metaphors, descriptions or ideas in an effort to be increasingly emotional or passionate

Moral

means a message conveyed or a lesson learned from a story, a poem, or an event

Funereal

mournful; gloomy

Naturalism

movement suggested the role of family background, social conditions and environment in shaping human character

Detached

not attached; separated; impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased

Gothic

noting or pertaining to a style of literature characterized by a gloomy setting

Holier

obnoxiously pious

Verbal Irony

occurs when a speaker speaks something contradictory to what he intends to. It is an intentional product of the speaker and is contradictory to his/her emotions and actions

Ebullient

overflowing with fervor

Euphonious

pleasant in sound

Haiku

poem has three lines, where the first and last lines have five moras, while the middle line has seven

Ballad

poets and lyricists to prepare music in the form of lyrical ballads and earn a handsome income from it

Diabolical

qualities of a devil

Euphemism

refers to polite, indirect expressions which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite or which suggest something unpleasant

Polysyndeton

refers to the process of using conjunctions or connecting words frequently in a sentence, placed very close to one another

Consonance

repetition of the same or similar final consonant sounds on accented syllables

Homily

s a sermon or speech that a religious person or priest delivers before a group of people to offer them moral correction

Condescending

showing or implying a usually patronizing descent from dignity or superiority

Diction

the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing

Tragedy

the concept of tragedy refer to a series of unfortunate events by which one or more of the literary characters in the story undergo several misfortunes, which finally culminate into a disaster of 'epic proportions'

Juxtaposition

the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

Metaphorical Language

the use of a complex system of metaphors to create a sub-language within a common language

Exasperated

to irritate or provoke to a high degree

Idyllic

unspoiled, sylvan, pastoral; charmingly simple or rustic

Slang

vernacular speech, sometimes humorous, exaggerated or shortened for effect

Elated

very happy or proud

Paraphrase

we recount the story, its main characters and events in our own words. This technique is called paraphrase, which is to express an idea or somebody's message in our own words by maintaining the meaning of original material

Reductio ad Absurdum

which means to reduce something to absurdity. It is a figure of speech that is defined as a manner of arguing something in which one argues for his position by showing the absurdity of the position of his opponent