Literary device identification
60 flashcards covering Literary device identification for the ACT English & Reading section.
Literary devices are techniques that writers use to enhance their storytelling and convey deeper meanings in texts. For instance, a metaphor directly compares two unlike things, like calling time a "thief," while irony highlights a contrast between expectation and reality. These tools help build vivid imagery, develop themes, and evoke emotions, making them essential for understanding literature beyond the surface level. Mastering identification allows you to analyze texts more effectively, which is a key skill in reading and writing.
On the ACT English and Reading sections, literary device questions often appear as multiple-choice items where you identify a device in a passage or explain its purpose. Common traps include confusing similar devices, such as mistaking a simile for a metaphor, or overlooking the context that gives the device its meaning. Focus on recognizing devices like symbolism, foreshadowing, and tone shifts, and practice linking them to the author's intent. Always read passages carefully to catch subtle uses.
A helpful tip: Practice with sample passages to quickly spot devices in context.
Terms (60)
- 01
Metaphor
A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by stating one is the other, such as 'Time is a thief,' to create a deeper meaning.
- 02
Simile
A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as,' such as 'Her eyes sparkled like stars,' to highlight similarities.
- 03
Personification
A literary device where human qualities are given to non-human things, such as 'The wind whispered through the trees,' to make descriptions more vivid.
- 04
Alliteration
The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a series of words, like 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,' often for emphasis or rhythm.
- 05
Assonance
The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, such as 'The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain,' to create a musical effect in writing.
- 06
Consonance
The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity, typically at the end of words, like 'pitter-patter,' to add rhythm or emphasis.
- 07
Onomatopoeia
A word that imitates the sound it represents, such as 'buzz' or 'hiss,' to help readers hear the action in the text.
- 08
Hyperbole
An exaggeration used for effect, not meant to be taken literally, like 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse,' to emphasize a point.
- 09
Verbal Irony
A contrast between what is said and what is meant, often for sarcasm, such as saying 'What a beautiful day' during a storm to highlight the opposite.
- 10
Situational Irony
When the actual outcome of a situation is the opposite of what was expected, like a fire station burning down, to surprise the reader.
- 11
Dramatic Irony
When the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension, as in a story where a character is unaware of impending danger.
- 12
Foreshadowing
A hint of what is to come later in the story, such as a character mentioning a storm before it affects the plot, to build suspense.
- 13
Flashback
A scene that interrupts the present action to show an earlier event, helping to provide background or explain character motivations.
- 14
Symbolism
The use of an object or element to represent an idea greater than itself, like a red rose symbolizing love, to add layers of meaning.
- 15
Imagery
Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, such as sights, sounds, or smells, to help readers vividly picture the scene.
- 16
Tone
The author's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice and style, such as serious or humorous, which influences how the reader feels.
- 17
Mood
The atmosphere or emotional feeling created in the reader by the text, like suspenseful or joyful, through setting and descriptions.
- 18
Theme
The central message or insight about life that the author conveys, such as the importance of friendship, explored through the story's elements.
- 19
Direct Characterization
When the author explicitly describes a character's traits, such as 'She was brave and kind,' to clearly define the personality.
- 20
Indirect Characterization
When the author reveals a character's traits through actions, dialogue, thoughts, or reactions, allowing readers to infer qualities.
- 21
Plot
The sequence of events in a story, including introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, that drives the narrative.
- 22
Internal Conflict
A struggle within a character's mind, such as a moral dilemma, that advances the story and develops the character's growth.
- 23
External Conflict
A struggle between a character and an outside force, like another character or nature, that creates tension in the plot.
- 24
Setting
The time and place where a story occurs, which influences the mood, characters, and events, such as a haunted house at midnight.
- 25
First-Person Point of View
A narrative perspective where the story is told by a character using 'I,' giving insight into that character's thoughts and feelings.
- 26
Third-Person Limited Point of View
A narrative style where the story is told from the perspective of one character's thoughts and experiences, using 'he' or 'she'.
- 27
Third-Person Omniscient Point of View
A narrative approach where the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters, providing a broad understanding of the story.
- 28
Allusion
A reference to a well-known person, event, or work, such as a nod to Greek mythology, to enrich the text with additional meaning.
- 29
Allegory
A story or poem with a hidden meaning, where characters and events represent abstract ideas, like good versus evil, to convey a moral lesson.
- 30
Paradox
A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth, such as 'Less is more,' to provoke thought and highlight complexities.
- 31
Oxymoron
A figure of speech that combines two opposing words, like 'deafening silence,' to create a striking effect and emphasize a concept.
- 32
Satire
The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock societal issues, such as in political cartoons, to provoke change or awareness.
- 33
Euphemism
A mild or indirect word or phrase used in place of a harsh or blunt one, like 'passed away' for 'died,' to soften the impact.
- 34
Idiom
A phrase with a figurative meaning different from its literal sense, such as 'kick the bucket' meaning to die, common in everyday language.
- 35
Analogy
A comparison between two things to explain a concept, like comparing the heart to a pump, to make complex ideas easier to understand.
- 36
Repetition
The deliberate reuse of words or phrases for emphasis or rhythm, such as in speeches, to reinforce key ideas in the text.
- 37
Rhythm in Poetry
The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line, which creates a flow and musical quality in poetic works.
- 38
Rhyme Scheme
The pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines in a poem, denoted by letters like ABAB, which structures the verse and enhances sound.
- 39
Stanza
A grouped set of lines in a poem, similar to a paragraph in prose, that often develops a single idea or image.
- 40
Meter in Poetry
The rhythmic pattern of a poetic line, determined by the number and arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables, like iambic pentameter.
- 41
Free Verse
Poetry that does not follow a regular rhyme or meter, allowing for more natural expression while still using literary devices.
- 42
Motif
A recurring element, such as an image or idea, in a work that helps develop the theme, like water symbolizing rebirth in a story.
- 43
Protagonist
The main character in a story who drives the plot and faces the central conflict, often undergoing significant change.
- 44
Antagonist
The character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict and tension in the narrative.
- 45
Climax
The turning point in a story where the main conflict reaches its peak, determining the direction of the resolution.
- 46
Rising Action
The series of events that build tension and develop the conflict leading up to the climax in a story's structure.
- 47
Falling Action
The events that follow the climax and lead toward the resolution, showing the consequences of the turning point.
- 48
Resolution
The part of the story where the conflict is resolved and loose ends are tied up, providing closure for the reader.
- 49
Exposition
The introduction at the beginning of a story that sets up the characters, setting, and initial situation before the conflict arises.
- 50
Foreshadowing Example
An instance where subtle hints predict future events, such as a character dreaming of a storm before a disaster, to enhance anticipation.
- 51
Common Trap: Confusing Simile and Metaphor
Students often mix these by overlooking that similes use 'like' or 'as' while metaphors equate directly; recognizing this prevents misidentification.
- 52
Strategy for Identifying Irony
Look for contrasts between expectations and reality, checking if the outcome opposes what's said or intended, to accurately spot irony in passages.
- 53
How to Spot Alliteration
Examine the initial sounds of words in a sentence; if consonants repeat at the start, like 'Sally sells seashells,' it indicates alliteration.
- 54
Difference Between Tone and Mood
Tone is the author's attitude, such as critical, while mood is the emotional response it evokes in the reader, like eerie; distinguishing them aids analysis.
- 55
Identifying Symbolism in Text
Search for objects that represent larger ideas, such as a dove for peace, by considering context and recurring elements beyond their literal meaning.
- 56
Elements of a Sonnet
A 14-line poem typically in iambic pentameter with a specific rhyme scheme, like Shakespearean ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, often exploring love or philosophy.
- 57
Haiku Structure
A three-line Japanese poem with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern, focusing on nature and a seasonal reference, to capture a brief, profound moment.
- 58
Use of Imagery in Description
Employing sensory details to paint vivid pictures, such as 'the crimson sunset bathed the hills,' to engage readers and enhance the scene's realism.
- 59
Characterization Through Dialogue
Revealing a character's personality, background, or emotions through their speech patterns and word choices, making them feel authentic and dynamic.
- 60
Theme Development in a Story
How recurring ideas or events build the central message, such as isolation leading to self-discovery, through character arcs and plot progression.