Hypotaxis

Hypotaxis: subordination of one clause to another within a sentence, one clause typically clarifies or modifies the other

The mug lay on the table, still strewn with cups and bowls.
-the first clause is the important once, the second serves to provide details about the objects described

"Literary Devices and Literary Terms." Literary Devices. N.p., 2015. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.

Didacticism

Didacticism: a particular philosophy in art and literature that emphasizes the idea that different forms of art and literature ought to convey information and instructions along with pleasure and entertainment

George Orwell's novel Animal Farm illustrates the Communist Revolution in Russia under the facade of a number of animals at a farm rising up against their farmer.

"Literary Devices and Literary Terms." Literary Devices. N.p., 2015. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.

Conceit

Conceit: using simile or metaphor to draw an unconventional comparison between two objects

The girl with a personality like a banana. (Pleasant yet slightly bland)

"Literary Devices and Literary Terms." Literary Devices. N.p., 2015. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.

Satire

Satire: making fun of human weakness or character flaw

Sonallah Ibrahim's novel Zaat, is considered a political satire; it highlights and ridicules the corruption in the Egyptian government.

"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton: using connecting words or conjunctions unnecessarily in a sentence to convey heightened emotion or establish unconventional rhythm

The map flew right and then left and then up and then down.
The map flew right, left, up, and then down.


"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Periphrasis

Periphrasis: using excessive words or phrases to convey a meaning which could be easily stated in fewer

"Where are the cookies?"
"Where might one locate the sugary baked goods in the shape of circles?"

"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Metonymy

Metonymy: substituting another word linked closely to the object, rather than describing or naming the actual object  

Earlier in the Cold War, Moscow rejected the plan for peaceful foreign collaboration.
-We are not actually talking about the physical city of Moscow, rather we are referring to the political center of Russia, in Moscow.

"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Kennings

Kennings: the use of figurative language or metaphor to refer to a specific object; common in Old English

sky candle- sun
battle sweat- blood

"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Hyperbaton

Hyperbaton: the author alters the conventional order of words in a sentence but maintains the same meaning

Rather than say, "I wandered through the pleasant meadow" I could use hyperbaton, and say "Through the pleasant meadow I wandered."

"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Epithet

Epithet: the adding of a descriptor to the name of a character to illustrate one of their characteristics

"Alexander the Great"

"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Doppelganger

Doppelganger: a character in the story who is either a copy of another original character, or serves as a sort of alter-ego for the character

The Hulk is the doppelganger of Bruce Banner.


"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Chiasmus

Chiasmus: a figure of speech containing two phrases that are parallel but inverted to each other

You can take the soldier out of the fight, but you can't take the fight out of the soldier.

"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Anastrophe

Anastrophe: the order of the noun and the adjective in a sentence is exchanged

She wept for dances missed and songs forgotten.

"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Asyndeton

Asyndeton: author purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase

Reduce, reuse, recycle.

"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Anagram

Anagram: letters of a word are rearranged to form a new word/ set of words

The name Tom Marvolo Riddle is an anagram for "I am Lord Voldemort."

"Literary Devices | Literary Terms." Literary Devices | Literary Terms. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.

Ode

Ode: a poem in which a person expresses a strong feeling of love or respect for someone or something

Sappho's Ode to Aphrodite pays tribute to the many aspects of the Goddess of love.

"Ode." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Naturalism

Naturalism: a style of art/literature which shows people or things as they actually are

Author Walter Dean Meyers's work, focusing on the harsh realities of juvenile detention, crime, and war, could lead some to call him a proponent of naturalism.

"Naturalism." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Meter

Meter: a systematically arranged and measured in rhythm verse

Rhyme and meter are key components of many children's nursery rhymes.

"Meter." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Melodrama

Melodrama: drama in which many exciting events happen and the characters have very strong or exaggerated emotions

Many reality TV show characters are very melodramatic to raise the show's ratings.

"Melodrama." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.

Euphemism

Euphemism: a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive

"Culturally uneducated" is sometimes used as a euphemism for "racist."

"Euphemism." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2015.