Literary Devices Notes

Literary Devices Term

Foreshadowing

Parallelism

Irony

Definition

Examples

Hints or clues that a writer uses to suggest what will happen next in a story.

Casey didn’t realize it at the time, but his turn at bat would make him a legend.

Repeating similar grammatical structures (words, phrases, or sentences) to give writing rhythm.

The doctor took her temperature, checked her heartbeat, and tested her reflexes.

A technique that uses a word or phrase to mean the exact opposite of its normal meaning

Danielle smiles and laughs all of the time, so we call her Grumpy.

(This is also an allusion!)

Tone/Mood (relies heavily on vocabulary and punctuation)

Flashback

Allusion

Tone: The writer’s attitude toward his or her subject (i.e. serious, sarcastic, objective, etc.)

And then he had the gall to ask Lacey for the answer! Even after all the horrible, mean-spirited, malevolent things he did to her! All she could do was walk away.

Mood: The feeling a piece of literature creates in a reader

Puffy white clouds floated across the sky; a warm, soft breeze whispered through the trees: it was a perfect day for a trip to the park.

A technique in which a writer interrupts a story to go back and explain an earlier event.

A reference to a well-known person, place, thing, or even that the writer assumes the reader will be familiar with.

Sara couldn’t stand the sight of red balloons. Three years before, on her 10th birthday, her brother tied her pet mouse to ten red balloons and snickered wickedly as the mouse floated out of her life forever. Hector rushed in like Superman and rescued the cat from the burning building.