Literary Terms

a story that acts as a symbol or has meaning for something going on in society

Example: The sly snake slithered silently.

Example: The golden rays of the sun bathed the meadow in a warm, honeyed glow, with the scent of wildflowers drifting through the air.

when two unlike things are compared using the words “like” or “as”

Example: Time is a thief that steals our moments.

suggestions or warnings about events to come are dropped or planted

an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time form the current point

Example: In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout recalls memories of her childhood that reveal themes and motivations.

Example: Harry Potter vs. Voldemort (Person vs. Person).

giving human qualities to inanimate objects

In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet says, "Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, as one dead in the bottom of a tomb," foreshadowing Romeo’s death.

Example: Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory for the Russian Revolution and the rise of totalitarianism.

Example: The wind whispered secrets through the ancient forest.

Example: Her smile was as bright as the sun.

a literary device characterized by a struggle between two opposing forces

direct statement of comparison between two things highlighting one shared quality

repetition of the same sound at the start of a series of words Imagery – vivid language used by authors to appeal to our five senses