Allusion - a reference to something or some person from literature, religious lore, or history EX: "All overgrown by cunning moss, All interspersed with weed, the little cage of "Currer Bell" in quiet "Haworth" laid." - Emily Dickinson's "All Overgrown by Cunning Moss"
Analogy - a comparison of two similar things where the familiar is used to explain the unfamiliar EX: "Life is a box of chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get" - Forest Gump
Atmosphere - the emotional feeling created by elements in literature EX: The difference between: "Marilyn’s small apartment was bathed with light from the new floor-to-ceiling windows. Outside, the sounds of a balmy summer day floated up to her ears like the gurgle of a cool, clear brook." and "Marilyn’s cramped apartment was roasting in the scorching sunlight that burned through her floor-to-ceiling windows. And if there was anything more oppressive than the heat, it had to be the constant din that bubbled up from the city street below like steam from a putrid stew."
Connotation - The field of associations which surround a word EX: "Look at that dog." The word "dog" connotates to ugliness, which can be applied to a person.
Denotation - The exact dictionary definition of a word EX: "Look at that dog." If you denotate this phrase, it means that there is literally a dog.
Foreshadowing - Indicating or suggesting before it happens what will occur later in the work of literature EX: Sometimes a future event is mentioned earlier in the story, like a comment about a meeting between characters. The reader already knows that issues will be discussed later.
Idiom - a turn of phrase or expression that normally wouldn't make sense but have an alternative meaning (often regional) EX: I'm going to go hit the hay OR That test was a breeze
Imagery - word-pictures; often used to convey a certain mood EX: "The sound of a drum in the distance attracted him." In this case, an audial representation is found.
Metaphor - a direct comparison between two things (not using like or as) EX: She is an angel
Mood - the emotional environment or atmosphere created by the writer EX: What you feel
Oxymoron - an expression that combines opposite or contradictory ideas EX: "Bittersweet" OR "Alone together"
Personification - the characteristics of persons are attributed to inanimate objects and abstract ideas (sometimes animals fall under this category, but that is considered anthropomorphism) EX: "The leaves danced in the wind."
Pun - a play on words; the humorous use of a word or phrase to emphasize or suggest different meanings or applications; words that are alike or nearly alike in sound, but different in meaning EX: Yesterday, a clown held the door open for me. It was such a nice jester!
Simile - a comparison between two things of unlike nature using like, as, or than EX: It was as nice as a peaceful panda
Symbolism - something that suggests or stands for something else EX: The color black can symbolize death or evil
Tone - the artist's attitude towards the subject of his writing or towards the audience EX: How the author wants to make it feel

	Created by Gabriel Beldad over 5 years ago

Created for the ELA 7 Poetry Unit in Alberta

ELA 7 Literary Devices and Poetry Analysis