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Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words
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Allusion
A passing reference to historical or fictional characters, places, or events, or to other works that the writer assumes the reader will know
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Analogy
A comparison of similar things the purpose being to use something familiar to explain something unfamiliar.
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Anastrophe
The inversion of the usual order of words
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Aside
In drama, when actors speak to the audience, without being heard by the others on stage.
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Autobiography
An account of all/part of a person's life written by that person.
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Ballad
Narrative poetry that represents a single dramatic episode which is tragic or violent. Tell stories in unhappy love affairs, family feuds, murders etc.
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Biography
An account of someone's life written by someone else.
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Blank Verse
Poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter.
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Caricature
Descriptive writing that exaggerates specific features of appearance or personality, usually for comic effect.
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Catharsis
The power of tragedy to purge emotions or pity and fear.
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Cliché
An expression that has been over-used.
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Colloquialism
A word or phrase in everyday use in conversation and informal writing, but sometimes inappropriate in formal writing.
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Connotation
The images carried by a word, as opposed to the word's literal meaning.
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Dialect
The version of a language spoken by people of a particular region.
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Epiphany
moment of revelation or profound insight
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Epithet
Adjective or adjective phrase applied to a person to emphasize a characteristic quality
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Figurative Language
Language that contains figures of speech, are expressions that make comparisons meant to be interpreted imaginatively rather than literally.
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Free Verse
Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter.
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Hyperbole
Obvious extravagant exaggeration or overstatement
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Imagery
The making of "pictures in words"
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Metaphor
An implied analogy in which one thing is imaginatively compared with another. Dissimilar things.
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Satire
Form of literature that blends ironic humor and wit with criticism for the purpose of ridiculing.
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Simile
Figure of speech that uses like, as, or as if, to compare two objects that share some aspect of similarity
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Soliloquy
When a character in a play, alone on stage, speaks his or her thoughts aloud.
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Syntax
The ordering of words into phrases and sentences.
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Transition
A word, phrase, or sentence of writing that serves as a link in writing.
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Vernacular
The everyday spoken language of the people in a particular locality.
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