English Literary Devices

• Oxymoron?

  A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction.
• Situational Irony?

  When the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected or intended.
• Dramatic Irony?

  When the audience knows something that the characters do not.
• Verbal Irony?

   When someone says something that is drastically different from the reality of the situation.
• Paradox?

  A statement/situation that may be true but contains two opposite facts/characteristics. Example, Less is more.
• Jargon?

  Shows how language can be shared amoung people in a group.
• Allusion?

  An implied or indirect reference. Alludes to something, like, the Bible.
• Static Character?

  A character that does not undergo significant change or growth throughout a story.
• Round Character?

  A round character is a complex and fully developed character in a story who undergoes significant growth and change throughout the narrative.
• Flat Character?

  Relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of the story.
• Third Person Omniscient Narration?

  Often appears to speak with the voice of the author and has an all-knowing perspective on the story being told.
• Third Person Limited Narration?

  Has access to only one characters perspective, a limited perspective.