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a literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions
allegory
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a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize
allusion
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the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences
anaphora
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a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event
anecdote
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a figure of speech in which one directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or some abstraction
apostrophe
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a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed
(Susan walked in, and out rushed Mary)
chiasmus
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a fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor
conceit
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the word choices made by a writer
diction
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the omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context
(Some prefer cats; others, dogs)
ellipsis
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a saying or statement on the title page of a work, or used as a heading for a chapter or other section of a work
epigraph
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an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant
euphemism
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excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy
hubris
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intentional exaggeration to create an effect
hyperbole
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the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or, incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs
irony
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a type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite
(describing a particularly horrific scene by saying, "It was not a pretty picture")
litotes
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the mistaken substitution of one word for another word that sounds similar
malapropism
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substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it
metonymy
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a construction in which one word is used in two different senses
("After he threw the ball, he threw a fit")
syllepsis
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the manner in which words are arranged into sentences
syntax
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the attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience
tone
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