| A | B |
|---|
| DIALECT | the recreation of regional spoken language. |
| DICTION | the author's choice of words that creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as meaning. |
| DIDACTIC | writing whose purpose is to instruct or to teach. This is usually formal and focuses on moral or ethical concerns. |
| DISCOURSE | a discussion on a specific topic. |
| ELLIPSIS | indicated by a series of three periods, this indicates that some material has been omitted from a given text. It could be a word, a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph, or a whole section. |
| EPIGRAPH | the use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme. |
| EUPHEMISM | a more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable. |
| EUPHONY | the pleasant, mellifluous presentation of sounds in a literary work. |
| EXPOSITION | background information presented in a literary work. |
| EXTENDED METAPHOR | a sustained comparison, often referred to as a conceit. It is developed throughout a piece of writing. |
| FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE | the body of devices that enables the writer to operate on levels other than the literal one. It includes metaphor, simile, symbol, motif, hyperbole, etc. |
| FLASHBACK | a device that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts, events, or episodes. |
| FORM | the shape or structure of a literary work. |
| HYPERBOLE | extreme exaggeration, often humorous, it can also be ironic; the opposite of understatement. |
| IMAGE | a verbal approximation of a sensory impression, concept, or emotion. |
| IMAGERY | the total effect of related sensory images in a work of literature. |
| INDUCTION | the process that moves from a given series of specifics to a generalization. |
| INFERENCE | a conclusion one can draw from the presented details. |
| INVECTIVE | a verbally abusive attack. |
| IRONY | an unexpected twist or contrast between what happens and what was intended or expected to happen. It involves dialogue and situation, and can be intentional or unplanned. |
