literary-devices Vocabulary
JamWise Education TeamยทUpdated March 2026
The literary-devices strand is a core part of the K-8 english language arts curriculum. It encompasses 42 vocabulary terms that students encounter as they progress from kindergarten through 8th grade. Each term builds on previous knowledge, creating a spiral of deepening understanding that prepares learners for increasingly complex concepts.
Understanding literary-devices vocabulary is essential for classroom discussions, assessments, and real-world application. Below you will find every term organized by grade level, so teachers and parents can quickly identify which words are appropriate for their students and explore definitions tailored to each developmental stage.
Kindergarten
(1 term)
3rd Grade
(3 terms)
Metaphor
A metaphor compares two things by saying one thing IS another thing, like 'The classroom was a zoo.'
Personification
Personification gives human qualities to something that is not human, like 'The wind whispered through the trees.'
Simile
A simile compares two things using 'like' or 'as' to help the reader picture something, like 'as brave as a lion.'
4th Grade
(5 terms)
Flashback
A flashback is when the story jumps back in time to show something that happened before.
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is when the author gives hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a big exaggeration used to make a point or be funny, like 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.'
Idiom
An idiom is a common phrase that means something different from what the words actually say, like 'It's raining cats and dogs.'
Imagery
Imagery is descriptive language that helps the reader see, hear, smell, taste, or feel what is being described.
5th Grade
(6 terms)
Figurative language
Figurative language is when words are used in a creative way that is not literally true, to help the reader imagine or feel something. Similes, metaphors, and idioms are all figurative language.
Irony
Irony is when something happens that is the opposite of what you expected. A fire station burning down is ironic.
Mood
Mood is the feeling the reader gets from a story, like happy, scared, sad, or excited. Authors use word choice to create mood.
Suspense
Suspense is a feeling of excitement or worry about what will happen next in a story. Authors create it with cliffhangers and mysteries.
Symbolism
Symbolism is when something in a story represents a bigger idea. For example, a dove often symbolizes peace.
Tone
Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject, shown through word choice. It can be serious, humorous, angry, or gentle.
6th Grade
(8 terms)
Allusion
An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, event, place, or work of literature without directly explaining it.
Dramatic irony
Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something important that a character in the story does not know.
Motif
A motif is an image, idea, or symbol that repeats throughout a story and helps develop the theme.
Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a phrase that combines two contradictory words, like 'jumbo shrimp,' 'bittersweet,' or 'deafening silence.'
Pun
A pun is a play on words that uses a word with multiple meanings or similar-sounding words for humor. 'I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.'
Satire
Satire uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize or poke fun at people, society, or politics.
Situational irony
Situational irony is when the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what everyone expected.
Verbal irony
Verbal irony is when someone says the opposite of what they mean, often in a sarcastic way, like saying 'Great weather!' during a storm.
7th Grade
(7 terms)
Allegory
An allegory is a story where the characters and events represent bigger ideas or moral lessons, like a political message or life truth.
Archetype
An archetype is a character type, plot pattern, or symbol that appears across many stories and cultures, like the hero, the mentor, or the quest.
Foil
A foil is a character who contrasts with the main character to highlight the protagonist's qualities.
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition is placing two contrasting things side by side to emphasize their differences and create meaning.
Monologue
A monologue is a long speech by one character in a play or story, directed at other characters or the audience.
Paradox
A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory but actually reveals a deeper truth, like 'Less is more.'
Soliloquy
A soliloquy is a speech in a play where a character speaks their thoughts aloud while alone on stage, revealing inner feelings to the audience.
8th Grade
(10 terms)
Ambiguity
Ambiguity is when a word, phrase, or situation can be understood in more than one way, sometimes creating mystery or deeper meaning.
Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses for emphasis: 'I have a dream that...'
Antithesis
Antithesis places two opposite ideas side by side in a balanced structure for emphasis: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.'
Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words: 'The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain.'
Catharsis
Catharsis is the emotional release or relief the audience feels at the end of a powerful story, especially a tragedy.
Consonance
Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of nearby words: 'Mike likes his bike.'
Epiphany
An epiphany is a sudden moment of understanding or realization that changes how a character sees the world.
In medias res
In medias res is a storytelling technique where the narrative begins in the middle of the action, then fills in the background later.
Stream of consciousness
Stream of consciousness is a narrative style that presents a character's continuous flow of thoughts without standard sentence structure.
Understatement
Understatement is deliberately presenting something as less important or serious than it really is, often for ironic or humorous effect.