What Is Situational Irony? | Definition & Examples

Situational irony occurs when the actual outcome of a situation is starkly different from what was expected, creating a surprising twist.

Situational irony example
In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her friends seek the Wizard to grant their wishes, believing he can magically give a brain to the Scarecrow, a heart to the Tin Man, courage to the Cowardly Lion, and a way home to Dorothy.

Ironically, Dorothy and her friends discover that the Wizard is an ordinary man, and they have always possessed the traits and abilities they were seeking.

Situational irony can amplify effects such as humor, tragedy, and satire. It’s an important plot device in many genres of literature, film, and TV.

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What Is a Pun? | Definition, Types & Examples

A pun is a literary device that relies on wordplay to make audience members or readers laugh. Puns are typically based on words that sound similar but have different meanings (homonyms), such as “too tired” and “two-tired.”

Pun examples
Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.

I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.

I wondered why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me!

Puns are a staple of comedy, but you may also encounter them in literary works, like theatrical plays, novels, and poems.

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What Does Portmanteau Mean? | Definition & Examples

A portmanteau is a word created by combining two other words. Usually, the spellings and meanings of two words are blended into a new one, like “brunch” (breakfast + lunch) or “motel” (motor + hotel). Portmanteau words help us describe new phenomena or concepts.

Portmanteau

Portmanteau examples
I decided to invite my friends over for a chillaxing evening. [chill + relax]
Sorry for snapping at you before. I was hangry. [hungry + angry]

This year we opted for a weekend of glamping. [glamorous + camping]

Sporks allow you to scoop and stab with a single utensil. [spoon + fork]

Portmanteaus are commonly used in everyday language, social media, advertising, and literary works.

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What Is a Palindrome? | Meaning, Definition & Examples

A palindrome is a word, number, or phrase that reads the same backward and forward, such as “civic” or “2002.” Palindromes can appear in names, places, and even unintentionally in everyday language. They are also used in word games and puzzles.

Palindrome example
The longest one-word palindrome in English is considered to be the word “tattarrattat,” coined by James Joyce in Ulysses to mean “a knock”:

“I was just beginning to yawn with nerves thinking he was trying to make a fool of me when I knew his tattarrattat at the door.”

“Tattarrattat” is also an example of onomatopoeia.

Palindromes add a playful element to language by encouraging creativity and wordplay.

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What Is Consonance? | Definition & Examples

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in a series of words, such as “pitter-patter” or “cheeky monkey.” Consonance lends a musical quality to a piece of writing and can be used to create a specific mood or atmosphere.

Consonance examples
Nursery rhymes often use consonance to add a melodic and memorable quality.

Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock;
The clock struck one,
And down he run,
Hickory, dickory, dock.

Consonance can enhance the impact of language in different contexts such as poetry, prose, and advertising.

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What Is an Oxymoron? | Definition, Meaning & Examples

An oxymoron is when two words with opposing meanings are used alongside one another (e.g., “organized mess” or “cool passion”).

This combination of contradictory terms may seem absurd at first, but usually results in a concise expression that conveys a new complex meaning. Due to this, we encounter oxymorons in various contexts, such as literature, everyday language, and advertising.

What Is an Oxymoron?

Oxymoron examples
The officer was struck by friendly fire from a fellow service member.
After a marathon seminar, participants staggered out of the room like the living dead.
There was a small crowd at the rally.
All our requests have been met with deafening silence.

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What Is Anachronism? | Definition & Examples

An anachronism is a person, thing, or event that is placed in a historical time where it does not belong. For example, a knight wearing a wristwatch in a movie set in the medieval era would be an anachronism. Αnachronisms can happen by mistake or be used intentionally to convey a message or add humor to a story.

Anachronism example
In the movie Braveheart, characters, including William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson), are shown wearing kilts, which is historically inaccurate for the time period portrayed in the film. However, the anachronistic use of kilts serves a cinematic purpose, as kilts have become symbolic of Scottish identity.

Anachronisms can be found in books, paintings, movies, and other creative works.

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What Is Rhyme? | Definition & Examples

Rhyme in literature is using words with identical or similar final sounds, like “cat” and “hat.” Typically, that happens at the end of a line of text, but it can also occur in the middle.

Rhyme example
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date;

In these first lines of William Shakespeare’s famous “Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” rhyme occurs at the end of the line.

Because rhyme adds a musical quality to a text, it also makes it more memorable and pleasant to the ear. Due to this, rhyme is a common device in poetry and songwriting.

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What Is Assonance? | Definition & Examples

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in two or more nearby words, such as “dumb luck” or “squeaky wheel.” Assonance helps to create a sense of flow between words that can make phrases catchy and easy to remember. Because of this, we often find it in poetry, prose, and song lyrics.

Example of assonance
“The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.”

This phrase from the musical My Fair Lady is used as a speech exercise to help the protagonist “improve” her accent.

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What Is Sibilance? | Definition, Meaning & Examples

Sibilance is the repetition of “s” sounds in a series of neighboring words, such as “silent whispers in the shadows.” This deliberate repetition creates a hissing sound that contributes to the musicality and mood of a text. Sibilance is used in poetry, prose, and song lyrics.

Sibilance

Sibilance examples
The squirrel shook the snow off its coat.

Her sister fell off the seesaw and into the sand.

Snails hide their slimy bodies in their shells.

Sam felt refreshed thanks to the ocean breeze.

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