Literary Devices Revised [1]

Literary Devices &

Figurative Language

• _{A person or an animal who takes}

part in the action of a literary work.

• _{Protagonist- the main character,}

the most important character, someone who probably changes in some important way as a result of the story’s events.

• _{Antagonist- a character who}

Character

• Round Character- A character that shows many different traits – faults as well as virtues.

• Flat Character- A character that shows only one side, one part of his/her personality.

• Dynamic Character- A character that develops and grows during the course of the story.

• _{Direct Characterization- the author}

directly states a character’s traits.

• _{Indirect Characterization- an author tells}

what a character looks like, does, and says, and how other characters react to him or her. It is up to the reader to draw conclusions about the character.

Setting

• _{The place and time in which action}

occurs. WHERE and WHEN a

story takes place.

• _{The atmosphere created by the}

Plot

• _{Plot - A series of related events that make up a story or drama.}

• _{Exposition – The part of a plot that give information about the}

setting, the characters and their problems or conflicts.

• _{Inciting Incident – An event that signals the beginning of the}

main conflict.

Plot

• _{Climax – A moment of great emotional intensity. The point of highest}

interest. Usually when the protagonist clashes with the antagonist.

• _{Falling action – A series of events that lead to the resolution or end of}

the story.

• _{Resolution – The ending where the audience discovers whether the}

conflict has been resolved.

Irony

• _{Verbal Irony- words are used to suggest the opposite of what is}

meant. (Overstatement & Understatement)

• _{Example: “Thanks for the ticket officer! You made my day!”}

• _{Dramatic Irony- a contradiction between what a character thinks and}

what the audience knows to be true.

• _{Example: Ending of Romeo & Juliet – we know she’s only sleeping, but Romeo}

doesn’t.

• Situational Irony- an event occurs that directly contradicts the expectations of the characters.

• _{Example: Gift of the Magi – Husband and wife want to buy anniversary gifts for}

Conflict

• _{External Conflict- the main}

character struggles against an outside force (man vs. man).

• _{Internal Conflict- a character in}

conflict with himself or herself (man vs. himself).

• _{Natural conflict- a character}

struggling against nature (man vs. nature)

Point of View/Narration

• _{First Person – one of the characters is actually the narrator telling}

the story, using the pronoun I. Example: I walked slowly, wishing I could turn and run instead of facing her.

• _{Third Person – the narrator, who plays no part in the story.}

Example: She walked slowly, wishing she could turn and run instead of facing her.

• _{Omniscient – “all knowing point of view” the person telling the story}

knows everything (thoughts & feelings) about all characters and their problems; a godlike intuition.

• _{Limited – zooms in on the feelings and thoughts of just one}

Theme

• _{The central (main) idea of a work of literature. This is not}

usually stated directly in a work of literature. Readers

must infer or establish an educated guess about the theme.

• _{(THEME = subject + what the author is saying about that}

subject).

• _{A theme statement avoids using “you” and is typically one}

Other Relative Terminology

• _{Foreshadowing ~ Providing vague advanced information.} When a story gives hints as to what is to come.

• _{Suspense ~ Pleasurable excitement and anticipation} regarding an outcome of a story. Also, anxiety or

apprehension resulting from that uncertainty.

Other Relative Terminology

• _{Flashback ~ when an event or scene taking place before the} present time in the story is inserted into the story.

• _{Sequence ~ the following of one thing after another; succession.}

• _{Genre – The type, category or kind of literary composition. For} example: novel, poetry, short story, narrative, biography, etc . . . .

Other Relative Terminology

• _{Symbolism: When a thing or object actually represents a}

concept, emotion or idea. (heart = love, dove = peace)

• _{Alliteration: the repetition of the same beginning}

consonants (My dinner was decidedly delicious.)

• _{Assonance: the repetition of the same vowel sounds in the}

middle of words (She is tall, gaunt, and always around.)

• _{Consonance: the repetition of the same ending consonants} (I think we should crank up the funk!)

• _{Onomatopoeia: words that are spelled much like how they}

Denotation vs. Connotation

• _{Denotative (Literal) Language: A basic, strict dictionary}

meaning of a word or phrase. (officer of the law, position, superior)

• _{Connotative (Figurative) Language: Using language}

that is not meant to be taken literally, but has underlying meaning. (cop, job, boss)

“You’re on fire!”

“That’s sick!”

Other types of diction: general vs. specific, euphonious vs. cacophonous, formal vs. informal,

Tone & Mood

• _{Tone is the attitude a writer takes toward the audience, subject, or a}

character.

• _{Tone is conveyed through the writer’s choice of words and details.}

(diction helps to create tone)

• _{Mood is the reaction of the audience to the piece. The emotion evoked}

Imagery

• Visual – Sight

• Aural – Hearing

• Tactile – Touch

• Gustatory – Taste

Comparisons

• _{Simile : A figure of speech likening one thing to another by the use of “like” or “as”.} (She eats like a bird.)

• _{Metaphor: A figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as if it were another.} (Love is a red, red rose.)

• _{Extended Metaphor: A metaphor in which the initial comparison between two unlike things}

is made, and then additional comparisons are made based on that initial comparison.

• _{Personification: Giving living characteristics to things}

that aren’t alive. (Trees are dancing in the wind.)

• _{Antiprosopopoeia: Representing persons as inanimate}

objects. (She was a doormat. I’m rubber, you’re glue.)

• _{Metonymy: Reference to something or someone by}

naming one of its/his/her attributes. (The pen is mightier than the sword, The crown = a royal person, The White House = president)