Figurative Language and Literary Devices

Imagery

• Uses figurative language to create a picture in the reader's mind
• Evokes different senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch)

Simile

• Compares two objects or concepts using "like" or "as"
• The items being compared should be different enough to create intrigue

Metaphor

• Compares two non-similar things without using "like" or "as"
• Implies that the two things being compared are identical

Personification

• Giving human qualities to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas
• Makes these things more relatable to the reader by using human behaviors and emotions

Alliteration

• Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words
• Doesn't need to repeat letters, just the sound

Assonance

• Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words
• Doesn't need to repeat vowels, just the sound.
• Creates a subtle effect by repeating similar vowel sounds in nearby words.
• Repeats sounds within words, not necessarily at the start.
• Examples include "The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain" (the "ai" sound) and "Men sell the wedding bells" (the "ell" and "e" sound).
• Focuses on vowel sound repetition.

Consonance

• Repetition of consonant sounds in a line of text
• Sounds can occur at the beginning, middle, or end of words
• Words appear in close succession

Irony

• Contradictory statements or situations reveal an unexpected reality.
• The effectiveness depends on the reader’s expectations and how the actual events contrast

Oxymoron

• Two opposing or contradictory words used together
• Creates interest and enhances concepts

Hyperbole

• Exaggeration for dramatic effect
• Makes something seem bigger or more important than it is

Juxtaposition

• Placing two entities side-by-side
• Implies a comparison or contrast
• The reader compares the two entities

Paradox

• A seemingly contradictory statement that, upon reflection, makes sense
• Encourages deeper thought and provides insight

Cliché

• An overused expression
• Loses its original impact and vitality

Adage

• A short, memorable saying based on facts
• Becomes popular over time and can be seen as universal truths

Colloquialism

• Informal, conversational language specific to a region, era, or language
• Provides authenticity and personality to characters

Foreshadowing

• Hints at something that will happen later in the story.
• Creates tension and sets up emotional expectations

Euphemism

• Replaces phrases that could make the reader uncomfortable
• Allows for indirect communication without being literal

Pun

• A play on words using words with similar sounds but different meanings
• Intended to be humorous, but can also add depth to writing

Connotation

• The implied meaning of a word beyond its literal definition.
• Words carry cultural and emotional associations that are different from their dictionary meaning.

Idiom

• A saying with a figurative meaning that differs from its literal meaning
• Unique to specific languages and cultures

Symbolism

• Using symbols to represent something else beyond their literal meaning
• Symbols can be words, objects, actions, characters, or concepts that stand for something else.

Interior Monologue vs. Dramatic Monologue

• Interior monologue reveals the thoughts of a character
• Dramatic monologue is a speech by a character revealing their inner thoughts and feelings
• "A Telephone Call" is an example of dramatic monologue

Monologue

• A long speech by one character to another or themselves.

"A Telephone Call"

• The story "A Telephone Call" is an example of dramatic monologue

List poem

• A poem whose structure is organised in different items.
• Usually structured as a list in sentences.
• A good list poem uses clear, concise language, creating a strong visual impression, and offers a compelling reason for arranging in a specific order

Sestina

• A poem with six stanzas, each with six lines
• The end words of the lines in the first stanza are repeated, and rearranged, in a precise order, through the rest of the poem.

Found Poem

• A poem created by taking words or phrases from another source.

Persona Poem

• A poem where the author adopts a specific voice or persona.

Seed Poem

• A poem based on a central theme, image, or metaphor.

Haiku

• A three-line poem with a syllable structure of 5-7-5
• Seed poems and haiku are both structured poems: one focuses on a central idea and the other a specific syllable structure

Enjambment

• A line of poetry that runs over into the next line without a pause or punctuation

Concrete Poem

• A poem whose shapes or structure visually represent their contents.

Blackout/Redacted Poem

• A poem created by blacking out or censoring words in a text.

Point of View (POV)

• POV is the perspective from which a story is told.
• Single POV: The narration is from one character's perspective.
• Dual POV: The narration is from two different characters' perspectives.

"It's a Wonderful Life"

• The film focuses on a man who contemplates suicide but is shown the world through the positive impact he had on the lives of others, and how his life has a positive impact on many others.

Poetic Choices: Repetition, Line Breaks, Word Choice, Line Length

• Repetition: Adds emphasis, rhythm, and creates patterns
• Line Breaks: Controls rhythm, pace, and emphasizes specific words or ideas.
• Word Choice: Creates specific connotations and effects
• Line Length: Adds to rhythm and tone. A long line can emphasize a sense of motion and flow. Varied line lengths add pace and cadence