Literary Devices PDF

Various Literary Devices Learning Objective By the end of this unit, students will critically analyze and creatively apply knowledge of sound devices, figurative language, literary techniques, and literary elements in prose to appreciate 21st-century literary texts. Contents 1 Sound Dev...

Various Literary Devices Learning Objective By the end of this unit, students will critically analyze and creatively apply knowledge of sound devices, figurative language, literary techniques, and literary elements in prose to appreciate 21st-century literary texts. Contents 1 Sound Devices 2 Figurative Language 3 Other Literary Techniques 4 Literary Elements in Prose  Introduction Poets are limited in the materials they can use in creating their work – all they have are words to express ideas and emotions. These words need to be right on several levels at once. They must be They must They must They must have arranged in a encourage deep sound right to a meaning which way that is easy thoughts or the listener as is clear and to follow but also emotions while they are read thought- assists the appearing out aloud. provoking. reader's simple and self- understanding. contained.  Introduction Literary devices or literary techniques - add meaning or create a more captivating story or poem.  Sound Devices How can sound devices help in reading a literary text? reinforce the meaning of poetry help form visual images and highlight the mood and tone of poetry. Alliteration repetition of similar sounds, either consonants or vowels, at the beginning of closely spaced words. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. The barbarians broke through the barricade. Suffering Stan stays in the sun to keep from having to stutter. Assonance repetition of vowel sounds that form internal rhymes in a line. The dapper lad chatted to the other happy chap. Faye’s days are lazy and wasteful. Go slow over the road to nowhere. Consonance repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the end of words. All's well that ends well. Wash the leash off of mush to keep Ash from having a rash. Cacophony use of jarring, unpleasant sounds, usually harsh because the sounds do not go together. is meant to convey disorder and would sometimes be hard to pronounce. “Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves And the mome raths outgrabe” Excerpt from “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll  Euphony It is the use of devices such as alliteration, rhyme, and assonance. It is meant to create a pleasant experience to the ear. “Than Oars divide the Ocean, Too silver for a seam— Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon Leap, splashless as they swim.” Excerpt from “A Bird came down the Walk” by Emily Dickinson Onomatopoeia Words that imitate the natural sound of the thing they describe. The clang of the pots and pans and woke the baby. The wolves howled at the moon. Zoom! Went the race car as it sped past the finish line. The bacon sizzled in the pan.  Repetition The purposeful re-use of words and phrases to create emphasis or convey a particular effect. “In every cry of every man, In every infant’s cry of fear In every voice, In every ban The mind-forg’d manacles I hear” Excerpt from “London” by William Blake Rhyme repetition of identical (or similar) sounds in two or more words, most often at the end of lines in a poem There are 4 different kinds of rhymes: the full rhymes, slant or half rhymes, near rhymes, and sight rhymes. Rhyme 1. FULL RHYMES are words that sound alike on both the consonant and vowel sounds; all their syllables rhyme. example: beach, reach, teach 2. SLANT OR HALF RHYMES are words that have the same final consonant sounds but different initial consonants and vowels. examples: call, bowl, sell; back, wreck, tuck Rhyme 3. NEAR RHYMES are words with the same final vowel sounds but different final consonants. examples: soil, coin, choice; crane, rake, tale 4. SIGHT RHYMES are when words or the end of words are usually spelled the same but are pronounced differently. examples: love, trove; bough, enough; call, appall  Figurative Language aka Figures of Speech is also used to make a literary work more interesting enriches a literary text to further elevate the themes and concepts presented in it. Analogy It is a comparison that presents the similarities between two concepts or ideas. A teacher is like a gardener, nurturing and shaping the growth of young minds.  Cliché It is a word, a phrase, a sentence, or a Examples: whole text that used to be perceived as time will heal all wounds clever but has become démodé. Better late than never Every cloud has a silver lining The frequency of use and that it no longer provides a surprise to the reader nor vivid imagery is something that must be avoided in writing. Connotation It is the secondary or suggestive meaning of the word, one that is not its literal or primary meaning in the dictionary. green home green products green living Denotation It is the literal meaning of the word, one that is usually its primary meaning in the dictionary. house, home, residence, abode, dwelling Euphemism It is used to substitute for a description that is considered harsh or blunt. most often used for delicate matters, such as sex, death or violence, and embarrassing topics. She is with our Creator now. Hyperbole It is a gross exaggeration to achieve an effect, usually for humor or emphasis. I was dying of boredom while I was waiting in line.  Metaphor It compares two seemingly unlike objects that have similar or common characteristic without the use of like or as. Time is a thief. The world is a stage. His mind is a sponge. Metonymy It is the use of a word or phrase that is substituted for another that is closely associated with it. The Malacañang Palace released a statement regarding the President’s health. The crown will find an heir. Oxymoron It is a combination of two ideas that appear to be opposite or contradictory. complete break dirty white tuck out Paradox It is an assertion that seems to be contradictory or silly but actually reveals some truth. "I must be cruel to be kind." - Hamlet, William Shakespeare Personification It is a statement or statements in which an animal, object, or abstract idea is given human attributes or characteristics. The flowers bathe in sunlight, and the grass reached out to the sky. The wind whispered through the trees. The sun smiled down on us. Simile Creates a comparison between two things by using the words 'like' or 'as'. The desert was as dry as a bone. Her tempers were like an uncontrollable storm. He's as cool as a cucumber. Our soldiers are as brave as lions. Synecdoche It is used when a part or portion of something is used to represent the whole or vice versa. I brought my wheels. How many heads are coming to the party?  Symbolism When a simple or ordinary object, event, animal, or person represents deeper meaning or significance. The dove is a symbol of peace. A red rose stands for love or romance. A skull can represent danger or death. A fork in the road may symbolise a choice or a decision. Other Literary Techniques  Allusion It is a passing reference, without explicit identification, to a literary or historical person, place, or event, or to another literary work or passage. I scored a line of nine in all my exams, except for math. Math is my waterloo.  Allegory It is a narrative in which the characters and their actions, and sometimes the setting, are contrived by the author to represent something happening in the current situation. It may be historical, political or ideological in form. Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo is an allegorical novel. “Bapor Tabo,” for example, was a symbol of the state of the Philippines wherein Rizal compares the slow movement of our country to that of the boat because there is no clear direction as to where it is going.  Dichotomy division into two opposing or very different parts that show a clear contrast between them. used to represent two ideas or concepts that are sharply opposed or entirely separate Example: There is a dichotomy between good and evil in the story.  Juxtaposition It is a technique wherein two or more ideas, places, characters, and their actions are placed side by side to develop comparisons and contrasts. In popular culture, the use of “Reality vs. Expectation Memes” is an example of juxtaposition wherein what a person expects and what really happens are compared and contrasted. Literary Elements in Prose Plot It is the sequence of events that make up the story, told in either a chronological or a non-chronological order. The usual plot order is: a. Exposition: introduces the character(s), setting, and situation b. Rising action: situation becomes complicated, action gains force c. Climax: highest point of tension in the story d. Falling action: events that lead to the resolution of the conflict e. Resolution or Denouement: loose ends are tied up, other matters are drawn to a close Atmosphere In prose, it refers to the creation of a mood or feeling by the use of descriptions and setting. At low tide, when the bed was dry and the rocks glinted with broken bottles, the stone fence of the Spaniard’s compound set off the house as if it were a castle. Sunrise brought a wash of silver upon the roofs of the laundry and garden sheds which had been built low and close to the fence. On dull mornings the light dripped from the bamboo screen which covered the veranda and hung some four or five yards from the ground. Excerpt from “The Bread of Salt” by N. V. M. Gonzalez Characterization refers to how the author describes the character, either directly or indirectly through action, using details or nuances to add depth. The first children who saw the dark and slinky bulge approaching through the sea let themselves think it was an enemy ship. Then they saw it had no flags or masts and they thought it was a whale. But when it washed up on the beach, they removed the clumps of seaweed, the jellyfish tentacles, and the remains of fish and flotsam, and only then did they see that it was a drowned man. Excerpt from “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Conflict It is the problem or challenge faced by the character or characters in the story. There are three possible conflicts: Man vs. Man Some conflicts may be between a character and another character in the story. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Gollum has a conflict with Bilbo Baggins over passing the cave. Their conflict led to playing a riddle game, which Bilbo won and led him to have the ring. Conflict It is the problem or challenge faced by the character or characters in the story. There are three possible conflicts: Man vs. Nature This kind of conflict arises when the hero of the narrative is struggling against forces of nature. This kind of conflict is evident in epics from the Philippines and around the world. It is also present in certain biblical stories. For example, Noah faced a struggle against the great flood. Conflict It is the problem or challenge faced by the character or characters in the story. There are three possible conflicts: Man vs. Himself This kind of conflict is seen when a character is struggling in his or her decisions or actions. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, Frodo faced many different internal conflicts. Whether to take the journey or not and whether to destroy the ring or not are among them.  Point of View the perspective or vantage point of the speaker or the narrator. There are four common types of point view that can be used and observed in a literary work. First person — The character within the story is the one telling it and uses his or her perspective. It uses the pronoun I in the main narrative of the story. Example: As I walked along the shore, the sun was setting, and the waves were starting to crawl to my feet. Point of View Second person — The narrator in the story is talking to the reader as if the reader is also a character in the story. It uses the pronoun you in the main narrative of the story. Example: You are about to take part in a wonderful journey. Point of View Third-person objective - The narrator gives an unbiased point of view since the telling of the story does not mention the characters’ thoughts, opinions, or feelings. Example: Ms. Garcia entered the class. The whole class fell silent. Point of View Third-person omniscient — The narrator is not part of the story but could see and narrate what the characters are feeling and thinking. Example: The students were all excited for the first day of class. Students of section Acacia did not know who their adviser will be. Since their section is known to be the noisiest in their batch, most teachers would like to avoid being their adviser. As Ms. Garcia, the strictest teacher in school, entered their room, the whole class fell silent, and she thought it was just as well that they knew they should be quiet in her class. Matt, usually the noisiest one, gulped and looked anxious, already knowing his antics would not be tolerated when Ms. Garcia is around. Setting the time and place where the story is set can also include the weather, the social and political climate, and the cultural environment. In Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” the train station and its location serve as a third character, representative of the psychological state of the two main characters. Theme It refers to the central idea of the story, and to an extent, the purpose of its utterance. One of the main themes in Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” is the absurdity of human life.  Literary Techniques Used in Prose  Flashback It is a scene or a passage that interrupts the present action of a plot to introduce a past event. A scene of a woman taking care of her baby flashing back to the time when she could not conceive and had been going to the hospital with her husband. the use of clues or indications suggesting a future Foreshadowing event in the story; builds up suspense A locked cabinet mentioned early in the story turns out to contain a valuable art piece that will save the protagonist from financial difficulties.