Literary Devices PDF

Warm up To the best of your ability, define the following literary devices on a piece of paper. If you can, provide an example. If you finish those, brainstorm a list with someone around you of as many devices as you can think of that you learned before this class, along with their definit...

Warm up To the best of your ability, define the following literary devices on a piece of paper. If you can, provide an example. If you finish those, brainstorm a list with someone around you of as many devices as you can think of that you learned before this class, along with their definitions. Simile Metaphor Allusion Satire Tone Mood Imagery  Simile Using “like” or “as” to directly compare two things Examples: Her cheeks are red like a rose. The water well was as dry as a bone. He is as cunning as a fox. How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Develops an implicit Metaphor comparison without the use of “like” or “as” by substituting one word for another word or phrase Examples: The assignment was a breeze. The skies of his future began to darken. All the world is a stage How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Synecdoche A part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part Examples: The word “suits” refers to businessmen. How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Personification A figure of speech in which a thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes Examples: The fire swallowed the entire forest. How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Apostrophe Talking directly to something that is not alive (object, idea, or person) Ex: Love, why have you left me abandoned? Ex: “Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon” How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Allusion A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance The writer expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text Examples: How comfortable are you with this device? Don’t act like a Romeo in I can recognize, use, and analyze it front of her. I know what it is but that’s about it This place is like a Garden of Eden. What’s that? Foreshadowing A writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story Examples: The final graveyard flower is blooming, and its smell drifts through their house, speaking gently the names of their dead. How comfortable are you with this device? The evening was still. I can recognize, use, and analyze it Suddenly, a cool breeze started blowing and made a I know what it is but that’s about it windy night. What’s that?  Anecdote A short and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point Their major purposes are to stir up laughter, to serve as a How comfortable are you with this device? caution, to disclose a truth I can recognize, use, and analyze it in a general way, or to describe a feature of a I know what it is but that’s about it character What’s that?  Foil Character A character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character with the objective to highlight the traits of the other character The comparison of the contrasting traits of the characters helps the readers to not only understand their How comfortable are you with this device? personalities but also to I can recognize, use, and analyze it comprehend the importance of their roles in a work of I know what it is but that’s about it literature What’s that? Stock Characters Typical characters that are found within various forms of media How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Epiphany That moment in the story where a character achieves realization, awareness or a feeling of knowledge after which events are seen through the prism of this new light in the story A sudden eye-opener regarding the nature of a person or situation Used to point out a turning point in the plot in the near How comfortable are you with this device? future I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  An environment or surrounding Historical Milieu / Setting in which an event or story takes place It may provide particular information about placement and timing Social conditions, historical time, geographical locations, weather, immediate surroundings, and timing are all different aspects of setting How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Satire A technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule It intends to improve humanity by criticizing its follies and foibles A writer in a satire uses fictional How comfortable are you with this device? characters, which stand for real I can recognize, use, and analyze it people, to expose and condemn their corruption I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Verbal Irony When a speaker speaks something contradictory to what they intend to When a character uses statement with underlying meanings contrasting with its literal meanings Examples: How comfortable are you with this device? Sarcasm I can recognize, use, and analyze it Exaggeration Understatement I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Situational Irony It occurs when incongruity appears between expectations of something to happen, and what actually happens instead The purpose of ironic situations is to allow the readers to make a distinction between appearances and realities How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Dramatic Irony It creates situations where audience knows more about the situations, the causes of conflicts and their resolutions before leading characters or actors How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Direct Characterization When the author describes a character’s personality verbatim How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Indirect Characterization When the reader must infer a character’s personality based on quotes and actions How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  It is referred to as the Mood atmosphere of a literary piece, as it creates an emotional situation that surrounds the readers It can be developed through setting, theme, tone and diction How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Tone An attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience Generally conveyed through the choice of words or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  To use figurative language to Imagery represent objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses Imagery needs the aid of figures of speech like simile, metaphor, personification, and onomatopoeia, in order to appeal to the bodily senses How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Denotation Literal or dictionary meanings of a word How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  A meaning that is implied by Connotation a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly. Words carry cultural and emotional associations or meanings in addition to their literal meanings How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Syntax Sentence structure Look for: Sentence length Grammar Punctuation Inversion How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Hyperbole A figure of speech that involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Parallelism The use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of How comfortable are you with this device? belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the I can recognize, use, and analyze it season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  A figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are Oxymoron joined to create an effect The common oxymoron phrase is a combination of an adjective preceded by a noun with contrasting meanings Examples: “Living death” “Cruel kindness” How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving Symbols / Symbolism them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense Generally, it is an object representing another to give it an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant Their meanings shift depending on the context they are used in How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Motif An object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work They can be seen as an image, sound, action or other figures that have a symbolic significance and How comfortable are you with this device? contributes toward the I can recognize, use, and analyze it development of theme I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Ellipsis A literary device that is used in narratives to omit some parts of a sentence or event, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while acting or reading it out How comfortable are you with this device? It is usually written between I can recognize, use, and analyze it the sentences as “…” I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Rhetorical Devices Devices that are used to persuade others How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Ethos A speaker or writer’s ethical appeal Used to convince an audience of the speaker or writer’s credibility How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Pathos A speaker or writer’s emotional appeal Used to persuade an audience by evoking their emotions How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Logos A speaker or writer’s logical appeal Used to convince an audience by the use of logic or reason How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Counterargument An argument that is put forward to oppose another argument How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? In media res When a work begins in the middle of the action How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  First-Person Point of View When the reader directly knows the quotes, thoughts, and actions of a narrator Utilizes the pronoun “I” How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Third-Person Omniscient Point of View When the quotes, thoughts, and actions of many characters are known to the reader The reader is “all knowing” Utilizes third-person How comfortable are you with this device? pronouns like “he,” “she,” I can recognize, use, and analyze it “they,” etc. I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Alliteration Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of several words How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Theme A main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work that may be stated directly or indirectly It is a truth that exhibits universality and stands true for people of all cultures Theme gives readers better How comfortable are you with this device? understanding of the main I can recognize, use, and analyze it character’s conflicts, experiences, discoveries and I know what it is but that’s about it emotions as they are What’s that? derived from them  Exposition A literary device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters etc. to the audience How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Rising Action A series of relevant incidents that create suspense, interest and tension in a narrative Includes all decisions, characters’ flaws and background circumstances How comfortable are you with this device? that together create turns I can recognize, use, and analyze it and twists leading to a I know what it is but that’s about it climax What’s that?  Climax That particular point in a narrative at which the conflict or tension hits the highest point It is a decisive moment or a turning point in a storyline How comfortable are you with this device? at which the rising action I can recognize, use, and analyze it turns around into a falling action I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Falling Action Occurs right after the climax Wraps up the narrative, resolves its loose ends, and leads toward the closure How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Maxim / Aphorism A brief statement that holds a truth about life Ex: Better late than never Ex: Nothing ventured nothing gained How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Anaphora The deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect Ex: “Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the How comfortable are you with this device? slums and ghettos of our northern I can recognize, use, and analyze it cities, knowing that somehow this I know what it is but that’s about it situation can and will be changed.” What’s that?  A rhetorical device in which Antithesis two ideas are directly opposed Ex: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.“ Ex: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that? Juxtaposition A literary technique in which two or more ideas, places, characters and their actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts How comfortable are you with this device? Ex: “O she doth teach the I can recognize, use, and analyze it torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the I know what it is but that’s about it cheek of night.” What’s that?  Polysyndeton A repetition of conjunctions in close succession for rhetorical effect How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Asyndeton An omission of conjunctions for rhetorical effect How comfortable are you with this device? I can recognize, use, and analyze it I know what it is but that’s about it What’s that?  Paradox It is a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth It is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement How comfortable are you with this device? contrary to accepted I can recognize, use, and analyze it traditional ideas I know what it is but that’s about it Ex: “I am nobody” What’s that? Euphemism Polite, indirect expressions which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite or which suggest something unpleasant An idiomatic expression which loses its literal How comfortable are you with this device? meanings and refers to I can recognize, use, and analyze it something else in order to I know what it is but that’s about it hide its unpleasantness What’s that?