literary devices

an allegory is a narrative in which the characters often stand for abstract concepts. An  allegory generally teaches a lesson by means of an interesting story. 

 a reference to something in literature, history, mythology, religious texts, etc., considered  common knowledge. 

 a point by point comparison between two dissimilar things for the purpose of clarifying the  less familiar of the two things.  

the device, usually in poetry, of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, or  to a place, thing, or personified abstraction either to begin a poem or to make a dramatic break in  thought somewhere within the poem. 

 the repetition at close intervals of vowel sounds for a purpose. For example: mad as a  hatter.  

refers to the techniques employed by writers to develop characters. 1) The writer  may use physical description. 2) Dialogue spoken by the character and by other characters reveals  character traits. 3) A character’s action may be a means of characterization. 4) The reactions of  another character may also be revealing. 5) A character’s thoughts arid feelings are also a means of  characterization.  

 the point at which the conflict of the story begins to reach a turning point and begins to be  resolved

 the struggle between two opposing forces that is the basis of the plot.

1) internal conflict  character struggling with him/her self,

2) external conflicts – character struggling with forces outside of  him/her self. For example. Nature, god, society, another person, technology, etc.  

 the associations, images, or impressions carried by a word, as opposed to the word’s  literal meaning. 

 the final unraveling or outcome of the plot in drama or fiction during which the  complications and conflicts of the plot are resolved.  

word choice

 background information at the beginning of the story, such as setting, characters and  conflicts. In a short story the exposition appears in the opening paragraphs; in a novel the exposition  is usually part of the first chapter.  

 a writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events that will occur later in the narrative. 

an exaggeration for emphasis or humorous effect. 

 words and phrases that create vivid experiences or a picture for the reader.

a contrast between appearance and actuality:  

♦ Verbal irony: a writer says one thing, but means something entirely different. 

♦ Situational irony: occurs when something happens that is entirely different from what is  expected.  

♦ Dramatic irony: occurs when the reader knows information that the characters do not. 

: a figure of speech in which a comparison or analogy is made between two seemingly  unlike things, as in the phrase “evening of life.”  

 a figure of speech in which two seemingly unlike things are compared. The comparison is  made explicit by the use of a word or phrase such as: like, as, than, similar to, resembles, or seems— as in: He was strong as a bull.  

 the feeling, or atmosphere, that a writer creates for the reader. Connotative words, sensory  images, and figurative language contribute to the mood of a selection, as do the sound and rhythm of  the language.

A unifying element in an artistic work, especially any recurrent image, symbol, theme,  character type, subject or narrative detail.

- the vantage point, or stance from which a story is told, the eye and mind through which  the action is perceived.

 -the person from whose point of view events are conveyed.  

♦ First person: the narrator is a character in the story, uses the pronoun “I.”  

 The first-person narrator does not have to be the main character in the story.  ♦ Third person: is indicated by the pronouns he, she, and they. The third-person narrator is not a  participant in the action and thus maintains a certain distance from the characters.   A) In the third person omniscient point of view, the narrator is all-knowing about the thoughts and feelings of the characters.  

 B) The third-person limited point of view deals with a writer presenting events as experienced by only one character. This type of narrator does not have full knowledge of situations, past or future events.  

 C) In the third person objective the story conveys only the external details of the characters—never their thoughts or inner motivations. 

The formation or use of words. Such as: buzz, or cuckoo, whose meaning is  suggested by the sound of the word itself. (boom, click, plop) 

 a figure of speech in which two contradictory words or phrases are combined in a single  expression, giving the effect of a condensed paradox: “wise fool,” “cruel kindness.”  

 a statement or situation containing obvious contradictions, but is nevertheless true.  

 a figure of speech in which human qualities or characteristics are given to an animal,  object, or concept.  

 an imitation of a serious work of literature for the purpose of criticism or humorous effect or  for flattering tribute.  

 a literary technique in which foolish ideas or customs are ridiculed for the purpose of improving  society. 

the time and place in which the action of a story occurs. 

a person, object, idea or action that stands for something else. It is usually something literal  that stands for something figurative. For example: Roads can stand for choices.

sentence structure (see handout).