Literary Terms Figurative Language and Devices Interactive Notebook: Figurative Language Edition

Alliteration Repeating the same first letter (or first 2 letters) of a word over and over in a sentence

Allusion Allusion is an indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing to which it refers. The writer expects the reader to have enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text.

Allusion Examples: Famous Books Famous People Famous things or places “This place is like a Garden of Eden.” – This is a biblical allusion to the “garden of God” in the Book of Genesis. “Hey! Guess who the new Newton of our school is?” – “Newton”, means a genius student, alludes to a famous scientist Isaac Newton. “Stop acting like my ex-girlfriend please.” – Apart from scholarly allusions we can refer to common people and places in our speech. Famous things or places Famous Books Famous People

Allusion in your Notebook! The two allusions are talking about some of the most intelligent people in history (Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton). Tom and Jerry were joking around about one being too ‘smart’ for their own good. So the allusion is that he is as smart or as intelligent as Newton and Einstein.

Analogy An analogy is a comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it. It aims at explaining that idea or thing by comparing it to something that is familiar. Metaphors and similes are tools used to draw an analogy. Therefore, analogy is more extensive and elaborate than either a simile or a metaphor. Consider the following example: “Structure of an atom is like a solar system. Nucleus is the sun and electrons are the planets revolving around their sun.”

Analogy Examples:

Finish the analogy

Characterization Direct Characterization Indirect Characterization 1. Telling the reader exactly what the character looks like 1. SHOWS the audience who the character is through their actions 2. Telling the reader exactly what the character acts like 2. SHOWS the audience who the character is through their words 3. Can be provided by the narrator or the characters themselves 3. Readers must make an inference as to who the character is 4. Readers have to make less inferences on characters personality/looks Definition: Characterization is a literary device that is used in literature to explain the details about a character in a story.

Characterization Direct Characterization Indirect Characterization 1. “Bill was short and fat, and his bald spot was widening with every passing year.” 1. “Bill sighed as he looked at the offer of a gym membership. He really should join. But just thinking about it made beads of sweat collect at the top of his bald spot.” 2. ‘Jane is a cruel person,’ she said.’ 2. “As Jane walked past the box labeled ‘Free Puppies,’ she furtively glanced around her, then gave the box a swift kick.” 3. “I looked in the mirror and saw how dark the circles under my green eyes had become.” 3. “I yawned, trying to keep my eyes open in the meeting. I reached for my coffee cup and was disappointed to realize it was empty.”

Conflict In literature, conflict is the result of competing desires or the challenges that need to be overcome. Conflict is necessary to keep the story moving! 

A nicer way of saying something that would be too harsh or blunt Euphemism A nicer way of saying something that would be too harsh or blunt