Literary Devices!

Literary Device #1: PLOT The way the events are arranged. P Plot Lines A plot is a casual sequence of events, the "why" for the things that happen in the story. The plot draws the reader into the character's lives and helps the reader understand the choices that the characters make. A plot's structure is the way in which the story elements are arranged.

Literary Device # 2 Conflict The main problem that the characters face in a story Internal - Man vs. self External -Man vs. man -Man vs. nature -Man vs. society

Climax Literary Device # 3 The point in the story with the highest tension

Literary Device # 4 Denouement The answer to the conflict/problem…there has to be one! Be specific…not just “and they lived happily ever after.”

Literary Device # 5 Point-of-View 1st Person: Uses “I” to tell the story. The narrator can be a character in the story. 2nd Person: Not commonly used. Uses “you”. 3rd Person: The narrator is not a character in the story. Example: “He did this.” “She said that.”

Point-of-View… Continued Omniscient (Third-Person) Narrator: Can reveal thoughts of all characters; they are “all- knowing”. Limited Omniscient Narrator: Only reveals the thoughts and feelings of one (or a few) characters Objective (Third-Person) Narrator: Does NOT reveal anyone’s thoughts & provides info that a camera might record. (Nothing internal)

Imagery includes the "mental pictures" that readers experience with a passage of literature. Imagery is not limited to visual imagery; it also includes sound, touch, hot and cold, sound, taste, and movement.

Style / Tone Stylethe way a writer selects & arranges words to express ideas. Style: the way a writer selects & arranges words to express ideas. Tone: the attitude of the author toward the subject matter.

theme THEME What is a theme? Definition: the central or dominant idea of a work of fiction. Example: What is the theme in The Wizard of Oz? Possible Answers: “There’s no place like home” or Self-sufficiency

Literary Device # 8 Setting Definition: everything that has to do with when & where the story takes place. Example: “What is the setting in The Wizard of Oz?” Answer: Emerald City or Land of Oz

*Similes show a comparison using “like” or “as” “She drifted into the room like a cloud.” *Metaphors make a comparison and just states that something is something else “He is so muscular, he’s a rock!”

protagonist – the leading character antagonist – The principal character in opposition to the protagonist or hero. antihero - main character who lacks traditional heroic qualities, such as idealism or courage.

Irony - A literary style using contrasting humor. Situational Dramatic Verbal Situational irony - a situation where the opposite happens from what was expected. verbal irony – when what is said is the opposite of what is meant

Dramatic irony - irony in speeches or a drama that the audience understands but the characters do not understand. Throughout most of The Lion King, Simba mopes around feeling guilty for his father’s death, unaware (as the audience is) that Scar actually killed Mufasa.

Allegory - a story, poem, or picture that reveals a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. Allusion - a reference in a story to a person, place, or thing in history or literature.

In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the gargoyle Laverne tells a flock of pigeons to “Fly my pretties! Fly, Fly!” à la the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.

Coming – of – age - A novel in which an kid becomes an adult through experiences in the story. They lose his or her innocence, but usually matures and strengthens.

Comedy -any play or narrative poem in which the main characters manage to have a happy ending. Comic relief -A humorous scene, incident, character, or bit of dialogue occurring after some serious or tragic moment.

Drama - a narrative involving conflict. Satire - a critique on religious, political, moral, or social standards through humor

exposition - background material revealed throughout the story. flashback – a moment that interrupts the story to reveal past events--usually in the form of a character's memories, dreams, narration, or commentary foreshadowing – information that reveals what will occur later in a story. mood - feeling, emotional state, or disposition of mind- for the reader.

Foil - A character that highlights or emphasizes traits in another character; opposite. motivation - the reasons behind a character's behavior Suspense - emotional tension; keeps you on the edge

onomatopoeia

- An exaggeration or overstatement.

Oxymoron - contrasting concepts or words placed together

Personification - inanimate objects are given human character, traits, abilities, or reactions.

Symbol - A word, place, character, or object that stands for something else. Dumbo’s “magic” feather represents courage and self- confidence. Once he truly believes in himself, he no longer needs it as a psychological crutch.