Terms to Know

Literary/Poetic Devices

Antithesis juxtaposition of Contrasting Words or Ideas (Often, Although Not Always, in Parallel Structure).

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words.

“Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship”

A reference to a historical figure, place, or event A reference to a historical figure, place, or event.

The teams competed in a David and Goliath struggle.

A broad comparison between two basically different things that have some points in common.

Aspirations toward space are not new. Consider the worm that becomes a butterfly.

A direct comparison between two basically different things. A simile is introduced by the words “like” or “as”.

My love is like a red, red rose.

An implied comparison between two basically different things. Is not introduced with the words “like” or “as”.

His eyes were daggers that cut right through me.

A great exaggeration to emphasize strong feeling.

I will love you until all the seas go dry.

Human characteristics are given to non-human animals, objects, or ideas.

My stereo walked out of my car.

An absent person or inanimate object is directly spoken to as though they were present.

Brutus: “Ceasar, now be still. I killed not thee with half so good a will.”

A part stands for the whole or vice versa.

The hands that created the work of art were masterful.

Hints given to the reader of what is to come.

“The stalwart hero was doomed to suffer the destined end of his days.”

The use of concrete details that appeal to the five senses.

Cold, wet leaves floating on moss- colored water.

A contrast between what is said and what is meant. Also, when things turn out different than what is expected.

“The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, unbated and envenomed. The foul practice has turned itself on me.” Laertes

The use of words whose sounds suggest the sounds made by objects or activities.

“Blind eyes could blaze like meteors” Other examples: buzz, hum, kiss Other examples: buzz, hum, kiss

Something concrete, such as an object, action, character, or scene that stands for something abstract such as a concept or an idea.

“Do not go gentle into that good night Rage, Rage against the dying of the light” Both phrases are symbols that stand for death. Both phrases are symbols that stand for death.

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Three Kinds of Irony : 1. Verbal Irony Is a Discrepancy between What Is Said or Written and What Is Meant.. 2. Dramatic Irony Occurs When an Audience Perceives Something That a Character in the Literature Does Not Know. 3. Irony of Situation Is a Discrepancy Between the Expected Result and Actual Results

Verbal Irony: a Discrepancy Between What Is Said or Written and What Is Meant To: All English faculty From: Department Chair Subject: Big Words I have received another complaint from a student. The student says her teacher uses big words. I was sympathetic. I told her that college teachers sometimes use big words. I told her college students sometimes try to learn big words. She was not convinced. She was not satisfied. That is not good. Walt Disney teaches us that the customer is always right. We should do what Walt Disney tells us. That is why I ask that you not use big words. Thank you for not using big words.

Dramatic Irony Occurs When an Audience Perceives Something That a Character in the Literature Does Not Know In the Greek drama Oedipus Rex, the audience is aware that Oedipus has killed his father and married his mother long before he is aware of this situation.

irony of situation is a discrepancy between the expected result and actual results In Kate Chopin’s “Story of an Hour,” the protagonist is expected to fall apart when she hears of her husband’s death in a train accident, but instead she experiences joy. When her husband walks in the door, instead of being delighted as observers might expect, she drops dead.

The overall atmosphere or prevailing emotional feeling of a work.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

Litotes: deliberate Understatement, Especially When Expressing a Thought by Denying Its Contradictory

A seemingly self- contradictory statement that still is true.

The more we learn, the less we know.

The repetition of identical sounds at the ends of lines of poetry.

“He clasps the crag with crooked hands Close to the sun in lonely lands” from “The Eagle”

The repetition of identical sounds within a line of poetry.

“We three shall flee across the sea to Italy.” Or “Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour.”

A slant rhyme or half rhyme occurs when the vowel sounds are not quite identical.

“And on that cheek and o’er that brow” A mind at peace with all below”

The repeating of a sound, word, phrase, or more in a given literary work.

“I sprang to the stirrup, and Jarvis, and he; I galloped, Derrick galloped, we galloped all three”

The repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant.

“...that hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.”

The repetition of consonant sounds that are preceded by different vowel sounds.

“Wherever we go Silence will fall like dews”

Comparing two very dissimilar things. Usually involves cleverness and ingenuity.

“Our love is like parallel lines” This is also a simile.

A term naming an object is substituted for another word with which it is closely associated with.

“Only through the sweat of your brow can you achieve success” “Sweat” stands for hard work.

A pair of rhymed verse lines that contain a complete thought.

“But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restor’d and sorrows end.”

Parallelism:similarity of Structure in a Pair or Series of Related Words, Phrases, or Clauses.

Elements of Fiction

A series of events that present and resolve a conflict. The story being told.

The plot of “The Most Dangerous Game” is that Rainsford is being hunted by General Zaroff.

The vantage point from which an author presents the action in a work.

1st person-tale related by a character in the story. “I or me” 3rd person-story told by someone not participating in the plot. “he, she, they”

The time (both the time of day and period in history) and place in which the action of a literary work takes place.

“Tiger! Tiger! burning bright In the forests of the night”

The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.

“Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes”

CHARACTERIZATION The method a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character. –Direct characterization: the writer makes direct statements about a character’s personality –Indirect characterization: the writer reveals a character’s personality through the character’s words and actions and through what other characters think and say about the character

CHARACTER TYPES Static character – a character who remains the same Dynamic character – a character who changes

DICTION The writer’s choice of words; an important element in the writer’s voice or style –Good writers choose their words carefully to convey a particular meaning or feeling

INFERENCE The act of concluding from evidence; deduction. In literature it describes the act of figuring something out by using what you already know. –Example: A + B = C If A = 2 and B = 3 then using what you know, you can deduce what C equals.

DENOTATION The literal or dictionary meaning of a word –Example: Home - a house, dwelling, a place where one lives permanently CONNOTATION The suggested or implied meanings associated with a word beyond its dictionary meaning –Example: Home - family, loving, safe, warm

FORESHADOWING The use of clues by the author to prepare readers for events that will happen later in a story

MOOD The emotional quality or atmosphere of a story –Example: “The ‘Red Death’ had long devastated the country. No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or so hideous. Blood was its Avatar and its seal—the redness and the horror of blood.” From “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allen Poe

TONE A reflection of a writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward the subject –A writer’s tone may convey a variety of attitudes, including, sympathy, objectivity, seriousness, irony, sadness, bitterness, or humor –Example: “Don’t talk to me about voting or politics. I’m not interested. All politicians are self-serving and corrupt. My vote won’t change a thing!”

References POETIC%20TERMS.pptwww.elko.k12.nv.us/ecsdtc/ppp/Roger/ POETIC%20TERMS.ppt blue.utb.edu/gibson/Poetic%20devices. ppt Language%20Arts%20Stuff/littermspp t.ppt