Foreshadowing:  When hints or clues are given about events that will happen later in the story. Example:  A character breaks a mirror, a black cat crosses his path and then later on in the story something bad happens to him/her.

Flashback:  A useful device that provides information about an earlier event; the writer shifts from the present to the past to illustrate an important point.  The story is told in the past tense and relived through a character’s memory.

Irony:  A contrast between what is said and what is meant or between expectations and reality. Example:  “I was never nicer to the old man as I was the week before I killed him.”

Verbal Irony:  Occurs when a character says one thing literally, but really means something else.  There is an implied meaning opposite to what is said. Example:  When you don’t complete your homework, and I say with sarcasm, “I can see that you are really working hard in this course!”

Situational Irony:  The actual outcome is different from what is expected. Example:  Olympic swimmer drowns in bathtub.  Firemen dies in house fire.  Policeman robs a bank.

Dramatic Irony:  When we the reader or audience member is aware of something that is about to occur, but the character in the text is not. Example:  In the Shakespearean play Othello, the audience knows Iago’s evil plan, but the other characters do not.

Tone:  The attitude the author has towards the subject.  This is most often created through the author’s choice of words. Example:  Dark  Light  Depressing

Symbol:  An object, image, character, or action that stands for an idea beyond its literal meaning. Example:  Rose = Love  Cross = Sacrifice  Lamb = Gentleness

Allusion:  When casual reference is made to a famous historical or literary figure or event. Example:  Christ  Greek gods (Zeus)  “Oh how I long for my own Rapunzel!”

Metaphor:  Comparing two things WITHOUT using “like” or “as”. Example:  I am a bear in the morning.  My students are angels.

Simile:  Comparing two things USING “like” or “as”. Example:  “Our love is like a warm fire.”  “She her smile was as bright as the sun.”

Analogy:  A comparison between two things that are different but have one thing in common. Example:  An extended simile – He was like Christ in that he sacrificed everything he had for his friends.

Hyperbole:  An exaggeration or overstatement. Example:  “I called you a thousand times last night.”  “I am starving!”

Alliteration:  The repetition of the initial letter or sounds in two or more words in a line or group of lines. Or repetition of consonant sounds within the words. Example:  “He is a witty, whiny, worthless young man.”  “Betty Boop bought some butter”

Oxymoron:  Two contrasting words/ideas put together. Example:  Jumbo Shrimp  Cold Heat  Hard Love  Bitter Sweet

Paradox:  A phrase that seems to be contradictory, but actually does hold some truth. Example:  To believe with certainty we must begin with doubting.

Onomatopoeia:  Words that sound the way they are spelled. Example:  Bang  Boom  Buzzzzz

Imagery:  When images are created by a writer using concrete details, adjectives, and figures of speech. Example:  Blossoming flower, reaching towards the sun.

Pathetic Fallacy:  When nature mimics what is happening in the story. Example:  Rain when a character is sad or depressed.  A hail storm when a character is experiencing a crisis.

Personification:  When something non-human is given human qualities. Example:  Death is knocking at my door.  The sun extended its hand to keep me warm that day.

Juxtaposition:  Putting opposites beside each other in order to show the differences. Example:  Comparing a pure character with an evil one, to emphasize how good the pure character is.

Understatement:  Saying less than what is true for effect. Example:  My parents were disappointed when I smashed their new car!

Diction:  The author’s choice of words, which can create the tone or atmosphere. Example:  Sharp words  Kind words

Pathos:  When the author writes in such a way as to arouse feelings of pity or sympathy in the reader. Example:  He was tortured, beaten, utterly alone.

Hubris:  Pride or supreme confidence.

Catharsis:  Purification of emotions through a reader’s/ spectator’s involvement in a novel/play. Example:  After a long scene of intense drama, the lovers finally embrace.  Rain after a confession.  Sun after a dark period.

Genres:  The types or categories into which literary works are grouped. Examples:  Science fiction, horror, romance, comedy, novella, poem, short story, novel, etc.

 Do you have any questions or concerns?  Complete the literary devices activity sheet!  Soon you will be an expert on literary devices!

Graffiti Activity:  Located around the room are literary devices on chart paper.  For each literary device, write your own example.  Every student will need their own marker.