1. Literary Devices

2. Literary devices are used to:  call attention to the important parts of a story  make the writing style memorable  add to the characterization, setting, plot, and theme

3. Foreshadowing
hints and clues that the author gives the reader about what will happen later in the story
used to build anticipation in the reader
Example: “…as though he waited for some beast of the woods to come within the range of his vision…” (Munro 11).

4. Personification
giving human characteristics to an object or creature that is not human
Examples:
The sun smiled down on us.
The leaves danced in the breeze.

5. Hyperbole extreme exaggeration used to make a point Examples:
I have a million things to do today.
He is as old as the hills.
These books weigh a ton.

6. Onomatopoeia
the naming of an object or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it
Examples:
buzz, hiss, swish, bang, clap

7. Alliteration the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words
Example: “The rest of Harrison’s appearance was Halloween and hardware. Nobody had ever worn heavier handicaps” (Vonnegut 7).

8. Symbol:
a person, place, object, or image that represents another idea, feeling, or belief
a symbol has its own meaning, but also stands for something beyond itself
Examples:
wine in “The Interlopers”
handicaps in “Harrison Bergeron”
cigarettes in The Fault in Our Stars

9. Symbolism: the author’s use of symbols adds meaning to a story
General symbols  stand for universal ideas
Examples: heart for love, skull for death
Constructed symbols  created by an author to represent an important idea in a particular story
Examples: ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz, handicaps in “Harrison Bergeron”

10. Allusion = a brief reference to a well-known person, place, historical event, literary work, or work of art

11. Types of Allusions: Biblical Historical Classical (mythology)
Literary (fairy tales often become allusions  Prince Charming, Big Bad Wolf, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel)
Shakespeare allusions are common
Popular culture/ sports

12. Allusions: Why do authors/ artists/ musicians use “allusion”?
- helps create a certain mood quickly, without a lot of explanation
- connects author/ artist/ musician to the reader or audience

13. Imagery
The use of descriptive and/or figurative language to create “word pictures” in the mind of the reader

14. Imagery Figurative language includes  Metaphor Simile Hyperbole
Personification
Alliteration
Onomatopoeia