1. Literary Terms

2. Figurative Language
When words are used to symbolize ideas and concepts beyond the literal meaning.

3. Part I: Analogy
A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification

4. symbol
In Anthem:
Person, place, object, or activity that stands for something beyond itself.
In LOTF:
In The Book Thief:

5. Symbol - contd. The Mockingjay pin symbolizes hope.
Storm Troopers symbolize
turning a blind eye to injustice.
Snow White’s physical description:
In the beginning of the movie they mention her skin as white as snow (innocence), her lips as red as blood (life), and her hair as black as ebony (death). (This is also simile.)

6. simile
Comparison between two unlike things using the word “like” or “as.”

7. metaphor
Figure of speech that makes a comparison between two things that are basically unlike but have something in common

8. Simile & Metaphor Film Clips
Link here

9. Hyperbole
If I can't get a Smartphone, I will die.
I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
Figure of speech in which truth is exaggerated for emphasis or for humorous effect

10. Understatement
Technique used to create emphasis by saying less than is actually or literally true

11. Euphemism
A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing

12. Part IV: Rhetorical devices

13. parallelism
The use of similar grammatical constructions to express ideas that are related or equal in importance
“You may respond by calling, visiting, or ing.”
NOT “You may respond by calling, visiting, or you could also send an .”

14. repetition
Link to Stephen Crane’s “War is Kind” here
(This poem also employs irony and personification.)
A technique in which sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis or unity

15. Repetition Continued Consonance Assonance Alliteration Pitter, patter
repetition of consonants (can be beginning, middle, or end of words)
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds
Alliteration
Multiple words repeating same sound at the beginning of the word
Pitter, patter
“The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plains.”
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

16. Repetition continued Anaphora Epistrophe
Deliberate repetition of the 1st part of a sentence.
Epistrophe
Repetition at the end of clauses.
“My life is my purpose. My life is my goal. My life is my inspiration.”
“…that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” – Abraham Lincoln

17. Rhetorical questions
Questions that do not require a reply

18. Blank verse
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death.…….”
(Macbeth by William Shakespeare)
Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter to mimic natural rhythm of English speech

19. Part II: irony
A contrast between appearance and reality – usually one in which reality is the opposite of what it seems.

20. Dramatic irony
When the audience knows more about the situations, the causes of conflicts, and their resolutions before leading characters or actors

21. Situational irony
Occurs when there is a difference between what was expected to happen, and what actually happens

22. Verbal irony
Occurs when a speaker says something contradictory to what he intends to. It is done intentionally and is contradictory to the speaker’s emotions and actions.

23. sarcasm
A kind of particularly cutting irony. Usually it is the taunting use of praise to mean its opposite.

24. satire
A literary technique in which ideas, customs, behaviors, or institutions are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society

25. paradox
A seemingly contradictory or absurd statement that may nonetheless suggest an important truth

26. Part III: imagery
Descriptive words and phrases that recreate sensory experience; it usually appeals to one or more of the five senses (taste, sight, smell, touch, sound).

27. personification
A figure of speech in which human qualities are given to an object, animal, or idea

28. allusion
Indirect reference to a famous person, place, event, or literary work

29. motif
Any element, subject, idea or concept that is constantly present through the entire work. Using a motif refers to the repetition of a specific theme dominating the literary work.
Difference Between Motif and Theme
To see the difference, let us consider William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth. One of the themes of the play is ambition, and its power to corrupt. We see Macbeth strive for power and kill people in his quest. One of the motifs, on the other hand, is water and the washing of hands. Lady Macbeth famously tries to wash the blood from her hands, crying, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” The inability of water to cleanse the sins of Macbeth and his wife show how irredeemable they are and to what extent they have lost their morals in pursuit of their ambitions.

30. inference
A logical assumption that is based on observed facts and one’s own knowledge and experience

31. Part V: Dramatic conventions

32. Tragic hero A character in a dramatic work whose downfall is depicted
Romeo in Romeo and Juliet
Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Carribean film series

33. soliloquy
Link to Macbeth soliloquy, performed by Homer Simpson here
A speech in which a character speaks his or her thoughts aloud

34. aside
A short speech directed to the audience or another character that is not heard by the characters on stage
Link to example here

35. Link to the “Figurative Language Rap” here
For kicks and grins…
Link to the “Figurative Language Rap” here

36. Quiz Time Your answers will be from the following:
Metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole,
assonance, alliteration, onomatopoeia
Link to quiz here