Literary Devices Test

Metaphor

A figure of speech that directly compares one thing to another for rhetorical effect, WITHOUT like or as. Example: That girl's tears were a river flowing down her face.

4 types of characterization

Direct - author tells reader everything about characters Indirect - words and deeds and observation give you your image of character Round (dynamic) central character - well developed, focus story on these characters, complex personality, they usually change in some significant way. - Flat (static) minor char. - little or no depth, remain unchanged

4 parts of Plot

Exposition - give the background/events which have occurred before story takes place, a little about characters, setting Conflict - mid section of story. Set of complications which disrupt existing order (character vs. environment, character vs. his own emotions, man vs. himself, man vs. man, woman vs. man, man vs. nature, man vs. society Climax - - turning point or highest interest in story - final resolution becomes inevitable Resolution - finish it up - epilogue in mysteries

4 types of Point of Views

Third Person Omniscient - narrator has complete insight and narrator knows all, moves in and out of characters mind. Third person limited - most common method - restricts to minds of 2 or 3 main characters First person - 1 character tells story - reader is inside one mind - reads thoughts of 1 character Minimalist - distant dispassionate 3rd person - tells you facts - doesn't comment - ex. Stage direction (ex Hemmingway and Carver)

Oxymoron

a figure of speech that puts together opposite elements. The combination of these contradicting elements serves to reveal a paradox, confuse, or give the reader a laugh. Example: The person's answer was almost exactly what the teacher wanted.

Personification

a kind of metaphor in which you describe an inanimate object, abstract thing, or non-human animal in human terms. Example: The light of the party boat danced on the surface of the water.

Simile

a literary term where you use "like" or "as" to compare two different things and show a common quality between them. Example: That 7ft tall kid is like a giraffe

stream of consciousness

a narrative style that tries to capture a character's thought process in a realistic way. Example: "When i get home, if my mom yells at me im gonan throw a fit. Im going to then do my homework. But i should actually practice soccer first. But i should have dinner"

Aside

a speech or short comment that a character delivers directly to an audience. Example: When the characters from The Office talk to the camera 1 on 1. Also Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Allusion

basically a reference to something else. It's when a writer mentions some other work, or refers to an earlier part of the current work Example: That guy was a Good Samaritan when he helped that stranger.

Theme

central point of idea developed in story - human experience - images in work will lead you to the theme

Characterization

creation and development of characters

Foreshadowing

gives the audience hints or signs about the future. It suggests what is to come through imagery, language, and/or symbolism. It does not directly give away the outcome, but rather, suggests it. Example: The main opener to a story, "It was a dark and stormy night," foreshadows trouble and danger.

Style

habitual manner author uses to express himself in text (formal, colloquial, simple)

Imagery

language used by poets, novelists and other writers to create images in the mind of the reader. Imagery includes figurative and metaphorical language to improve the reader's experience through their senses. Example: The blue sky was filled with fluffy white clouds.

Epic

long narrative poem recounting heroic deeds. Example: The Odyssey

Protagonist

main character." The story circles around this character's experiences, and the audience is invited to see the world from his or her perspective. Example: Malala was the protagonist in I am Malala

Tone

manner in which author expresses attitudes toward character (cynical, middle class, vulgar, educated, humorous, diction)

Onomatopoeia

refers to words whose pronunciations imitate the sounds they describe Example: BOOM

Epiphany

the moment when a character is suddenly struck with a life-changing realization which changes the rest of the story. Example: Montag undergoes an epiphany after talking to his neighbor Clarisse.

Antagonist

the opposite of the protagonist, or main character. Typically, this is a villain of some kind, but not always! It's just the opponent of the main character, or someone who gets in their way Example: The taliban was the antagonist in I Am Malala

Juxtaposition

the placement of two or more things side by side, often in order to bring out their differences Example: You're dumb smart

Drama

the portrayal of fictional or non-fictional events through the performance of written dialog, either prose or poetry; ACTION Example: Romeo and Juliet

Repetion

the repeating of a word or phrase Example: The players listened to their coach for the command of "Get ready, get set, go!"

Assonance

the repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds within words, phrases, or sentences. Example: The beaver eats the green leaves on the teaspoon trees.

Satire

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices. (S-Sarcastic) Example: When I was a boy, I was told that anybody could become President. Now I'm beginning to believe it.

Setting

time, place, social context established by author (ex. Setting 1950's The South - will probably have something to do with desegregation - Mockingbird ) Atmosphere created by actions of characters. Tolstoy & Poe

Plot

what happens in the story, sequence of events - beginning/middle/end

Irony

when there are two contradicting meanings of the same situation, event, image, sentence, phrase, or story. In many cases, this refers to the difference between expectations and reality Example: The Necklace is ironic

Alliteration

words that begin with the same sound are placed close together. Although alliteration often involves repetition of letters, most importantly, it is a repetition of sounds. Example: Sally sold sea shells at the sea shore.

Rhyme

words whose endings match, as in "fly" and "spy." This is one of the most common techniques in traditional poetry and music, and most people can easily identify rhymes. Example: Twinkle twinkle little STAR, how i wonder what you ARE