Elements of Literature Examples

Second person

"Sir, we don't stay open all night. I have a family too. Let's all go home," says the security guard at the library. You know that he is talking to you, but you don't really acknowledge his words. You are lost in thought. "Sir! Hello? Sir! The library is closing. Last call to check out books!" That one motivates you. You shut the text that you are reading and carry the wobbly pile of dusty manuals to the counter. The librarian does not seemed too pleased to serve you. "Sir, we closed two minutes ago. I should send you off..." she snarls at you with a thick cloud of attitude.

Suspense

"What is it?" Kris called, taking a few reluctant steps toward the Dumpster. Lindy didn't reply. Then, slowly, she pulled something out. She started to hold it up. Its arms and legs dangled down limply. Kris could see a head with brown hair. A head? Arms and legs? "Oh, no!" Kris cried aloud, raising her hands to her face in horror.

First Person

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Third person limited

King Lenny surveyed his court. He liked what he saw. The court was lined with his loyal followers, all of them hanging on his every word. "The king is the thing today, Jeoffrey," King Lenny said to his servant. Jeoffrey chuckled and said, "Today and every day, sire." King Lenny laughed and took off his gloves. He hated wearing gloves when he was holding court. All of the complaining and the tight gloves made his palms too sweaty. "Bring in the first petitioner," said King Lenny. He wanted to finish the boring part of his day.

Foershadowing

Mike felt as confident as ever when he started his boat engine that day. He noticed a few clouds gathering overhead, but did not worry about them.

Theme

The universal message about life

Verbal Irony

A groom breaks up with his bride at the altar. She calls after him, "I didn't love you that much anyway."

Flashback

A long-forgotten memory came back to Peter as he drove through his old neighborhood. Mr. Smith's dog was chasing him down the street. He fell, and pain shot through his arm. This is an example of ____?

Situational Irony

A pickpocket steals money from people and puts it in his pocket. When he gets home, he discovers someone has pick-pocketed him.

Third person

Joshua and Sydney went for a long bike ride that evening. The sun was beginning to set in the distance. Joshua began to worry that they wouldn't make it home before dark. He suggested that they take a shortcut on the way home.

Third person objective

The wind was strong enough to blow leaves off the trees. A boy was walking down a blacktop path lined with oaks. The red and brown leaves fell through the air with each gust. The boy dribbled a ball down the path. "Behind you!" shouted a man on a bike. The boy dribbled the ball off the path and avoided the biker. "Sorry," shouted the biker as he sped away. The boy sighed and continued walking down the path, dribbling the ball

Third person omniscient

Ursula looked at herself in the mirror. She thought that the dress fit her very well. She turned to the saleswoman. The saleswoman thought that the dress did not fit Ursula, but she had learned a long time ago to be careful when telling a customer that a dress was too small for them. Ursula asked the saleswoman, "Well? What do you think?" The saleswoman nodded, put up her thumbs, and said, "It looks stunning, my lady." This response made Ursula feel good.

Dramatic Irony

You're watching a television show. A man comes on the screen and says he's going to pretend to steal a woman's dog. The dog is stolen and the woman gets upset.