Literary Devices

Genre

A category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content (Examples in literature: Fiction, Nonfiction, Drama, Poetry, etc.) (Examples in music: Hiphop, Country, Pop, Classical, etc.)

Antagonist

A character or force *in conflict with the main character*

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality; when the opposite occurs from what was expected (Three types of irony: Verbal irony, Situational Irony, Dramatic Irony)

Flashforward

A scene in a movie, novel, etc. that jumps ahead in time (the future) and then returns to the present (opposite of flashback)

Rising Action

A series of events that lead up to the climax. It begins with the *inciting incident* (when the conflict is first introduced) and ends with the climax.

External Conflict

A struggle between a character and an *outside force* such as another character or nature

Conflict

A struggle between opposing forces; can be internal (human vs. self) and external (human vs. human(s) or human vs. nature)

Internal Conflict (human vs. self)

A struggle between opposing needs, desires, or emotions *within* a single character; a struggle that occurs in one's *mind*

Tone

A writer's *attitude* toward a character, the audience, or a subject (revealed through diction and literary techniques)

Situational Irony

An outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected (In the photo, we don't expect a Pepsi truck to be loaded with Coca-cola products! They are competing companies)

Dialogue

Conversation between characters

Resolution

End of the story where loose ends are tied up; the overall outcome and solution

Falling Action

Events after the climax that lead to the resolution; events and complications are beginning to resolve

Mood

Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader

Climax

Most exciting moment of the story; turning point

Metaphor

One thing is said to be another thing that is representative of it; Ex: You are a shining star (Similes are just metaphors that use "like" or "as")

Exposition

The basic information often presented at the beginning of a literary work. (Basic info = Characters, Setting, Conflict)

Diction

The choice and use of words in writing OR speaking

3rd person point of view

The narrator is NOT a character in the story (uses pronouns like he, she, they, etc); can be omniscient (all-knowing) or limited

1st person point of view

The narrator is a character in the story. (uses pronouns like I, me, my, we, our)

3rd person omniscient

The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of *all of the characters* in the story

3rd person limited

The narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of *one character*

Suspense

Uncertainty, anxiety, or excitement the reader (or audience) feels about what is going to happen next in a story (or play/movie)

Sensory Imagery

Written language that *evokes images* and triggers memories in the reader of the five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell.

Flashback

a scene in a movie, novel, etc. set in a time earlier than the main story (the past); this is usually done to make something that happens make more sense or something a character does more understandable (Ex: You're reading about serial killer; the author gives a flashback of when the killer was growing up, he was abused and bullied; maybe you have a better understanding now of why the killer is the way he is)

Fable

a short story, typically with animals as characters, that conveys a moral (teaches a lesson) (A parable is also a story that teaches a lesson but instead uses humans, not animals)

Allegory

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral one; can be in the form of a fable or parable

Literary Techniques

a strategy used in the making of a narrative to relay information to the audience and to "develop" the narrative, usually in order to make it more complete, complicated, or interesting. Some techniques are: Similes/Metaphors, Allegory, Hyperbole, Anthropomorphism, Irony, Imagery, Symbolism, Foreshadowing, Flashback, etc. (Note that these are all also called *Figures of Speech*)

Literary Devices

are made up of *literary elements* and *literary techniques*

Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally; Ex: I think my purse weighs 500 pounds

Elements of Plot

exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution

Literary Elements

have an *inherent* existence in a literary piece (inherent = existing within/existing as a natural part of something) The elements are: *Plot, setting, characters (protagonist and antagonist), narrator, point-of-view, dialogue, conflict, mood, tone, theme, diction, and genre*

Verbal Irony

saying the opposite of what you mean (sarcasm) -- In the picture, Patrick is not really laughing, he's probably pretty annoyed or maybe bored

Plot

the *sequence of events* in a literary work; all fiction is based on conflict and this conflict is presented as a *sequence of events* called PLOT.

Anthropomorphism

the attribution of human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects (this is a type of personification)

Protagonist

the main character in a story or play; a person who plays a leading or active part in something; often a good or heroic type

Narrator

the person who tells the story

Foreshadowing

the use of hints or clues about a future event in the story; helps to build suspense

Symbolism

the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities; a symbol is the object being used to represent a certain idea or quality (The heart is a symbol of love; in ancient Rome, the defeated army used to hold up an olive branch as a symbol of peace)

Dramatic Irony

when a reader (or someone in the audience) is aware of something that a character isn't (Ex: In Romeo & Juliet, we are aware that Juliet will wake up; but, sadly, we know Romeo doesn't know this) (In the picture, the audience sees the shark, but the swimmer is unaware of the danger lurking below)