Literary Device Review

8/10/2019 Literary Device Review

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Literary Devicesreview


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Literary Devices and Terms

A literary devise is any tool used in literature tohelp the reader understand the story and itscharacter(s).

There are two types of literary devises used by

authors, literary elementsand literary techniques. Literary termsprovide structure to the literature.

All literary elements are evident in all literaturethat creates a story.

Literary techniquesare specific to each author.

Authors choose which of the techniques to employ. Literary terms are not devices. They are simply

terms used to understand literature.


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Literary Elements

Point of view

Setting Character/Characterization

Theme

Plot

Conflict

Literary elements are common literarydevices found in all literature.


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Point of View Point of view is the vantage point from which a story is told.

First Person: The narrator is a character, often the maincharacter, of the story. This character reveals personalthoughts and feelings but is unable to tell the feelings ofothers unless he or she is told by another character. Thefirst person narrator refers to him or herself as I.

Third Person Objective: The narrator is an outsider, not acharacter. The third person objective reports what ishappening (seen and heard), but cannot tell the reader whatcharacters are thinking.

Third Person Limited:The narrator is an outsider, not acharacter. The third person objective reports what ishappening as well as the thoughts of one specific character.

Omniscient:This is the all-knowing narrator. The omniscientpoint of view sees everything and hears everything, and isable to see into the minds of multiple characters.


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Setting

Setting generally provides the time andplace

of a specific scene or chapter, theentire story, a play or a narrative poem.

Settingcan also include the mood of thetime period, situation or event. Setting can also be the social, political,

environmental or emotional climate.

Setting can also include the emotionalstate of a character.


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Character The term character refers to a person or

an animal in a story, play or other literarywork.

A Dynamic Characterchanges as a result

of the events of the story. A Static Characterchanges very little or

not at all through the literary work.

A characters motivationis any force (i.e.:love, fear, jealousy) that drives thecharacter to behave in a particular way.


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Characterization Characterization is the way a writer reveals

the personality of a character. Characterization is how the author develops and

uses the characters to tell a story.

Characterization is often the most importantaspect of a story. The protagonist is the main character in a story.

The story often revolves around this character. The antagonist is the force that or character who

opposes the protagonist. Minor characters are present, generally named

and have a role that in some wayhighlights the protagonist.


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Theme

Theme is the general idea or insight aboutlife that a work of literature reveals. Theme is a main idea or strong message tied to

life. Theme threads itself through a story, chapter or

scene to make a point about life, society or humannature. Theme is typically implied rather than blatant.

The reader has to think about it. Generally, there is one major theme in a piece of

literature.Additional themes can often be found in apiece of literature.


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Conflict Conflict is a struggle between opposing

characters or opposing forces.

Conflict creates the plot of a story. Conflict is theproblem or struggle in a story.There are four general types of conflict in literature: Man versus Man is the conflict of one person against another

person.

Man versus Nature is the conflict a person encounters withthe forces of nature, and shows how insignificant one personcan be when compared to the cosmicscheme of things.

Man versus Society is the conflict of a person/people and theviews of society. Prejudice/Racism is a good example.

Man versus Self is internal conflict. It is those conflicts an

individual has with his conscience.


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Plot

Plot is the sequence of events that happen

in a story. Plot provides a story withstructure, like a map of a story.

Plot has five basic points. Expositionis the beginning of the story. Rising actionis when something starts to happen. Climax is the high point of the action. Falling actionis the action following the climax, a cool

down. Resolutionis the conclusion of the action when

everything comes together.


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Plot Diagram

Rising action

Climax

Exposition

Falling action

Resolution


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Literary Techniques

Literary techniques are used toproduce a specific effect on the

reader. Authors often use a variety of

techniques throughout a piece of

literature.


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Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of consonantsounds generally at the beginning of words,or, within neighboring words in a sentence.

Alliteration is used to create a melody or

mood, call attention to specific words,point out similarities and contrasts. Examples:

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled

peppers.Wide-eyed and wondering while we waitfor others to waken.


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Onomatopoeia(Figurative Language)

Onomatopoeia is the use of wordsthat imitate or suggest theirmeaning.

When you read the word, it makes asound

Examples:

Buzz!

Coarackle!


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Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is the use of clues or hintsto suggest events that will occur later inthe plot.

Foreshadowing is when you are given hintsor clues about something that will happenin the future of the story.

A good examples of foreshadowing are inOHenrys short story, After Twenty

yearswhen he gives us clues of whatis to come.


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Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses. Imagery is when words or language is used

to appeal to one or all of the five senses sight, touch, taste, smell or sound.

Theodore Taylor provides the reader withimagery when he describes the sounds ofthe ship being torpedoed. Imagery is also

used when Taylor has Timothy describethe cay to the blind Phillip.


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Figurative Language Whenever you describe something by

comparing it with something else, you areusing figurative language.(orangeusd)

Types of figurative language include:

MetaphorPersonificationSimile


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Metaphor(Figurative Language)

Metaphor is an imaginative comparisonbetween two unlike things in which onething is said to be the other thing.

Metaphors are impliedcomparisonsbetween two unlike things without usingthe words like or as.

Examples:

The road was a ribbon of moonlight.She was a flower among women.


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Simile(Figurative Language)

Simile is when a comparison is madebetween two unlike things, using a wordsuch as like, as, than or resembles.

Similes are most often direct comparisonsbetween two unlike things using the wordslike and as.

Examples:

Timothys arms were like iron.My love is like a red, red rose.

Her face was as round as a pumpkin.


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Personification(Figurative Language)

Personification is when an object or animalis spoken of as if it had human feelings,thoughts or attitudes.

Personification is when human qualities aregiven to an animal, an object or an idea.

Examples:The little dog laughed.The cow winked at the little girl.


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Repetition

Repetition is when a word, phrase ofline is repeated within the text inclose proximity.

Repetition is used to emphasize oradd special meaning to what is beingsaid.

Repetition makes the readerconsciously aware of a point being

made by the author or thecharacter.


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Symbol/Symbolism A symbol is a person, a place, a thing, or an

event that has meaning in itself and standsfor something beyond itself as well. Symbols are commonly known as

representing the other item. Examples:

The bearstone in Bearstone by WillHobbs is a symbol of luck and strengthto the Ute.

The peach trees are a symbol ofWalter

s love for his wife.

Documents

Literary Device Review