Lite

rary

Devi

ces

Lite

rary

Devi

ces

Allegory- Couplet

Allegory- Couplet

Alle

gory

Alle

gory

A story in which the

A story in which the

characters represent abstract

characters represent abstract

qualities; a story with two

qualities; a story with two

meanings—a literal meaning

meanings—a literal meaning

and a symbolic

and a symbolic meaning.meaning.

Example #1: Pilgrim’s Progress

Pilgrim’s Progress

by John Bunyan is a well-known

by John Bunyan is a well-known

allegory in English literature in

allegory in English literature in

which the protagonist, Christian,

which the protagonist, Christian,

pursues a godly life and meets

pursues a godly life and meets

other characters, such as Hopeful

other characters, such as Hopeful

and Faithful, along the journey.

and Faithful, along the journey.

Example #2: : A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

by Charles Dickens

Alli

tera

tion

Alli

tera

tion

The repetition of

The repetition of

consonant sounds at the

consonant sounds at the

beginning of words.

beginning of words.Example #1:

Example #1: Peter Piper

Peter Piper

picked a peck of pickled

picked a peck of pickled

peppers.peppers.

Example #2

Example #2: The : The

vindictive villain of

vindictive villain of V for V for

Vendetta Vendetta is the vigilant V

is the vigilant V

(see clip).(see clip).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Q0dfrbr10&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U97lbv0_A2I&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U97lbv0_A2I&feature=related

Allu

sion

Allu

sion

A reference to

A reference to

a historical or

a historical or

fictional fictional

person, place,

person, place,

or event with

or event with

which the which the

reader is reader is

assumed to be

assumed to be

familiar. familiar.

Allusions may

Allusions may

also reference

also reference

pop culture,

pop culture,

such as TV

such as TV

shows, shows,

movies, etc.

movies, etc.

Example #1:

Example #1:

“He was “He was

spawned in spawned in

that slime,/ that slime,/

Conceived by

Conceived by

a pair of those

a pair of those

monsters monsters

born/ Of born/ Of

Cain...”Cain...”

Example #2:

Bro, that Bro, that

party was so

party was so

Jersey Shore—

Jersey Shore—

what was the

what was the

situation?situation?

Analogy

A comparison between two

A comparison between two

dissimilar things for the purpose

dissimilar things for the purpose

of clarifying a point or creating an

of clarifying a point or creating an

image.image.

Example: School is like the game of

Example: School is like the game of

football. The students are like the

football. The students are like the

players, and the teachers are like the

players, and the teachers are like the

coaches. Success in both requires

coaches. Success in both requires

motivation, practice, acquiring new

motivation, practice, acquiring new

skills, hard work and discipline.

skills, hard work and discipline.

Poetry composed

between the 7th and 12th

centuries, originally

intended to be recited by

scops (poet-singers), and

often characterized by

the use of alliteration,

caesura (poetic pauses),

and kennings (compound words used as

metaphors)..Anglo-Saxon Poetry

I make this song about me full sadlymy own wayfaring. I a woman tellwhat griefs I had since I grew upnew or old never more than now.Ever I know the dark of my exile.

First my lord went out away from his peopleover the wave-tumult I grieved each dawnwondered where my lord my first on earth might be.Then I went forth a friendless exileTo seek service in my sorrow’s need.

caesura

kenning

A l l i t e r a t i o n

Anglo-Saxon Poetry Example

Anta

gonist

Anta

gonist

The character

or force

against which

the main

character (the

protagonist)

is pitted.

Example #1:

In the epic

poem Beowulf,

both Grendel

and fate can

be interpreted

as antagonists

to the hero,

Beowulf.

Example #2: Lex Luther is Superman’s antagonist.

Antithesis

Antithesis is direct contrast or

opposition. (Hope is the antithesis

of despair.) In literature, this term

usually refers to a figure of speech

in which sharply contrasting words,

phrases, clauses, or ideas are placed

together to emphasize a point.

Example: “If…there could be spirits

If…there could be spirits

of a middle sort /

of a middle sort / Too black for

Too black for

heav’n,heav’n,

and and yet too white for hell,…”

yet too white for hell,…”

--John Dryden

--John Dryden

Aphori

smA

phori

smA brief statement that

expresses a general

observation about life in a

witty, pointed way.

Example#1: “No people can be

both ignorant and free.” –Thomas JeffersonExample #2: “If a million

people say a foolish thing, it

is still a foolish thing.”—Anatole France

Apostro

ph

Apostro

phee

A figure of speech in which

an object, abstract quality,

or absent or imaginary

person is addressed

directly, as though present

and able to understand.

Example: “Roll on, thou

deep and dark blue Ocean,

roll! Ten thousand fleets

sweep over thee in vain;

Man marks the earth with

ruin…” –Lord George

Gordon Byron

Arg

um

enta

tio

Arg

um

enta

tionnSpeech or writin

g intended

to convince an audience

that an idea should be

accepted or rejected.

Argumentation usually

begins with a statement of

the idea or opinion, followed

by logical evidence as

support.Example: Mary

Wollstonecraft’s A

Vindication of the Rights

of Woman argues for the

rights of women and

against views that would

subjugate women.

Examples:Macbeth: (Aside) If

chance will have me

King, / why chance

may crown me, /

Without my stir.

Asi

de

Asi

de

In DRAMA, a remark

In DRAMA, a remark

spoken in an undertone

spoken in an undertone

by a character directly to

by a character directly to

the audience (or to

the audience (or to

another character) and

another character) and

not meant to be heard by

not meant to be heard by

the other characters on

the other characters on

stage.stage.

Yo, Macbeth! Let’s go! Who

you talking to?

Asso

nance

The repetition of a vowel

sound in two or more

stressed syllables that do not

end with the same

consonant. Assonance is

used to emphasize certain

words, provide a musical

quality, create a mood, or

unify a text.

Example: “When I have fears

that I may cease to be /Before my

pen has glean’d my teeming

brain.”

--John Keats

Auth

or’s

Auth

or’s

Purp

ose

Purp

ose

An author’s

purpose may be

to entertain, to

inform, to

express

opinion, to

persuade, or

any

combination of

these.

Example: A

History of the

English

Church and

People by the

Venerable

Bede was

written to

inform and

persuade

Auto

bio

gra

phy

Auto

bio

gra

phy

A written account of a

person’s own life.

Autobiographies offer

insight into the writer’s

character, attitudes, and

motivations as well as

some understanding of

the society in which the

author lived.Examples: A diary, a

journal, a memoir, letters;

The Book of Margery

Kempe is the earliest

known autobiography in

the English language.

Ballad

A narrative

poem, originally

intended to be

sung, written by

unknown

authors and

handed down

through oral

tradition.

Ballads usually

depict ordinary

people in the

midst of tragic

or heroic events

of love and

bravery..

Characteristics

Characteristics

of Ballads:of Ballads:

•Begin Begin

abruptlyabruptly

•Focus on a

Focus on a

single event

single event

•Use dialogue

Use dialogue

•Use repetition

Use repetition

•Usually Usually

suggest more

suggest more

than they than they

actually state.

actually state.

Ballads tell stories of the ordinary people.

Ballad Example: The song “Barbara Allan” is one of the most famous English ballads.

BiographyBiography

An account of a person’s life, written by

An account of a person’s life, written by

another person. Better biographies are

another person. Better biographies are

comprehensive, accurate, and use a variety

comprehensive, accurate, and use a variety

of information such as letters, journals,

of information such as letters, journals,

interview, etc.

interview, etc.

Examples:

Examples: The Life of Samuel Johnson

The Life of Samuel Johnson

by James Boswell;

by James Boswell; Ronald Reagan : How

an Ordinary Man Became an

Extraordinary Leader by Dinesh

D’Souza

Bla

nB

lankk

Vers

Versee

Unrhymed poetry written in

Unrhymed poetry written in

iambic pentameter (10 beats

iambic pentameter (10 beats

per line). Blank verse has been

per line). Blank verse has been

considered the most suitable

considered the most suitable

meter for dramatic verse in

meter for dramatic verse in

English. Shakespeare’s plays

English. Shakespeare’s plays

are written largely in blank

are written largely in blank

verse. John Milton’s

verse. John Milton’s Paradise Paradise

Lost Lost is also written in blank

is also written in blank

verse.verse.

Example: Example:

My My gravegrave is is like like to to bebe my my wedwedding ding

bedbed. .

But But softsoft, what , what lightlight through

through

yonyonder der winwindow dow breaksbreaks??

A poetic pause, often

A poetic pause, often

shown by a break in the

shown by a break in the

line; especially found in

line; especially found in

Anglo-Saxon poetry

Anglo-Saxon poetry

CaesuraCaesura

Example: “I make this song about me full

sadlymy own wayfaring. I a woman

tellwhat griefs I had

since I

grew upnew or old never more than now.

Ever I know the dark of my

exile.

—From “The Wife’s Lament”

Chara

cter

Chara

cter

The people who participate in

The people who participate in

the action of a work of literature.

the action of a work of literature.

main characters – more

main characters – more

prominentprominent

minor characters - less

minor characters - less

prominentprominent

Dynamic Characters

Dynamic Characters – Characters

– Characters

who undergo a change as the

who undergo a change as the

plot unfolds

plot unfolds

Static Characters

Static Characters – Characters

– Characters

whose personalities remain the

whose personalities remain the

same throughout the plot

same throughout the plot

Examples: Beowulf, Grendel,

Examples: Beowulf, Grendel,

Hrothgar, Frankenstein, Robert

Hrothgar, Frankenstein, Robert

Walton, Ebeneezer Scrooge

Walton, Ebeneezer Scrooge

Chara

cteriza

tion

Chara

cteriza

tion

Techniques writers use to develop characters. Three types:•Physical Characterization –The characters’ physical appearance•Psychological Characterization—The characters’ thoughts and feelings•Social Characterization—How the characters relate to other characters.

All of the above can occur through All of the above can occur through the author’s use of two the author’s use of two methodsmethods of characterizationof characterization:•Direct Characterization—When an author makes a direct statement about a character’s nature.•Indirect Characterization—When the author allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusions about the nature of a character.

Clim

ax

Clim

axThe turning

The turning

point of the

point of the

action of the

action of the

plot in a plot in a

work of work of

literature; literature;

usually usually

involves an

involves an

important important

event, event,

decision, or

decision, or

discoverydiscovery

Example:Example:

When the When the

three young

three young

rioters find the

rioters find the

gold and draw

gold and draw

straws to see

straws to see

who will go to

who will go to

town to get

town to get

food and begin

food and begin

to plot against

to plot against

each other.

each other.

(“Pardoner’s

(“Pardoner’s

Tale”)Tale”)

ComedyComedy

A dramatic work that is light and

A dramatic work that is light and

humorous in tone; comedies

humorous in tone; comedies

usually have fairly realistic and

usually have fairly realistic and

believable plot and characters

believable plot and characters..

Examples:

Examples: A Midsummer

A Midsummer

Night’s Dream; Much Ado

Night’s Dream; Much Ado

About Nothing; All’s Well that

About Nothing; All’s Well that

Ends Well; Pygmalion (My Fair

Ends Well; Pygmalion (My Fair

Lady)Lady)

Com

ic R

elie

f

Com

ic R

elie

f

A humorous scene included

A humorous scene included

in a drama to bring relief to

in a drama to bring relief to

the audience in the midst of

the audience in the midst of

an emotionally intense

an emotionally intense

scene.scene.

Examples: (1.) In

Examples: (1.) In Romeo and

Romeo and

JulietJuliet, Juliet’s nurse is a

, Juliet’s nurse is a

comic character who often

comic character who often

delivers humorous lines

delivers humorous lines

amidst the tension taking

amidst the tension taking

place. (place. (NURSE: "I'll lay

fourteen of my teeth-and

yet, to my teen be it spoken,

I have but four-she is not

fourteen.); (2.) The Drunken

Porter in Macbeth who

pretends to answer the gate

of Hell.

Conce

itC

once

itA long, formal,

A long, formal,

and usually

and usually

clever or clever or

ingenious ingenious

comparison

comparison

between two

between two

dissimilar dissimilar

things for the

things for the

purpose of

purpose of

emphasis or

emphasis or

making a point;

making a point;

a type of a type of

extended extended

metaphor.metaphor.

ExampleExample: Many

: Many

of the of the

metaphysical

metaphysical

poets of the

poets of the

Renaissance used

Renaissance used

conceit, but John

conceit, but John

Donne was known

Donne was known

best for his use of

best for his use of

this device; In

this device; In

John Donne’s

John Donne’s

poem “The Flea”

poem “The Flea”

he compares the

he compares the

flea’s bite of two

flea’s bite of two

lovers as being

lovers as being

the same as

the same as

being married…

being married…

and all that and all that

comes with it!

comes with it!

ConflictConflict

A struggle

A struggle

between opposing

between opposing

forces that moves

forces that moves

the plot forward.

the plot forward.

External conflict:

External conflict:

Man v. Man; Man

Man v. Man; Man

v. Nature; Man v.

v. Nature; Man v.

Fate; Man v.

Fate; Man v.

SocietySociety

Internal conflict:

Internal conflict:

Man v. Self

Man v. Self

ExamplesExamples: :

Beowulf v.

Beowulf v.

Grendel; Grendel;

Frankenstein v.

Frankenstein v.

Fate; The three

Fate; The three

young rioters v.

young rioters v.

DeathDeath

Connota

tion

Connota

tion

The attitudes

The attitudes

and feelings

and feelings

associated

associated

with a word;

with a word;

connotations

connotations

are are

especially especially

important in

important in

poetry and in

poetry and in

persuasive

persuasive

speechspeech

ExamplesExamples::

The fact that

The fact that

Springtime

Springtime

suggests suggests

love, love,

happiness,

happiness,

and new and new

beginnings.

beginnings.

ConsonanceConsonance

The The

repetition of

repetition of

consonant

consonant

sounds sounds

within and at

within and at

the ends of

the ends of

wordswords

’T was later when the

summer went

Than when the cricket

came,

And yet we knew that

gentle clock

Meant nought but

going home.

—Emily Dickinson

Contr

as

Contr

as tt

When an author uses

When an author uses

opposing elements,

opposing elements,

ideas, styles, or

ideas, styles, or structure for the

structure for the purpose of

purpose of clarification,

clarification, emphasis, or effect.

emphasis, or effect.

ExamplesExamples: The

: The isolated, arctic scenes

isolated, arctic scenes

where the Creature

where the Creature

leads Victor

leads Victor emphasizes the

emphasizes the loneliness of the main

loneliness of the main

characters while the

characters while the

beauty of nature and

beauty of nature and

Spring restores Victor’s

Spring restores Victor’s

health. health.

Controlling Controlling

ImageImage

A single image or

A single image or

comparison that extends

comparison that extends

throughout an entire work

throughout an entire work

of literature and is related

of literature and is related

to the theme.

to the theme.

Examples: The pig’s

Examples: The pig’s

head on a stick in

head on a stick in Lord Lord

of the Fliesof the Flies; the flea in

; the flea in

John Donne’s poem,

John Donne’s poem,

“The Flea”“The Flea”

A rhymed pair of lines in a work of

A rhymed pair of lines in a work of

poetry.poetry.

ExampleExample: :

There was a Knight, a most distinguished

There was a Knight, a most distinguished

man,man,

Who from the day on which he first began

Who from the day on which he first began

To ride abroad had followed chivalry,

To ride abroad had followed chivalry,

Truth, honor, generousness and courtesy

Truth, honor, generousness and courtesy

--Chaucer’s “Prologue” to

--Chaucer’s “Prologue” to The The

Canterbury Tales

Canterbury Tales

CoupletCouplet