Literary Devices

Mr. Ganshert’s Class

Allegory

A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning. It is usually a moral or political meaning.

Allegory Examples

Green Eggs and Ham, The Sneetches, The Giving Tree, “American Pie” (the song)

Alliteration

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent words or words in close proximity in a text.

Alliteration examples

Ford Fiesta, Ford Fusion, Ford FocusToyota Tacoma, Toyota TundraG.I. Joe, Beach Boys,

Allusion

A reference to something famous or well known (or at least known to the audience) in a text.

Allusion Example

“Don’t blink!”

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds which occur in close proximity used to create internal rhyme in a text.

Assonance Example

“Poetry is old, ancient, goes back far. It is among the oldest of living things. So old it is that no man knows how and why the first poems came.” - Carl Sandburg

Character Traits or Characterization

The combination of unique attributes the main characters exhibit in a text.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds in a text. Often used to emphasize the passage or to create imagery through sound.

Consonance Examples

“All this commotition, emotitions run deep as occeans exploding” – Eminem (the o sound is an example of assonance)“I maybe made some mistakes” - Eminem

Examples of Character TraitsHonest Studious Patriotic RichExcited Selfish Witty BoldCreative Dark Tall ShortInventive Loathsome SuccessfulJoyful Frightening CarelessSadistic Dangerous KeenCurious Depressed BusyBelligerent Obsessed Intelligent

Character Traits – Graphic OrganizerIf you like graphic organizers, a STEAL chart is an excellent way to analyze a character.S(says) “He said he liked math”T(thinks) He thought the girl was mean.E(effect) He felt uncomfortable around him.A(actions) He gave the other kid a big hug.L(looks) She was wearing furs and a huge ring.

DialectA variety of a language spoken by people from different regions, classes, or professions. This language will have a different vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

Dialect Examples

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UgpfSp2t6k

Dramatic Irony

In this form of irony, the audience is aware of the upcoming twist in the plot.

Figurative Language

Speech or writing that doesn’t use the literal meaning of the words. Used to provide an artistic or literary affect.

Figurative Language continued

Types of figurative language include:Simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, onomatopaea, hyperbole, cliches, idioms

Foreshadowing

Clues given in a story that hint at how a plot will move.

Idiom

A group of words whose usage establishes a meaning that can’t be deduced from the words used.

Idiom Examples

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.Out of the frying pan, into the fire.Caught between a rock and a hard place.It’s raining cats and dogs.Bleed like a stuck pig.Brand spanking new.

ImageryImagery occurs when the author creates a picture in the mind of the reader. It makes use of the five senses in the writing to help you experience what the author is describing.

IronyThe expression of meaning that usually means the opposite. It is an unexpected twist.

MetaphorA comparison that does not use like or as.Ex: He is a rock. He is a horse. She is a flower.

OxymoronA device that places contradictory words next to each other to create a figurative meaning.Ex: jumbo shrimp, a fine mess, accurate stereotype, act naturally, weapons of peace, working vacation

Parallelism

Using the same syntactic construction in corresponding clauses or phrases.Ex: I went to the mall, to the store, and to the hospital.The student ate the spicy taco, the sweet chocolate, and the sour lemon.

PersonificationWhen an author attributes human characteristics to things, ideas, etc. for literary or artistic effect.

Personification example

1. He was out when Opportunity knocked on his door.

2. “…the dish ran away with the spoon.”

3. The angry wind blew down the house.

PurposeThe reason why the author wrote the story. It can be to entertain, to inform, or to persuade. If Mr. Ganshert asks the purpose, expand on these three concepts in context.

Situational Irony

This is the type of irony that occurs in the real world. Nobody is aware that the “twist” is coming. If you picked up the newspaper and it said, “Michael Phelps drowns in his bathtub,” it would be situational irony.

Symbolism

The use of animals, items, people, numbers, or other items to represent an idea or quality.

Symbolism Example

We’re #1!Atkins High School Camels

ThemeTheme is the idea or message that appears throughout the story.

Tone

The attitude the author conveys towards the story, and how the author portrays the theme of the story.

Verbal IronyIrony in which a person says or writes one thing and means another, or when a person uses the words to create a figurative (non-literal) meaning.

Verbal Irony Examples

Verbal Irony, when used in a negative manner, can also be sarcastic.“Yeah, right” when you mean no.“Heads up” when if you look up, you’ll get hit.