Literary Devices character an animal or person that takes part in the action of the story -a main character is the most important character in the story -a minor character takes part in the action, but is not the focus of the story -characters can be flat or round ~flat = one sided; often a stereo-type ~rounded = fully developed character -characters can be dynamic or static ~dynamic = character who changes in the story ~static = character who does not change flashback foreshadowing point of view interruption in the chronological (time) order -presents something that happened before the beginning of the story important hints that the author gives the reader -helps the reader anticipate what will happen perspective from which the story is told -3 rd person ~can be either inside or outside the story, or a narrator ~limited = can only tell the thoughts and feelings of one character ~omniscient = knows and tells about what each character thinks and feels -1 st person ~uses I to tell the story ~personal thoughts are included Page1
satire suspense symbol dove with an olive branch = peace art that ridicules a specific topic in order to provoke readers into changing their opinion of it -usually attacking some human folly -imply their own opinion on how to remedy the thing they are attacking the author creates anxiety or excitement about what is going to happen Anything that stands for something else -usually it is a concrete thing that represents an abstract idea Page2
Literary Elements antagonist climax conflict dilemma exposition falling action narrator character or force in story -in conflict w/protagonist the height of anxiety -tension has built to a bubbling point -build up to the actions a fight between opposing forces three kinds of conflict: -man against man (external) -man against the environment (external) -man against himself (internal) choosing between 2 unpleasant options any serious problem Beginning of story -includes introducing setting and characters the action of the story -the exciting bits -the fights/battles -the characters start figuring things out a speaker or character who tells the story the narrator s perspective is the way he or she sees things -a third-person narrator persuasion attempt to convince the reader to adopt a particular opinion or course of action often found in: -advertisement Page3
-political speeches -editorials -letters plot Prediction protagonist resolution rising action setting subplot sequence of events -each event is linked -links between events create cause and effect -follows characters and central conflict think or say something will happen in the future -based on information -may or may not happen main character in story -often person, sometimes animal -in conflict w/antagonist End of the story -all of the problems are solved Problems introduced -dilemmas and conflicts time and place of the story can be told through details such as: -time of day -weather -speech pattern of characters -style of clothing -technology used by the characters or in thnvironment tone writer s attitude toward subject or audience usually found through author s: -word choice -formality (informal/formal) Page4
-sentence structure -rhyme, rhythm, repetition (3r s + alliteration) -point-of-view story told from theme Author s central message or purpose -generalization or general statement about people or life -NOT a summary of the plot -usually implied meaning Page5
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE LITERARY TERMS figurative language allegory Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution. not meant to be taken literally main types of figures of speech (repetition, onomatopoeia, etc.) an expression of a truth or generalization about human existence fictional characters and actions are used to express a truth or generalization about human existence -characters and actions are symbolic Alliteration Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution. the repetition of the initial consonant sound -gives musical sound to words -done on purpose for effect allusion Over the cobble stones he clattered and clashed. a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art enriches story by adding meaning Hyperbole I spent a couple of weeks there one day. exaggeration for effect -not meant to be taken literally -done on purpose Imagery The elderly tree was as withered as the pile of crumpled leaves spread on the bare earth. using the senses to describe -hear, see, feel, taste, smell Irony The irony in Shadow of the Bull is the people of Arcangel a surprising or amusing contradiction in a story or poem Page6
cheated death by killing a bull. Metaphor All the world s a stage, (world is a stage) onomatopoeia -hiss -buzz -swish -crunch -whisper -whistle -wheeze personification The wind exhaled. -suggests the opposite of the usual meaning -an event that contradicts expectations one thing described as something else comparing two unlike things a word that imitates the sound giving human traits to an object or animal It looked like the forest had held its breath. As the sky weeps... Repetition riding, riding, riding, the Highwayman came riding up to the old inndoor. Simile Marley is dead as a doornail. on purpose use of a word or phrase more than once for effect compares two unlike things uses words LIKE or AS Page7