Literary Devices Writers Tools What are Literary Devices

Literary Devices: Writer’s Tools

What are Literary Devices? • Literary devices are tools that writers use to “build” meaning in a story or book. • Not all writers will use all of the different literary devices in a given text, but chances are you’ll find at least one or two in almost every piece of writing you encounter. LITERATURE

SIMILE • Whether you realize it or not, you use literary devices every, like, day. • When you, like, compare things that are like, different by like, saying “like”, and stuff, you’re actually using a SIMILE. : ) • Definition: A simile is a figure of speech which compares two unlike things using “like” or “as”.

METAPHOR • Sometimes, you may not want to use “like” or “as” when comparing two things. When you do this, it’s called a METAPHOR. • Although they one of the most commonly used lit devices, they can sometimes be the hardest to spot. • Definition: a figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as”.

FORESHADOWING… Dun dunnnnn……. . Definition: A hint of what is to come in the future. A young Anakin Slkywalker (who will someday turn into Darth Vader)

Suspense • Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty and anxiety about the outcome of certain actions • Think Jaws Music • Creates the butterflies in the stomach feeling

Prediction • Making a guess about the future or what is to happen. • I am predicting a 100% on the Literary Terms quiz!

Inference • Making an EDUCATED guess about the future • Drawing a conclusion based on what you know as fact and what the author has told you. • EDUCATED, EDUCATED!!!!

Conflict • Person vs. Self § Internal conflict or fight with your self. § Happens in your mind. • Person Vs. Person – External conflict with another person • Person vs. Supernatural – External Conflict – Robots, tornadoes something non-human

PERSONIFICATION Definition: giving human qualities to non-human objects or things Beauty and the Beast: Be Our Guest

SYMBOL(ism) Definition: A person, thing, etc. , that stands for something else. (In writing, a symbol may not be as obvious as some visual symbols. )

CHARACTERIZATION • Definition: the many ways in which a character is revealed. • • The way the character speaks Physical descriptions The way other characters speak about a character Actions/reactions of the character

Characterization Direct Characterization: Indirect Characterization • The writer makes direct statements about a character. • Sarah ran down the street with her red hair flying everywhere. She never could control it. Her pale skin sparkled under a peppering of freckles. • The writer reveals information about the character through thoughts, feelings and actions. • Sarah walked down the hall and knocked the books out of Michael’s hands. As he stooped to pick them up she laughed at him and stepped on his homework.

FLASHBACK Definition: a retelling or remembrance of a past event or occurence Finding Nemo: Flashback

ALLUSION • Definition: a reference to something else (like a piece of literature, art, music, etc. ) in a work of Literature, art, music, etc.

IRONY • Dramatic – The reader knows something the characters do not • Situational – What happens is the opposite of what is expected • Verbal – What is said is the opposite of what is expected Ex: “Oo. Oh Great!”… “Lucky you!” … Not ! ! ! (Sarcasm) “It’s like 10, 000 spoons when all you need is a knife. ” Brownie point if you can name who sang this? Which irony does this lyric represent?

Fun “Stuff” • Alliteration – Repetition of consonant sound ex: My foot feels funny because Frank froze it. • Pun – Word whose meaning can be taken 2 different ways ex: Why was the frog happy? Because he eats what bugs him! Bahahaha! (Laugh here. )

Here I come to save the daaaaay! Protagonist • The main character of the story who is involved in all the action • Generally, this character tends to be more positive, a hero if you will • Most likely there is some sort of “antagonist” going against this character

Antagonist • The villain or “bad guy” in the story. • Goes against the Protagonist • Batman vs. Joker • Harry Potter vs. The Dark Lord • :

Mood and Tone • the way in which a work of literature makes you feel… How does it appear these people/ animals/baby feel after reading? ?

1 st Person The main character of the story is also the narrator

3 rd Person Limited The narrator is NOT the main character in the story 3 rd Person Omniscient The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters in the text

Imagery Language that appeals to the five senses . . . then I traveled through the seven levels of the candy cane forest, past the castle of the abominable snowman and past the sea of swirly, twirly gumdrops. And then I walked through the Lincoln tunnel. Can you pass the Coke pretty please?

Plot Diagram • Plot: The series of events in a story

Elements of the Plot Diagram • Exposition: Beginning part of the story which gives information about the characters and their problems/conflicts. • Rising Action: Contains the conflict in the story • Climax: Moment of great emotional intensity – The most exciting part

Plot Elements • Falling Action: Leads to the exposition of the story. Events that follow the climax • Resolution: How the events and problems in a story are solved.

Theme The Main Idea of a work of literature Of Mice and Men: Theme Stop at 1: 50 mark What themes are present?

Epic • A long narrative poem with a hero, generally celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero • Homer's Odyssey

Looking ahead to Fable • a short tale to teach a story with a moral, often w/ animals or inanimate objects as characters Someone spin me a yarn, and remind us of this fable… What should we learn from it?

Still thinking about the Satire • poking fun at a character or thing with a purpose Allegory • when a character, event, or place in a work of literature stands for another real person, event, or place in society