Literary Terms and Examples Mr Lein PreAP English

Literary Terms and Examples Mr. Lein Pre-AP English I & II

Metaphor A vivid comparison which doesn’t use like or as, but often uses the verb “be”. Metaphors are often stronger than similes. “His stomach was a burning cauldron after eating the Torpedo Loco Taco. ” “Hollywood is a vampire. ”

Figurative Language “Figurative Language” is a large category, comprising almost any type of language that is not being used literally. Figurative language is often seen in fiction and poetry; it is one of the ways that writers tweak their words, images, and meanings. Often figurative language presents situations that are impossible or unlikely in real life.

Simile A less-direct comparison of two things/ideas, which uses ‘like’ or ‘as’: “It’s as hot as a sauna in here!” “His hair looked like straw. ” “That boy’s about as lazy as a bump on a log. ”

Personification “Person” – ification – literally making a nonhuman object a human. Personification uses action verbs directly: “The car dragged it’s feet and grunted against the weight of the huge Christmas tree. ” “Shadows danced in the candlelight. ”

Oxymoron Two terms that are contradictory, paradoxical, or seem to not be able to go together – yet form a single meaning: open secret larger half clearly confused act naturally alone together Hell's Angels found missing liquid gas civil engineer deafening silence seriously funny living dead Microsoft Works military intelligence jumbo shrimp

Onomatopoeia Words that are simply the written form of a sound: Buzz splat! Pop Boom! Think ‘Batman fighting’ from the old cartoon.

Alliteration Repetition of a sound or letter in order to create a melodic or rhythmic effect Alliteration is used to enhance or emphasize the words that are being used. “The soothing sounds of silence bring with them serenity. ”

Tone The “sound” of the work or voice. Often, the tone of a work can be heard by listening to your inner monologue (the voicereader inside your head). Satirical, Dark, Optimistic, Cynical, Narrative, Journalistic, Patriotic

Hyperbole/Understatement Hyperbole is a common literary device of ancient and classical writing Hyperbole is an intentional dramatic overstatement Understatement is the exact opposite – this is when a profound experience transpired and is paid relatively little attention *Both hyperbole and understatement are used to draw attention to important thematic messages (aka pay attention to these!)

Irony is another way to say “the unexpected” – In other words, when something ironic happens, we are set up to believe that something will happen: (An old librarian shushes kids in the library) Then, something we didn’t see coming (the unexpected) happens: (She leaves the school and gets in a Land Cruiser playing loud rap music. ) To sum up: Irony is when the expected outcome and the actual outcome don’t match.

Satire Usually a form of social criticism – tends to focus on a current trend Tends to blow things out of proportion in order to make a point - absurdity Often takes serious situations and makes them so absurd that they seem funny “Dark Comedy”

Allusion A literary reference, usually to a novel, play, character, or historic figure. Not a direct quote. “He flung away his rubber-ball nose, revealed a man that would have awed Thor, the god of thunder” – from Harrison Bergeron.

Juxtaposition This word sound a lot more strange than it actually is. Juxtaposition is what happens when two things are placed side by side for comparison. For example, in many police dramas, an ethical police officer is partnered with a corrupt one so that the characteristics of virtue and dishonor can be more clearly identified and experimented with.