What are Common Literary Devices y c a

What are Common Literary ‘Devices’? y= c a r sa a Lite l e v e ty/l i r. b e a t r i r u yo dw n a r e read §Ways of writing that show the POWER and importance of word choice §Specific, deliberate use of words or language used by writers to convey/communicate the meaning or message they want. §Writing style / use of language is one of the important elements of fiction writing we’ll be learning about.

Idiomatic Expressions Literal language – means exactly as it says! Figurative language – uses styles of writing and figures of speech to say something in a different, more creative and interesting way.

Simile • Examples • A comparison (Direct!) The horse’s muzzle was as • A direct relationship where soft as velvet. one thing or idea is (it’s soft!!) described as being similar to another. The lie formed like a blister • Similes usually contain the on his lips. words like or as. (He lied and it was ugly. ) That politician is as slippery as a snake.

Metaphor • Another form of comparison, but it is indirect • An indirect relationship where one thing or idea substitutes for another. • A ‘higher level’…not as obvious Examples: I cannot wrestle with this monster problem. (The problem is too big for me. ) That guy is a real motor mouth. (That guy never stops talking. ) The grey monster pulled up in front of the building. (The armoured car …)

Alliteration • Examples: • The repetition of consonant sounds A big blue bug bit a big within close proximity black bear. (close together). • Think tongue twisters!! Cedar shingles should be shaved and saved.

Onomatopoeia • Words which represent • Examples: the sound. The crack of the whip. ? thers H ny o a m ow of? k n i e th w n ca ! ! ! S TON That rifle shot goes off in my head, just like that, boom!

Personification • When inanimate (not living) objects are seemingly endowed with human selfawareness; in other words, given personlike qualities. • Examples: Ø The camera hates me. (I take an awful picture. ) Ø Chunks of night Melt In the morning sun. One lonely one Grows legs And follows me To school. (Q What is this describing? ) A a shadow

Imagery • Language which describes something in detail, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation, including visual imagery and sound imagery. • Example: Liam O’Flaherty uses sight and sound imagery in The Sniper. Sound imagery: “Here and there through the city, machine guns and rifles broke the silence of the night, spasmodically, like dogs barking on lone farms. ” Sight imagery: “His face was the face of a student, thin and ascetic, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic. ” 18

Symbolism • A symbol must be something tangible or • Examples: visible, while the idea it A dove stands for Peace. symbolizes must be The dove can be seen and peace cannot. something abstract or In the story of Adam and universal. (In other words, a symbol must be something you can hold in your hand or draw a picture of, while the idea it symbolizes must be something you can’t hold in your Eve when Eve ate the apple, the apple stood for sin. hand or draw a picture of. ) 7

Foreshadowing • When future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, are ‘suggested’ (hinted at, alluded to) by the author before they happen. • Foreshadowing can take many forms and be accomplished in many ways, with varying degrees of subtlety. Example: The cloud sailing in front of the moon -and the darkness that resulted foreshadowed the death of the hired man. 9

Irony • Where an event occurs which is unexpected, in the sense that it is somehow in absurd or mocking opposition to what would be expected or appropriate. • Mere coincidence is generally not ironic; neither is mere surprise. • Example: Jem and Scout are saved by Boo Radley, who had, ironically, been an object of fear and suspicion to them at the beginning of the novel. The bitter irony to the ending of The Sniper lies in the fact that he had killed his own brother. 16

Tact Honesty that could be viewed as criticism but which is carefully worded in consideration of the other person’s feelings. In other words, if you are saying something that could upset a person, use tact (or don’t say it at all). Tact, though truthful, is not insulting or rude. The art of tact involves phrasing things to avoid hurt feelings and provide constructive criticism. Situation Rude Response Tactful Response A friend asks you, “Do you like my new coat? “No, it’s ugly. ” “It’s not my style but it looks good on you. ” Your teacher asks if you like the book you have been reading. “No, it was dumb and boring. ” “Not really but I know reading is good for me. ” 10

Puns • A play on words that might give a misguided or false message…often humorous in nature. Examples: • A backwards poet writes inverse. • A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion. • Acupuncture is a jab well done. 11

Euphemism • The opposite of blasphemy (evilspeaking) Examples: To ‘pass away’ is a euphemism for "to die. " • comes from the Greek word meaning ‘sounding others for death = bit the dust, six feet under, good’ • the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt checked out, kick the bucket, meet your maker, no longer with us, put to sleep, pushing up daisies ‘Character lines’ is a euphemism for wrinkles. 13

Oxymoron • A contradiction in terms involving a pair of words. • Example: Romeo describes love using several oxymorons, such as “cold fire”, “feather of lead” and “sick health, ” to suggest its contradictory nature. Other examples: awfully good, open secret, alone together, 19

Paradox • Another example of contradiction! • Where a situation is created which cannot possibly exist, because different elements of it cancel each other out. • A statement that seems impossible at first but actually makes sense. Examples: It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. " Dark knows daylight. Hot understands cold. The motion of such a still night. (Gr. 9 writer) 12

Sarcasm • a way of speaking in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant. Examples: A sarcastic remark to a person who • often used purposefully consistently arrives fifteen minutes late for against another to cut or appointments might be, “Oh, you've arrived exactly on time!” cause pain • often referred to as the “I never forget a face, but in your case I'll be glad lowest form of humour to make an exception. ” - Groucho Marx • Closely related to irony “I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it. ” - Groucho Marx 17

Hyperbole • A description which exaggerates, usually employing extremes and/or superlatives to convey a positive or negative attribute; “hype. ” • Example: The author uses hyperbole to describe Mr. Smith, calling him “the greatest human being ever to walk the earth. ” 20

Portmanteau • A word formed out of parts of other words. • Two meanings packed into one word (as in the poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. ) Examples: Brunch is formed from breakfast and lunch. Spork is formed from spoon and fork. Brangelina is formed from Brad and Angelina. 21