Literary Terms and Examples

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

2. 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.”

3. 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.

4. 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.”

5. Personification • “Person” – ification – literally making a non-human 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.”

6. Oxymoron • Two terms that are contradictory, paradoxical, or seem to not be able to go together – yet form a single meaning:

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

8. 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.”

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

10. 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!)

11. Irony • 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.

12. 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”

13. 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.

14. 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.