Literary Techniques

Literary Techniques

Allegory “Where nothing is what it seems…” DEFINITION: A text with a symbolic meaning; where every aspect of a text is symbolic of something else Examples: - “O Captain, My Captain” is an allegory for the death of Abraham Lincoln

Alliteration • Definition: The repetition of a consonant sound, usually at the beginning of words • Examples: • “The special sauce was spiced with salsa” • “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

Allusion • Definition: A reference to a well known person, place, thing, or idea • Examples: • “He is such a Romeo” • “He stepped to the plate like the Great Bambino” • Link Deas alludes to the “Woman’s Law” in To Kill a Mockingbird (a law that was well-known in the 30s)

Analogy • Definition- a comparison made between two different things in order show some similarity (an extended simile or metaphor that is explained) • Examples: • “Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get.”

Anecdote • Definition: a short account of an event that is interesting or amusing in nature

Antagonist • Definition:the adversary (enemy) of the protagonist; one who opposes the main character Examples: Abigail Williams in The Crucible Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird

Aphorism • Definition – a concise saying expressing insight or wisdom (sometimes known as “clichés”) • Example – • “The early bird gets the worm.”

Apostrophe • When something nonliving is addressed as if it could comprehend and reply • Examples: • “Then come, sweet death, and rid me of this grief.“ • “Busy old fool, unruly sun, Why dost thou thus, Through windows, and through curtains, call on us?” • "Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are"

Assonance • Definition: The repetition of a vowel sound, usually in the middle of words • Examples: • “And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting…” • “purple curtains” • “jar of hearts”

Ballad • Definition • A simple poem that tells a story and rhymes every other line • Often set to music

Cliché • An expression that has been overused so frequently it has lost its original meaning or effect • Examples • Turning over a new leaf • Gut wrenching pain • The quiet before the storm • We're not laughing at you were laughing with you • Cat got your tongue? • Fall head over heels • Read between the lines • Laughter is the best medicine • Waking up on the wrong side of the bed • Sent a shiver down my spine

Connotation • Definition: The suggestions or associations carried with a word; the feelings a word produces • Examples: • strong-willed has positive connotations, while pig-headed has negative connotations

Euphemism • Definition - A polite way of saying something that might be offensive or delicate; used in order to make a blunt or unpleasant truth seem less harsh. • Examples: • “He’s passed away” instead of “he died” • “I have to use the ladies room” instead of “I have to pee.”

Foil • Definition: a character who contrasts with another character with the purpose of highlighting some opposite quality in the other character • Examples: • Sherlock Holmes &. Dr. Watson - Watson’s “slowness” makes Holmes seem more brilliant • Mary Warren & Abigail Williams – Mary doesn’t seem weak until she is in a room with Abigail, whose strength and power highlight Mary’s weakness

Figurative Language

Foreshadowing Definition: Suggesting, hinting, indicating, or showing what will occur later in a narrative Example: • In“A Rose for Emily”, there is a terrible smell around Miss Emily’s house

Hyperbole • Definition: An extravagant exaggeration • Examples: • “He called me a million times.” • “This package weighs a ton.” • “It’s been a million years since I saw you last.”

Idiom • Definition: Words used in a way that differs from their literal meaning • Examples: • “Get the ball rolling.” • “Pass with flying colors” • “Let’s hit the road”

Imagery • Definition: Vivid description that appeals to the five senses: sight, touch, smell, hearing, or taste • Examples: • “a pink ribbon of light stretched across the sky at dawn.” • “the foul, rancid stench of the rotting garbage wafted across the street”

Irony • Definition: a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen • Example: • In Salem (1690s) the most powerful people in town are the young girls - not what you would expect

Metaphor • Definition: A comparison between two things without using “like” or “as” • Examples: • “All the world is a stage.” - Shakespeare • “She was a goddess on earth.” • “The stars are diamonds in the sky.”

Mood • Definition: The atmosphere, general sense or feeling a writer creates • Examples: • James Hurst’s “The Scarlet Ibis” creates a mood of sadness and loss with words like dead, bleeding, rotting, empty cradle, graveyard, and die. • Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” creates a mood of fear tension as participants draw to see who will die

Mood vs. Tone Mood Tone “You didn’t give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn’t fair!”… “Let’s finish quickly… Come on, Hurry up!”… “It isn’t fair! It isn’t right!” • “A sudden hush fell on the crowd… most of them were quiet, wetting their lips, not looking around… She held her breath while her husband went forward…all through the crowd there were men holding the small folded papers in their large hand, turning them over and over nervously…”

Motif • Definition: A recurring idea or image. • Examples: • Protecting innocence in To Kill a Mockingbird • Temptation in “Young Goodman Brown” • Conformity and peer pressure in The Crucible

Onomatopoeia • Definition: Where sounds are spelled out as words; when words describing sounds actually make the sound they describe Examples: Gurgle Click Buzz Tick tock

Oxymoron • Definition: A contradiction in terms • Examples: • Girly man • Jumbo shrimp • Smart jock

Parable • Definition: a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson. • Examples: • The “prodigal son” story • The “boy who cried wolf”

Paradox Definition A contradictory statement that still expresses truth; it often contains two statements that are both true, but cannot both be true at the same time. • Examples • You can save money by spending it • Be cruel to be kind • Women: you can’t live with ‘em; you can’t live without ‘em

Personification Definition: When human qualities are given to non-human objects Examples: - The wind whispered softly - The rain danced on the rooftop.

Protagonist • Definition: The central character of a story • Examples: • Miss Emily in “A Rose for Emily” • Elie Wiesel in Night

Pun • Definition: A play on words; manipulating the different meanings of a word • Examples: • Life without geometry is pointless • “Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.” Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet

Repetition • Definition: To repeat a sound, word, phrase, line, stanza, or pattern for effect ; a device used to emphasize the importance of words or ideas • Examples: • The use of “nevermore” in “The Raven”

Rhetorical Question • Definition: A question to which no answer is expected, only used for affect • Examples: • “What’s your problem” • “You don’t expect me to go along with that, do you?”

R.h.y.t.h.m. • Definition: The arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables and words in a poem • Examples: • Example: from ELDORADO Gaily bedight, A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado.

Satire • Definition: Writing that holds up someone or something to ridicule or criticism • Examples: • Saturday Night Live

Simile • Definition: A comparison between two things using “like” or “as” • Examples: • “His voice was like nails on a chalkboard.” • “She blew through the doors like TNT.”

Symbolism • Definition: The use of objects or images to represent something else • Examples: • The flag represents freedom • White symbolizes innocence

Tone Definition: the attitude of the writer conveyed through language Examples: • The poem has a bitter and mocking tone, revealing the speaker’s anger and resentment. • After he destroyed Mrs. Dubose’s flowers, Jem could tell from Atticus’ tone that he was angry • Bob Ewell’s tone was revealed anger when he threatened Atticus

Understatement • Definition: To say something is less than it is • Example: • To say, “It’s a little chilly outside”, when the temperature drops below freezing

Literary Techniques