Style
Figures of Speech
Plot
Examples
Harvest Books
100

The perspective (visual, interpretive, bias, etc) a text takes when presenting its plot and narrative.

Point of View

100

A figure of speech that compares two people, objects, elements, or concepts using “like” or “as.”

Example: She is a lovely as a summer day.

Simile

100

A system of actions in a purposeful sequence represented in an artistic work. Aristotle defines it as that which has a beginning, middle, and an end.

Plot

100
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" is an example of this literary device

Alliteration

100

Catcher in the Rye is told from the ________ person perspective/point of view

First

200

Spoken exchanges between characters in a dramatic or literary work, usually between two or more speakers.

Dialogue

200

An implied comparison between two usually unrelated things that suggests one thing is the other; a linking verb is often used to connect the ideas.

Example: Those shoes are fire.

Metaphor
200

The relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist; the "big problem" in the story.

Conflict

200

In Harry Potter, Voldemort is this kind of character

Antagonist

200

Romeo & Juliet is this genre of text, that although read in book form, is best experienced on stage.

Play

300

The primary character in a text, often positioned as “good” or the character with whom readers are expected to identify. The conflict of the movie is centered on the protagonist. Protagonists usually oppose an antagonist.

Protagonist

300

An object or element incorporated into a narrative to represent another concept or concern. Broadly, representing one thing with another. 

Example: In The Shining the color red represents the gore and violence of the Overlook hotel.

Symbolism

300

A writer’s use of hints or clues to indicate events that will occur later in the story. The use of this technique both creates suspense and prepares the reader for what is to come.

Foreshadowing

300

"I became well red by reading in the sun" is an example of this literary term

Pun

300

The Bluest Eye jumps around in time, using this literary device to explore things that happened in the past

Flashback

400

A universal idea, lesson, or message explored throughout a work of literature.

Theme

400

Exaggerated language, description, or speech that is not meant to be taken literally, but is used for emphasis. 

Example: “I’ve been waiting here for ages” or “This bag weighs a ton.”

Hyperbole

400

When the writer interrupts the chronological sequence of a story to relate an incident which occurred prior to the beginning of the story.

Flashback

400

Disney movies are known for giving animals or objects human characteristics (think Beauty & The Beast). This is called...

Personification

400

If Beale Street Could Talk takes place in New York City in the 1970s. This is called a book's _________

Setting

500

Word choice, or the specific language an author, narrator, or speaker uses to describe events and interact with other characters.

Diction

500

A reference to some person, place or event that has literary, historical or geographical significance.

Example: Taylor Swift's "Love Story": 

“…That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles and my daddy said ‘Stay away from Juliet‘…”


Allusion

500

Usually located at the beginning of a text, this is a detailed discussion introducing characters, setting, background information, etc. readers might need to know in order to understand the text that follows. This section is particularly rich for analysis because it contains a lot of important information in a relatively small space. 


Exposition

500

In Romeo & Juliet, roses come up frequently which help develop the theme of love, perhaps especially dangerous love (thorns). This is called a...

Motif

500

Go Ask Alice is written in diary form, in letters, and thus is written in this style.

Epistolary Form

M
e
n
u