Literary Elements
the underlying message or big idea of a book, film, or other work of fiction
a statement made in the form of a question with no expectation of an answer
Rhetorical Question
A comparison of two unlike things, often introduced by like or as
Simile
anti-
against
the type of narration used (as in first-, second-, or third-person narration); a way of looking at or thinking about something
We use Rhetocial appeals to do this.
construct an argument (convince)
The forming of a word (as “buzz” or “hiss”) in imitation of a natural sound
Onomatopoeia
pre-
before
The problem of the story
Conflict
An appeal to logic or reason
Logos
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Hyperbole
sub-
under
the author’s attitude in writing
Tone
An appeal to emotion
Pathos
A word or phrase for one thing that is used to compare to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar
Metaphor
in-, im-, il-, ir-
not
When a poem ends with a specific pattern
EX: ABABA
Rhyme Scheme
An appeal to credibility, ethics, or moral principles
Ethos
Writing about objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our five physicalsenses
Imagery
re-
again
the creation or construction of a fictional character (direct or indirect)
Characterization
Ethos, logos and pathos make up this
Representing a thing or idea as a person
Personification
inter-
between
those feelings that are evoked in the reader
Mood
the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning
Irony
An expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but must be learned as a whole
Idiom
trans-
across