Literary Devices
THE COMPARISON OF TWO UNLIKE THINGS USING LIKE OR AS.
EX. HE RAN LIKE THE WIND.
What is a Simile?
THE MAIN CONFLICT IS COMPLICATED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF RELATED SECONDARY CONFLICTS, INCLUDING VARIOUS OBSTACLES THAT FRUSTRATE THE PROTAGONIST’S ATTEMPT TO REACH HIS/HER GOAL.
What is Rising Action?
A CHARACTER WHO UNDERGOES A PERMANENT CHANGE IN OUTLOOK DURING THE STORY.
What is Dynamic Characters?
WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE CONFLICTS, BUT ONE IS OF MORE IMPORTANCE TO THE PLOT.
What is Central Conflict?
A NARRATIVE STYLE WHERE A STORY IS TOLD BY ONE CHARACTER WITHIN THE STORY, USING ‘I’ AND SPEAKING OF AND ABOUT THEMSELVES.
What is 1st Person Point of View?
AN EXAGERATION OR OVERSTATEMENT.
EX. I’M SO HUNGRY I COULD EAT A HORSE.
What is Hyperbole?
THE SETTING, CHARACTERS AND MAIN CONFLICTS ARE PRESENTED.
What is Exposition?
A CHARACTER WHO OPPOSES THE HERO OR MAIN CHARACTER.
What is Antagonist?
WHEN TWO OR MORE CHARACTERS COME IN CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER.
What is Character vs. Character?
THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE THAT THE WRITER WISHES TO INVOKE IN THE READER/AUDIENCE.
What is Mood?
THE REPITITION OF INITIAL SOUNDS OF NEIGHBOURING WORDS.
EX. THE LADY LOUNGES LAZILY.
What is Alliteration?
THE TRIGGER THAT REVEALS THE CONFLICT, INDICATES THE FOCUS OF THE STORY AND ESTABLISHES THE MAIN CHALLENGE FACING THE PROTAGONIST.
What is the Inciting Incident?
WHEN THE AUTHOR EXPLICITLY TELLS A READER WHAT THE PERSONALITY OF A CHARACTER IS.
EX. THE PATIENT GIRL AND QUIET BOY WERE WELL MANNERED AND DID NOT DISOBEY THEIR MOTHER.
What is Direct Characterization?
A CHARACTER WHO IS OPPOSED BY FORCES OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
What is Character vs. Nature?
A NARRATOR WHO IS NOT A CHARACTER WITHIN THE STORY AND REFERS TO CHARACTERS AS “HE”, “SHE”, “THEY” OR “IT”.
What is 3rd Person Point of View?
THE COMPARISON OF TWO UNLIKE THINGS WITHOUT USING LIKE OR AS.
EX. HER EYES WERE GLISTENING JEWELS.
What is a Metaphor?
THE HIGHEST POINT OF INTEREST AND TURNING POINT OF THE STORY. THE CENTRAL CONFLICT IS CONFRONTED BY THE PROTAGONIST.
What is Climax?
A CHARACTER WHO DOES NOT UNDERGO SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE OR GROWTH THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF A STORY.
What is Flat Characters?
WHEN THE MAIN CHARACTER STRUGGLES AGAINST A LARGER GROUP, COMMUNITY, OR LAWS/RULES.
What is Character vs. Society?
A BROAD IDEA, MORAL OR MESSAGE OF THE STORY. THE MESSAGE MAY BE ABOUT LIFE, SOCIETY OR HUMAN NATURE.
What is Theme?
GIVING HUMAN QUALITIES TO ANIMALS OR OBJECTS.
EX. A SMILING MOON
What is Personification?
OCCURS AFTER THE TURNING POINT. THE MAIN CONFLICT UNRAVELS AND THE LOOSE ENDS OF THE STORY ARE TIED UP. A READER MAY SEE A CHANGE IN THE CHARACTERS.
What is Falling Action?
WHEN THE AUTHOR SHOWS THINGS THAT REVEAL WHAT THE PERSONALITY OF A CHARACTER IS.
EX. THROUGH THEIR ACTIONS, THOUGHTS, SPEECH AND EFFECT ON OTHERS
What is Indirect Characterization?
WHEN THE MAIN CHARACTER SEEMS TO BE STRUGGLING WITH A DECISION, DEALING WITH A CHALLENGE TO THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM AND EXPERIENCING AN INTERNAL CONFLICT.
What is Character vs. Self?
THE SPEAKER’S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE SUBJECT AND THE AUDIENCE.
What is Tone?