Literary Devices
Definitions
Definitions
Metaphor
A figure of speech that implies a comparison between two relatively unlikely things (without using like or as).
In Animal Farm, Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin.
Allegory - The character of Napoleon represents a real-life figure from the Russian Revolution and post-revolutionary Russia.
What is a theme?
A statement that provides a central message or universal lesson that a reader can learn from a story.
Identify the conflict type: when a human protagonist and human antagonist fight one another.
Person vs. person
Dramatic irony
When the audience or reader know more than the characters
Verbal irony
When what is said is actually the opposite of what is meant.
Lady Macbeth about Macbeth: "Yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness / To catch the nearest way" (Shakespeare 1.5.16-18).
Metaphor. Lady Macbeth compares Macbeth's kindness to milk.
What is the difference between tone and mood?
Mood = feelings the story creates in the reader
Tone = how the author feels about the subject
What are the two broad types of conflict, and provide three examples of sub-types of conflicts (person vs.).
Internal and external conflict.
Person vs. person, self, society, nature, fate, supernatural
Allegory
A form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself.
Allusion
A brief, indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.
"Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here," (Shakespeare 1.5.43-44).
Apostrophe - Lady Macbeth speaks to spirits who are not really present.
What are the three main aspects of setting? Define each.
Where - place (where the action occurs)
What - societal aspects (government, social rules, classes, etc.)
In "Just Lather, That's All," a barber has to decide whether he will transgress his morals to murder Captain Torres, a person against the rebels' cause.
Person vs. self
Symbol
An image or material object that represents its literal self and an abstract idea (sometimes many ideas).
Situational Irony
a contrast between the result of a situation and what is usually expected
Mary Maloney to the police officers as she offers them lamb: "But it's all right for you. It'd be a favour to me if you'd eat it up'" (Dahl 7).
Verbal irony - Mary says it would be a favour to her; they think it is because she is upset about er husband's death. In reality, they will be getting rid of the murder weapon.
What are the four aspects/elements we can look at to identify a character's physical and personality traits within a text?
Words, actions, appearance, and relationships.
In "Blue Beard," the wife is unable to get the blood off of the key to the closet.
Person vs. supernatural
Apostrophe
A speech or address to a person who is not present or to a personified object.
Archetype
A stock character or event; an event or figure that engages deep fear or desires or inspires awe or ecstasy.
The witches convince Macbeth that he will become king, leading him to commit an immoral act.
Archetype - the devil (the witches tempt Macbeth into committing an immoral act in order to acquire power).
How many different types of point of view are there, and what are the names of each?
First-person point of view
Second-person point of view
Third-person limited point of view
Third-person omniscient point of view
In Macbeth, Macbeth's struggle over whether or not to fulfill the witches' prophecies and kill Duncan (in 1.7-2.2) can be classified as FIVE different types of conflict, depending on the aspect of the conflict you focus on. Name each type of conflict it could be.
Person vs. self: Macbeth has an internal struggle over whether to transgress his morals.
Person vs. person: Lady Macbeth is goading Macbeth into killing Duncan and the act of killing him is person vs. person.
Person vs. nature: It is not in Macbeth's nature to be cruel, and Macbeth killing the king usurps the natural order.
Person vs. fate: Macbeth is changing the course of his fate by killing Duncan and becoming king.
Person vs. supernatural: By falling for the witches' tricks, Macbeth is succumbing to supernatural forces.
Motif
A repeating image or series of similar images.