Literary Devices
1. Simile – Comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as.”
2. Metaphor – Comparison of the two unlike things without using “like” or “as” (NOTE: We will begin to prepare for extended metaphors by expanding this definition to include concrete vs. abstract idea/theme.)
3. Foreshadowing – Hints or clues of what will happen later in the story; serves the conflict/mood.
4. Mood – Feelings that are set by the writer for the reader.
5. Tone: The author’s attitude towards the characters or the story. The author may not like the characters, and may make fun of them in a subtle way. Tone is different from mood because it describes how the author feels about the characters, whereas mood describes how the reader feels when reading the story. Part of the range of tone includes playful, somber, serious, casual, formal, and ironic. Tone is important because it designates the mood and effect of a work.
6. Theme – An abstract universal topic/idea/message that is developed over the course of a story. Generally, a theme has to be extracted as the reader explores the passages of a work. The author utilizes the characters, plot, and other literary devices to assist the reader in this endeavor.
7. Suspense - The tension that the author uses to create a feeling of discomfort about the unknown.
8. Irony - An outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, assumed. The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.
a. Dramatic Irony -- A situation where a character does not know something that other characters or the audience does (ex: when the audience knows the truth of King Oedipus's birth, but he does not.)
b. Situational Irony--An outcome that turns out to be very different than was expected, the difference between what is expected and what actually happens. Ex: A man is scared to fly. When he finally gets on the plane, it crashes.
c. Verbal Irony -- Found when a person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning.
9. Imagery – Sensory language, that appeals to the five senses, and creates a mood.
10. Point-of-View: The identity of the narrative voice; the person or entity through whom the reader experiences the story. It may be third-person (omniscient or limited) or first-person (narrated by a character in the story or a direct observer.) Point-of-view is a commonly misused term; it does not refer to the author’s or characters’ feelings, opinions, perspectives, biases, etc.
o Third-Person Omniscient: Narrator is “all-knowing” of all characters’ thoughts/feelings.
o Third-Person Limited: Narrator whose knowledge is “limited” to one character’s thoughts/feelings.
11. Symbolism – Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by
giving them symbolic (deeper, more significant) meanings that are different from their literal sense.
Literary Analysis Vocabulary
Analyze:To explain a piece of text in detail in order to understand it better or draw conclusions.
Character: A person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature. Every character has his or her own personality, which a creative author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a mood
Cite:To give evidence from the text to support your thinking.
Conflict: The struggle within the story. Character divided against self, character against character, character against society, character against nature, character against God. Without it, there is no story
Determine:To decide.
Evidence:Details or quotations from the text that supports your thinking.
Explain:To make your thinking clear by giving details.
Identify:To find examples that support your thinking.
Inference:To draw conclusions or insights based on your background knowledge and subtle indications (what's implied or suggested) in the text; inferencing shows close reading and attention to detail.
Quotations:The author's exact words from the text and enclosed in quotations marks, i.e. "To be or not to be."