Literary DevicesLiterary Devices Techniques the author uses to convey meaning; Techniques the author uses to convey meaning;

deliberate choices of language or construction deliberate choices of language or construction

ForeshadowingForeshadowing FlashbackFlashback IronyIrony Mood/ToneMood/Tone AllusionAllusion SymbolismSymbolism DialogueDialogue CharacterizationCharacterization FoilFoil

ForeshadowingForeshadowing

Hint of events that will come Hint of events that will come laterlater

in the story.in the story.

Foreshadowing ExampleForeshadowing Example

From “After Twenty From “After Twenty Years”…Years”…

Bob says, “You’ve changed Bob says, “You’ve changed lots,lots,

Jimmy. I never thought you Jimmy. I never thought you were sowere so

tall by two or three inches.”tall by two or three inches.”

FlashbackFlashback

Presentation of an event or situation that occurred in the past to help explain something in the present A memory in the story.

  

Flashback ExamplesFlashback Examples

From “Seventh GradeFrom “Seventh Grade””……

““[Mr. Bueller] remembered his [Mr. Bueller] remembered his college years when he dated a college years when he dated a girlfriend in borrowed cars. She girlfriend in borrowed cars. She thought he was rich because each thought he was rich because each time he picked her up he had a time he picked her up he had a different car.”different car.”

IronyIrony

When events turn out opposite of what When events turn out opposite of what you expect, e.g., saving a lifeguard from you expect, e.g., saving a lifeguard from drowning.drowning. Irony can be Irony can be situationalsituational, as , as with the lifeguard example, or with the lifeguard example, or verbalverbal. . Sarcasm is an example of verbal irony.Sarcasm is an example of verbal irony.

Examples of Situational Examples of Situational IronyIrony

From “Harrison Bergeron”…From “Harrison Bergeron”…‘“‘“Harrison Bergeron has escaped from jail…If Harrison Bergeron has escaped from jail…If you see this boy, I repeat, do not try to reasonyou see this boy, I repeat, do not try to reasonwith him” … the photograph of Harrison waswith him” … the photograph of Harrison wasgone. A living, breathing Harrison filled thegone. A living, breathing Harrison filled thescreen.’screen.’

From “After Twenty Years”…From “After Twenty Years”…The man we thought was Jimmy Wells turns out to be aThe man we thought was Jimmy Wells turns out to be aplainclothes policeman. The original policeman turns plainclothes policeman. The original policeman turns

outoutto be Jimmy Wells. to be Jimmy Wells.

MoodMood

Mood is a state of mindMood is a state of mind – how you – how you feel, your emotional response, when feel, your emotional response, when you read the story. The author uses you read the story. The author uses strong verbs and dramatic images to strong verbs and dramatic images to elicit mood.elicit mood.

Example of MoodExample of Mood

From “Harrison Bergeron”…“In a explosion of joy and grace, into the air they sprang! They reeled, whirled, swiveled, gamboled, and spun. They leaped like deer on the moon.”

Strong verbs? Dramatic images? What if the author had simply said…they danced.Mood can be romantic, gloomy or sad, pessimistic, optimistic, fanciful or imaginary, etc.

 

ToneTone

The style or manner of expression The style or manner of expression

in speaking – the tone shows thein speaking – the tone shows the

author’s attitude. author’s attitude.

Tone can be…Tone can be…

Positive: happy, cheerful, playful, humorous

Negative: angry, contemptuous, sarcastic, sad, gloomy

Neutral: indifferent, matter-of-fact, formal, resigned

Example of ToneExample of Tone From “Harrison Bergeron”… “Diana

Moon Glampers…came into the

studio with a double-barreled ten-

gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and

the Emperor and the Empress were

dead before they hit the floor.”

What is the author’s attitude?

DialogueDialogue

Conversation between characters Conversation between characters Can be used instead of expositionCan be used instead of exposition

to reveal the characters or other to reveal the characters or other elements in the storyelements in the story

Example of DialogueExample of Dialogue

From “After Twenty Years,” Silky Bob From “After Twenty Years,” Silky Bob speaking to Jimmy before he realized the speaking to Jimmy before he realized the original policeman was his old friend tells original policeman was his old friend tells us about Jimmy as well as Bob himself.us about Jimmy as well as Bob himself.

““He [Jimmy] was a plodder, though, a goodHe [Jimmy] was a plodder, though, a goodfellow…I’ve had to compete with some offellow…I’ve had to compete with some of

the sharpest wits going…It takes the Westthe sharpest wits going…It takes the Westto put a razor-edge on [a man].”to put a razor-edge on [a man].”

CharacterizationCharacterization Techniques writers use to Techniques writers use to

create/develop their characters create/develop their characters Direct characterization: writer tells Direct characterization: writer tells

what the character is like as in what the character is like as in expositionexposition

Indirect characterizationIndirect characterization:: writer writer shows what a character is like by shows what a character is like by telling what the character says and telling what the character says and does, and by what other characters say does, and by what other characters say about and do in response to the about and do in response to the character, e.g., dialoguecharacter, e.g., dialogue

SymbolismSymbolism

Using something to represent Using something to represent something else. something else.

Highlights what the author wants to Highlights what the author wants to emphasize or adds levels of emphasize or adds levels of meaning.meaning.

Example of SymbolismExample of Symbolism

From “Harrison Bergeron:”From “Harrison Bergeron:”The dance of Harrison and the ballerinaThe dance of Harrison and the ballerinasymbolizes freedom:symbolizes freedom:

““And then, in an explosion of joy andAnd then, in an explosion of joy andgrace, into the air they sprang!grace, into the air they sprang!Not only were the laws of the landNot only were the laws of the landabandoned, but the law of gravity andabandoned, but the law of gravity andthe laws of motion as well.”the laws of motion as well.”

AllusionAllusion

A reference to a well-known person, A reference to a well-known person, event, place, literary work or work event, place, literary work or work of art. of art.

Allusions express complex ideas Allusions express complex ideas without spelling them out.without spelling them out.

Example of Example of AllusionAllusion

From “Harrison Bergeron:”From “Harrison Bergeron:”

““He flung away his rubber–He flung away his rubber–ball nose, revealed a manball nose, revealed a manthat would have awedthat would have awedThor, the god of thunder.” Thor, the god of thunder.”

refers to Harrison’s size refers to Harrison’s size and his acting as a and his acting as a protector for the people.protector for the people.Microsoft Word Document

Thor

FoilFoil

Character who provides a striking Character who provides a striking contrast to a main character. The foil contrast to a main character. The foil helps to make the main characters helps to make the main characters qualities apparent to the reader.qualities apparent to the reader.

Example: Silky Bob, although very like Example: Silky Bob, although very like Jimmy (friends, from NYC, same age) Jimmy (friends, from NYC, same age) makes Jimmy’s good qualities, e.g., makes Jimmy’s good qualities, e.g., honesty, more apparent.honesty, more apparent.