Foreshadowing: When hints or clues are

given about events that will happen later in the story.

Example: A character breaks a

mirror, a black cat crosses his path and then later on in the story something bad happens to him/her.

Flashback: A useful device that

provides information about an earlier event; the writer shifts from the present to the past to illustrate an important point.

The story is told in the past tense and relived through a character’s memory.

Irony: A contrast between what

is said and what is meant or between expectations and reality.

Example: “I was never nicer to the

old man as I was the week before I killed him.”

Verbal Irony: Occurs when a character

says one thing literally, but really means something else.

There is an implied meaning opposite to what is said.

Example: When you don’t complete

your homework, and I say with sarcasm, “I can see that you are really working hard in this course!”

Situational Irony: The actual outcome is

different from what is expected.

Example: Olympic swimmer drowns

in bathtub. Firemen dies in house fire. Policeman robs a bank.

Dramatic Irony: When we the reader or

audience member is aware of something that is about to occur, but the character in the text is not.

Example: In the Shakespearean play Othello, the audience knows Iago’s evil plan, but the other characters do not.

Tone: The attitude the author

has towards the subject.

This is most often created through the author’s choice of words.

Example: Dark Light Depressing

Symbol: An object, image,

character, or action that stands for an idea beyond its literal meaning.

Example: Rose = Love Cross = Sacrifice Lamb = Gentleness

Allusion: When casual reference is

made to a famous historical or literary figure or event.

Example: Christ Greek gods (Zeus) “Oh how I long for my own

Rapunzel!”

Metaphor: Comparing two things

WITHOUT using “like” or “as”.

Example: I am a bear in the

morning. My students are angels.

Simile: Comparing two things

USING “like” or “as”.

Example: “Our love is like a warm

fire.” “She her smile was as

bright as the sun.”

Analogy: A comparison between

two things that are different but have one thing in common.

Example: An extended simile – He

was like Christ in that he sacrificed everything he had for his friends.

Hyperbole: An exaggeration or

overstatement.

Example: “I called you a thousand

times last night.” “I am starving!”

Alliteration: The repetition of the

initial letter or sounds in two or more words in a line or group of lines. Or repetition of consonant sounds within the words.

Example: “He is a witty, whiny,

worthless young man.” “Betty Boop bought

some butter”

Oxymoron: Two contrasting

words/ideas put together.

Example: Jumbo Shrimp Cold Heat Hard Love Bitter Sweet

Paradox: A phrase that seems to be

contradictory, but actually does hold some truth.

Example: To believe with certainty

we must begin with doubting.

Onomatopoeia: Words that sound the way

they are spelled.

Example: Bang Boom Buzzzzz

Imagery: When images are created

by a writer using concrete details, adjectives, and figures of speech.

Example: Blossoming flower,

reaching towards the sun.

Pathetic Fallacy: When nature mimics what

is happening in the story.

Example: Rain when a character is

sad or depressed. A hail storm when a

character is experiencing a crisis.

Personification: When something non-

human is given human qualities.

Example: Death is knocking at my

door. The sun extended its hand

to keep me warm that day.

Juxtaposition: Putting opposites beside

each other in order to show the differences.

Example: Comparing a pure

character with an evil one, to emphasize how good the pure character is.

Understatement: Saying less than what is

true for effect.

Example: My parents were

disappointed when I smashed their new car!

Diction: The author’s choice of

words, which can create the tone or atmosphere.

Example: Sharp words Kind words

Pathos: When the author writes in

such a way as to arouse feelings of pity or sympathy in the reader.

Example: He was tortured, beaten,

utterly alone.

Hubris: Pride or supreme

confidence.

Catharsis: Purification of emotions

through a reader’s/ spectator’s involvement in a novel/play.

Example: After a long scene of

intense drama, the lovers finally embrace.

Rain after a confession. Sun after a dark period.

Genres: The types or categories

into which literary works are grouped.

Examples:

Science fiction, horror, romance, comedy, novella, poem, short story, novel, etc.

Do you have any questions or concerns?

Complete the literary devices activity sheet!

Soon you will be an expert on literary devices!

Graffiti Activity: Located around the room

are literary devices on chart paper.

For each literary device, write your own example.

Every student will need their own marker.