Download Literary Techniques

LITERARY TECHNIQUES
Allusion – a reference to someone or something famous
Antagonist – the person or force that struggles against the protagonist
Aside – when a character speaks to the audience and the other characters freeze
Characterization – the means by which an author develops a character (physical appearance,
dialogue, thoughts, other people’s reactions, etc.)
Conflict – a struggle experienced by a character (internal - man vs. self or external – man vs.
man; man vs. nature; man vs. society)
Dialogue – direct lines spoken by a character; appear in quotation marks
Diction – word choice; an author’s deliberate use of a noun, adjective, verb or other part of
speech for an effect
Exposition – The introductory material that gives the setting, creates the tone, presents the
characters, and presents other facts necessary to understanding the story
Figurative Language – any word or phrase that is not meant to be taken literally, but rather, is
used for effect. Usually in the form of a simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, pun or
allusion. A figure of speech.
Foreshadow – author’s use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in the story
Hyperbole – an exaggeration for effect
Imagery – words that appeal to the senses
Irony – a contradiction, such as a difference between appearance and reality or a difference
between what is said and what is meant
Juxtaposition – placing two things side by side for significance
Metaphor – a comparison not using like or as
Mood – the overall emotional quality of the reader in response to the selection
Motif – a reoccurring word, image, phrase or idea
Narration – 1st person = the main character tells the story from his/her perspective
- 3rd person limited = the narrator is not part of the story; he/she narrates the
thoughts of one character.
- 3rd person omniscient = the narrator is not part of the story; he/she narrates the
thoughts of several characters; considered all-knowing
Paradox – A contradiction that reveals an inner truth
Personification – giving inanimate things life-like qualities
Plot - the pattern of events in a story that include the conflict, climax, and resolution.
Point of View – the perspective of a character
Protagonist – the main character in a selection. Usually, the main character experiences some
conflict, or struggle, and goes through some important change. Not necessarily the “good guy”.
Punctuation – intentional use of punctuation (. , ; ! ? :) for significance
Puns – a play on words
Repetition – the use, again, of any element, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, or sentence.
Setting - the time and place in which the action occurs
Simile – a comparison using like or as
Structure – intentional and thoughtful manipulation of the structure of a phrase, sentence,
paragraph, chapter, chapters, etc.
Symbol – a tangible object that stands for both itself and for something beyond itself
Theme – the main idea; a theme cannot be one word but an entire thought.
Title – titles of literary works, chapters, scenes, etc. foreshadow, contradict or reflect the
happenings in the literary work.
Tone – the feeling of the text intended by the author (joyful, sad, frightened, urgent, etc.)
Sound Devices:
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Onomatopoeia - use of words that sound like their meaning: a skirt "swishes," a bat
"cracks," a hasty eater "gulps" his food
Alliteration - repetition of initial consonant sounds occurring at the beginning of
words. Alliteration is used to create melody, establish mood, call attention to
important words, and point out similarities and contrasts. Example: “wide-eyed and
wondering while we wait for others to waken,” "The soft surge of the sea."
Consonance - repetition of consonants sounds anywhere in the words: "The sight of
the apple and maple trees pleased the people."
Rhyme - repetition of a stressed sound: "His aim was to blame the dame."
Assonance - repetition of vowel sounds in a phrase: The owl swept out of the woods
and circled the house."
Rhythm - recurring flow of strong and weak beats in a phrase: "Chicka, chicka,
boom, boom! Will there be enough room?"