Basic Figurative Devices Flashcards
Symbolism
Something concrete represents something abstract.
Ex. Full moon =completion
Irony
- Verbal Irony: one thing said, opposite intended
- Dramatic Irony: reader knows vs. character doesn’t
- Situational Irony: expectation vs. Reality
Deus Ex Machina
Implausible event occurs to resolve a complication in the plot
Dilemma
Two undesirable choices a character must make
In Medias Res
No introduction, reader is plunged into action
Tone
Authors attitude towards his or her subject and audience
Unity
Author uses material in the best arrangement and order.
Verisimilitude
Appearance of being real or true.
Juxtaposition
Side by side contrast for dramatic effect
Paradox
Statement which seems contradictory or absurd yet makes good sense
Style
Author expresses his or her thoughts
-diction, sentence structure, imagery, etc.
Form
Shape or structure of a story includes
~techniques
~style
Techniques
Stories linked by devices such as exposition, dialogue, flashback, etc.
Omniscient POV
- 3rd person
- author is all knowing (tells us about characters)
- author interprets behaviours
Limited omniscient POV
- uses 3rd person but told from a character
- Narrates what the character feels but no other characters
Objective POV
The author records what is seen or heard but cannot comment about it
First Person POV
1st person
Author disappears into one of the characters
Character
- direct: author tells us directly what character is like
- indirect: authors shows the character in action
Must be (motivated, plausible and consistent)
Protagonist
Central character in the conflict
Antagonist
Force that opposes the central character
Flat character
Characterized by One or two traits
Stereotype character
Familiar and predictable (shy old maid)
Stock character
Occurs repeatedly in literary genre
Western=sheriff
Round character
complex and many sided
Static Character
Doesn’t change in personality
Developing/Dynamic character
Significant change occurs in character
Plausible character
Believable and lifelike
Foil
One who Contrast another character in traits
Consistent character
No change without motivation
Scrooge
Motivated character
Believable reasons for change (
Theme and issues
Theme: central idea/thought
- generalization about life
- expresses statement
- unifying concept
Antécédent action
Opening of story
Exposition
Outlines background info
(Includes setting, times, place, atmosphere , foreshadowing) and
Setting
Develops story’s meaning
- add to conflict
- reveal a character
- used for atmosphere
Atmosphere
Overall emotional effect or mood of the literary work
Mood: feeling in the reader
Foreshadowing
Suggestion of future events
Plot
The sequence of events in the story based on conflict
Initial incident
Central conflict begins
Rising action
Conflict develops and complications occur
Climax
Point of highest suspense
Denouement
Wraps up story and ties in loose ends
Conflict
Part of plot
- man vs. Man
- man vs. Self
- man vs. Society
- man vs. Environment (nature)
- man vs. Supernatural
Flashback
Shifts from story to reveal a change in character or important point
