Literary Devices

Question 1

Literary Devices

Answer 1

Literary Devices differ from literary elements in that authors CHOOSE to use them to enhance their stories. Therefore, literary devices help to define an author’s STYLE. Literary devices can be grouped into two categories: diction (an author’s choice of words) and syntax (an author’s choice of sentence structure). Literary devices are used to convey information to an audience assisting in the analysis, interpretation, and appreciation of literature.

LITERARY DEVICES = STYLE AND STYLE IS BROKEN DOWN INTO:
DICTION
SYNTAX

Question 2

Figurative Language

Answer 2

Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else, you are using figurative language. It’s language that uses words in ways that deviate from their literal interpretation to achieve a more complex or powerful effect. This view of figurative language focuses on the use of figures of speech that play with the meaning of words.

Question 3

Figurative Language: FIGURES OF SPEECH

Answer 3

Figurative language refers to language that contains figures of speech, while figures of speech are the particular techniques. If figurative language is like a dance routine, figures of speech are like the various moves that make up the routine.

Question 4

DICTION

Answer 4

(The author’s choice of words) are figures of speech/figurative language with an unexpected twist in the meaning of words. When using this device, you intend for the word or words to have a meaning that is different than the literal meaning.

Analyzing Diction
*First, take note of the specific words that most resonate with you as the reader.
What sorts of words does the speaker use? Are the words informal or formal? Do
the words deal with a specific subject, issue, or area of study? Do some words
have multiple meanings? Are the words used offensive or euphemistic?
*Explain why the speaker uses the words he/she uses. Explain the effects of
these words on the reader and note any patterns or changes in the kinds of
words used throughout the speech or poem.

Question 5

SYNTAX

Answer 5

are figures of speech that deal with word order, syntax, letters, and sounds, rather than the meaning of words? They become rhetorical devices, too, when they are used to persuade, inform, inspire, or entertain target audiences.

Analyzing Syntax
*First, map out each individual sentence, noting whether the sentences are long
or short, simple, complex, or compound. You may also want to consider looking
at verb tenses and whether the author speaks in the active or passive voice.
*Then, consider and explain what the effects are of the syntactical structure of
the excerpt. For instance, a short sentence amid several long, convoluted
sentences will often be emphasized. Therefore, the speaker is trying to
emphasize the content of that sentence to his audience.

Question 6

IRONY

Answer 6

What appears, on the surface, to be the case, differs radically from what is actually the case

Question 7

Irony: SITUATIONAL IRONY

Answer 7

Involves a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected.

Question 8

Irony: VERBAL IRONY

Answer 8

Is when words express something contrary to truth or someone says the opposite of what they really feel or mean. It is often sarcastic

Question 9

Irony: DRAMATIC IRONY

Answer 9

Is when the audience knows something—usually a lot of things—that the characters don’t.

Question 10

Alliteration (Diction) (Figurative Language)

Answer 10

Words used in quick succession that begin with the same sound group. Whether it is the consonant sound (consonance) or a specific vowel group (assonance), the alliteration involves creating a repetition of similar sounds in the sentence.

The Wicked Witch of the West went her own way. (The ‘W’ sound is highlighted and repeated throughout the sentence.)

Question 11

Anaphora (diction or syntax) (Figurative Language)

Answer 11

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. Repetitions at the end of successive clauses is called Epiphora.

“Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better”
“My life is my purpose. My life is my goal. My life is my inspiration.”

Question 12

Connotation (Diction or Syntax)

Answer 12

A feeling or idea that a word has, in addition to its literal meaning (called denotation). Often, a series of words can have the same basic definitions, but completely different connotations—these are the emotions or meanings implied by a word, phrase, or thing.

For example, “This clothing is affordable!” versus “This clothing is cheap!” Here, “affordable” sounds much better than “cheap,” because the word cheap also implies low quality.

Question 13

Hyperbole (Diction or Syntax) (Figurative Language)

Answer 13

A completely over-the-top exaggeration or overstatement. Can be humorous or serious.

“I am so tired I cannot walk another inch” or “I’m so sleepy I might fall asleep standing here”.

Analyzing Hyperboles
*Establish that it is indeed a hyperbole by clarifying what is being exaggerated.
Show that the exaggeration is not meant to be taken literally.
*Explain the significance of the hyperbole – what idea does it reinforce or
illuminate?

Question 14

Euphemism (Diction or Syntax) (Figurative Language)

Answer 14

A nice way of saying something not so nice. We see euphemisms all the time, especially when talking about things that are, um, kind of hard to talk about, like sex, death, and race.

“He passed away” instead of saying “He died.”

Question 15

Imagery (Diction or Syntax)

Answer 15

Imagery is all of the pictures and sensations a piece of writing conjures up in your noggin. Imagery is the key to literature—especially poetry. If you’re reading a description that engages any one of your five senses, you’re reading imagery, folks. Writers can use figurative language as one tool to help create imagery, but imagery does not have to use figurative language

The gushing brook stole its way down the lush green mountains, dotted with tiny flowers in a riot of colors and trees coming alive with gaily chirping birds.

Analyzing Imagery
*It can be helpful to identify what type of image you are observing: visual,
auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, kinetic, etc.
*Don’t just say the image creates a strong picture in the reader’s mind (in fact,
don’t discuss the reader’s mind at all)
*Instead, analyze why the author uses that image, what effect it creates, why
creating an image (showing vs. telling) is effective.

Question 16

Imagery: Allusion (Diction) (a type of imagery) (Figurative Language)

Answer 16

You’ll find allusions (think of them as shout-outs) when the book you’re reading makes a reference to something outside of itself, whether another work of literature, something from pop culture, a song, myth, history, or even the visual arts.

It’s no wonder everyone refers to Jane as another Mother Teresa in the making; she loves to help and care after people everywhere. In the example the author uses the mention of Mother Teresa to indicate the sort of qualities that Jane has.

Question 17

Symbol (Diction and Syntax) (a type of imagery) (Figurative Language)

Answer 17

A word, an image, or anything that somehow represents a larger idea. In other words, what you see is not just what you get. In America, eagles are a symbol of freedom. In punk rock, the safety pin is a symbol of rebellion. In Western literature, the apple is often a symbol for sin. But when talking about symbols, it’s also important to remember that the symbol is still itself, in addition to what it symbolizes

Question 18

Onomatopoeia (Diction or Syntax) (Figurative Language)

Answer 18

Bam! Pow! Biff! Vronk! Sploosh!
Oh excuse me. I was just reenacting some of my favorite scenes from Batman. You know, the old school version.
But we were also getting our onomatopoetic juices flowing. See, Batman was chock full of onomatopoeias—those words that resemble the sound that they represent.

Question 19

Metaphor (Diction) (Figurative Language)

Answer 19

A metaphor is a kind of word magic that changes black hats into rabbits and scarves into doves. Metaphors compare two different things; metaphors describe one object as another. It’s almost as if the object becomes what it is being compared to. “You’re a toad!” is a metaphor. So is “you’re a star!”
A metaphor has two parts: a tenor and a vehicle. The tenor is the subject of the metaphor (you). That is, what you’re trying to describe as something else. The vehicle is what you use to transform the subject into something else (toad).
Analyzing Metaphors
*Identify the two unlike things being compared
*Explain the significance of the comparison; how does this comparison of two
things that aren’t typically compared elucidate some idea? How does it make the
idea of the line clearer?

Question 20

Metaphor: Simile (Diction) (Figurative Language)

Answer 20

Uses the adverbs “like” or “as” to make a comparison or analogy.
“She’s like the wind.” “As common as a cold.”

Question 21

Metaphor: Synecdoche (Syntax) (Figurative Lg)

Answer 21

sin-EK-duh-KEY. A part of something represents the whole. So the next time someone says to you, “All hands on deck,” tell them thanks for the synecdoche, but you think it’s best that your whole body goes on deck, too.

Question 22

Metaphor: Metonymy (Diction) (Figurative Lg)

Answer 22

An object is used to describe something that’s closely related to it. So, for example, when you’re talking about the power of a king, you might say “the crown,” instead. The crown is the physical object that is usually associated with royalty and power.
The pen is mightier than the sword. (The pen refers to writing, the sword to fighting.)
The White House declined to comment. (The White House refers to the President’s staff, not the actual White House. We’re pretty sure that’s just a building.)
This team needs some new blood. (Um, gross? We’re not talking about blood here, of course—just new team members.)

Question 23

Metaphor: Personification (Diction) (Figurative Lg)

Answer 23

Gives human traits (qualities, feelings, action, or characteristics) to animals, non-living objects, or ideas (like things, colors, qualities, even abstract ideals).

“The sun smiles its warm smile on the earth”

Analyzing Personification
*First identify what inanimate object or abstract idea is being personified. Explain the human qualities it has been given.
*Analyze how giving that object human qualities is meaningful. What does it add to the overall meaning of the piece?

Question 24

Metaphor: Allegory (Diction)

Answer 24

It’s a story with two levels of meaning. First, there’s the surface of the story. You know, the characters and plot and all that obvious stuff. Then there’s the symbolic level, that can be political or religious, historical or philosophical, the deeper meaning that all the jazz on the surface represents. Allegories are kind of like massive metaphors, but they usually come in narrative form—that is, they’re told through stories.
C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a famous religious allegory. The lion Aslan is a stand-in for Christ, and the character of Edmund, who betrays Aslan, is a Judas figure.

Question 25

Metaphor: Analogy

Answer 25

A story, play, poem, picture, or other work in which the
characters and events represent particular moral, religious, or political qualities or ideas used to make connections between familiar and unfamiliar things, suggest a deeper significance, or create imagery in the reader’s mind. Analogies allow writers to say something in an abstract way, encouraging deeper thought.

This analogy likens Romeo to the freshness and sweetness of a rose.
“As cold waters to a thirsty soul,
So is good news from a far country.”

Question 26

Paradox

Answer 26

A statement or situation that may be true but seems impossible or difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics: “This statement is false.” “The more you hate a trait in someone else, the more likely you are avoiding it in yourself.” “The less you care about others, the less you care about yourself.” “I must be cruel to be kind.”
Analyzing a Paradox
*When you identify a paradox, clarify what about it is paradoxical. What makes it
seem contradictory on the surface?
*Then, even though it seems contradictory, explain how it reveals some truth.

Question 27

Allusion

Answer 27

When the author refers to famous or infamous subject matter such as a place, event, or literary work in order to make a connection to the subject being mentioned/discussed. “Well, I’m no Hercules, but I could open that jelly jar for you.” “You’re acting like such a Scrooge!”

Question 28

Proverb

Answer 28

A short saying that espouses some truth or advice.
“Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
When someone has done something bad to you, trying to get revenge will only make things worse.

Question 29

Parable

Answer 29

A more expansive cousin to the proverb. A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Why use it as a literary device?
I.E.: Parable of the Lost Sheep

Question 30

Fable

Answer 30

A short story in which animals or objects speaks a story, to teach a moral or religious lesson.
The Ants and the Grasshopper - In this fable, the ants saved food for the winter and the grasshopper did not. The moral is “It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.”

Question 31

Aphorism

Answer 31

A pithy observation that contains a general truth.

“Unless you see de fur, a mink skin ain’t no different from a coon hide.” From Their Eyes Were Watching God.