Literary Devices Flashcards
Setting
Time, Place, holidays, seasons, weather, etc.
Plot
the sequence of events (what happens) in a story
Point of view
First/second/third (who is the narrator?)
Characterization
how the writer portrays the characters in the story
Conflict
the problem in the story that the character(s) try to resolve. A conflict can be internal or external
Symbol
an object (or color) used by the author to represent a larger idea. For example, a dove often represents, or symbolizes, peace; white often represents innocence and purity.
Symbolism
the author’s use of symbols to reveal a deeper meaning of the story
Allegory
symbolic story; a story in which symbols are used
to express the author’s opinion. A story in which the characters and events are symbolic of something else, often something political.
Motif
a subject that comes up repeatedly in a story; a recurring idea such as authority, marriage, racism, or anger.
Theme
the author’s statement about the world, society, human nature, or life in general; the author’s opinion about a subject (motif) of the story; the author’s message to the reader
Moral
the lesson the author is trying to teach the reader. (Note: NOT the same as theme)
Irony
unexpected outcomes.
-three types
1)situational irony- when something happens that is the opposite of what we expected to happen
2) Verbal irony- when what is said is the opposite of what is meant 3)dramatic irony- when the audience knows something the characters do not
Satire
a story that makes fun of something; a story in which the author uses humor, irony, or sarcasm to expose or criticize something
Allusion
a reference to something from mythology, literature, history or the Bible
Imagery
descriptive language used to create an image in the reader’s mind.
Tone
the emotional tone of the author’s “voice
Mood
how the author wants the reader to feel when reading the stor
