Literary Devices

Lite

rary

Devi

ces

Lite

rary

Devi

cesIambic Iambic Pentameter -

Pentameter - OxymoronOxymoron

Iambic Iambic

PentameterPentameter

The most common form of English

The most common form of English

poetic meter:

poetic meter:

Ten beats per line made up of 5

Ten beats per line made up of 5

stressed and 5 unstressed syllables.

stressed and 5 unstressed syllables.

Example #1: “So foul and fair a day I have

Example #1: “So foul and fair a day I have

not seen.” not seen.”

Example #2: “Shall I compare thee to a

Example #2: “Shall I compare thee to a

summer’s day?”

summer’s day?”

Imagery

Imagery

Language that appeals

Language that appeals

to the five major senses

to the five major senses

of sight, smell, hearing,

of sight, smell, hearing,

taste, and touch.

taste, and touch.Example #1: “Thy hair

Example #1: “Thy hair

soft-lifted by the

soft-lifted by the winnowing wind” (sight,

winnowing wind” (sight,

touch)touch)

Example #2: “It was on a

Example #2: “It was on a

dreary night of

dreary night of November…when …I saw

November…when …I saw

the dull yellow eye of the

the dull yellow eye of the

creature open; it breathed

creature open; it breathed

hard, and a convulsive

hard, and a convulsive

motion agitated its limbs.”

motion agitated its limbs.”

Info

rmal E

ssay

Info

rmal E

ssay

A brief work

A brief work

of non-fiction

of non-fiction

that offers

that offers

opinion on a

opinion on a

subject, subject,

usually not

usually not

in a in a

completely

completely

serious tone.

serious tone.

May be May be

humorous,

humorous,

personal, personal,

even even

rambling.rambling.

Example: A

Example: A

student’s student’s

writing about

writing about

the quality of

the quality of

the cafeteria

the cafeteria

food. food.

Well –known

Well –known

example: example:

“An Academy

“An Academy

for Women”

for Women”

by Daniel by Daniel

DefoeDefoe

Interior Monologue

Interior Monologue

A character’s flow of thoughts

A character’s flow of thoughts

that reveal the character’s

that reveal the character’s

mind and emotions; may

mind and emotions; may

appear in a series of images

appear in a series of images

and impressions.

and impressions.

Example: Victor’s inner turmoil

Example: Victor’s inner turmoil

and guilt mixed with his anger at

and guilt mixed with his anger at

the creature while wondering

the creature while wondering

through the mountains and

through the mountains and

admiring nature.

admiring nature.

The struggle that may

The struggle that may

occur within a character.

occur within a character.Example #1

Example #1: Macbeth’s

: Macbeth’s

struggle with the decision to

struggle with the decision to

kill Duncan and the effects of

kill Duncan and the effects of guilt.guilt.

Example #2

Example #2: Victor’s inner

: Victor’s inner

turmoil regarding his

turmoil regarding his responsibilities.

responsibilities. Internal Conflict

Internal Conflict

Inte

rnal R

hym

e

Inte

rnal R

hym

eRhyme Rhyme

that that

occurs occurs

within a within a

single line single line

of poetry.of poetry.

Example:Example:

““Give crowns

Give crowns

and pounds

and pounds

and guineas,

and guineas,

but not your

but not your

heart away”heart away”

--From --From

“When I Was

“When I Was

One-and-One-and-

Twenty” by Twenty” by

A.E. A.E.

HousmanHousman

IronyIrony

A contrast between what is expected

A contrast between what is expected

and what actually happens. Three

and what actually happens. Three

types: Situational, Dramatic, Verbal.

types: Situational, Dramatic, Verbal.

Example: Duncan expects peace at

Example: Duncan expects peace at

Macbeth’s castle which looks peaceful,

Macbeth’s castle which looks peaceful,

but the audience is aware of the

but the audience is aware of the

Macbeths’ evil plans (situational;

Macbeths’ evil plans (situational;

dramatic)dramatic)

Italia

n

Italia

n

(Petr

arc

han)

(Petr

arc

han)

Sonnet

Sonnet

A poem consisting of

A poem consisting of

14 lines, made up of

14 lines, made up of

two quatrains and a

two quatrains and a

final sestet. The

final sestet. The rhyme scheme is

rhyme scheme is abba, abba, cdc, cdc.

abba, abba, cdc, cdc.Example: Sonnet 292

Example: Sonnet 292

(see page 310 of

(see page 310 of textbook)textbook)

Kennin

gKennin

gExamples: “The grey-

Examples: “The grey-

bearded lord” (renames

bearded lord” (renames

Hrothgar)Hrothgar)

““whale-road” (renames

whale-road” (renames

the sea)the sea)

““The sin-stained

The sin-stained

demon” (renames

demon” (renames

Grendel)Grendel) An Anglo-Saxon

An Anglo-Saxon

Metaphor; a compound

Metaphor; a compound

word or phrase that

word or phrase that

renames renames

Imagery that recreates

Imagery that recreates

muscle tension and

muscle tension and

movementmovement

Example: “He felt the

Example: “He felt the

chilled dust push up

chilled dust push up

between his toes” or “His

between his toes” or “His

foot pressed up against the

foot pressed up against the

starting block and his body

starting block and his body

tensed, ready for the

tensed, ready for the

shot…”shot…”

Kinesthetic

Kinesthetic

ImageryImagery

Lett

ers

Lett

ers

Written correspondence

Written correspondence

between individuals

between individuals (friends, family,

(friends, family, acquaintances, etc.) usually

acquaintances, etc.) usually

meant to be private.

meant to be private.Examples: The Paston

Examples: The Paston

Family’s written

Family’s written exchange during the

exchange during the

War of the Roses

War of the Roses (Medieval Literature);

(Medieval Literature);

Letters from the Crypt

Letters from the Crypt

Litera

ry Balla

d

Litera

ry Balla

dExamples: “Barbara

Examples: “Barbara

Allan,” “Sir Patrick

Allan,” “Sir Patrick

Spens,” “Get Up and

Spens,” “Get Up and

Bar the Door”; or

Bar the Door”; or

“The Rime of the

“The Rime of the

Ancient Mariner”

Ancient Mariner”

adapted from an

adapted from an

earlier folk song by

earlier folk song by

unknown author(s)

unknown author(s)

A narrative poem

A narrative poem

originally intended

originally intended

to be sungto be sung

LyricLyric

A short poem

A short poem

in which a in which a

single speaker

single speaker

expresses expresses

personal personal

thoughts and

thoughts and

feelings; feelings;

(from the (from the

Greek “lyre”

Greek “lyre”

= a musical

= a musical

instrument instrument

used to used to

accompany accompany

songs)songs)

Examples: ;

Examples: ;

“The Wife’s

“The Wife’s

Lament”; Lament”;

“The “The

Moment” by

Moment” by

Margaret Margaret

Atwood; Atwood;

Shakespeare

Shakespeare

’s sonnets;

’s sonnets;

Odes Odes

written by

written by

John KeatsJohn Keats

Majo

r C

hara

cters

Majo

r C

hara

cters

The most important

The most important

characters in a work; the

characters in a work; the

main characters who

main characters who

undergo a change

undergo a change throughout the movement

throughout the movement

of the plot.of the plot.

Examples: Beowulf;

Examples: Beowulf;

Macbeth & Lady

Macbeth & Lady Macbeth; Ebeneezer

Macbeth; Ebeneezer

Scrooge; Victor & the

Scrooge; Victor & the

CreatureCreature

Mem

oir

Mem

oir

A non-fiction,

A non-fiction,

auto-auto-

biographical

biographical

work in work in

which the which the

author author

recalls recalls

significant significant

events in his

events in his

or her lifeor her life

Examples:

Examples:

Testament

Testament

of Youth of Youth by by

Vera Vera

Brittain;

Brittain; All All

But My Life

But My Life

by Gerta by Gerta

Wiesman Wiesman

Klein; Klein; Night

Night

by Elie by Elie

WieselWiesel

MetaphorMetaphor

A direct comparison between two

A direct comparison between two

dissimilar things that may have

dissimilar things that may have

something in common to be

something in common to be

compared for effect.

compared for effect.

Examples: School is torture;

Examples: School is torture;

English class is H.E.11; Marriage

English class is H.E.11; Marriage

is a rose garden; Life is a long

is a rose garden; Life is a long

road of ups and downs

road of ups and downs

Meta

physica

l

Meta

physica

l

Poetry

Poetry

Examples: “A Valediction

Examples: “A Valediction

Forbidding Mourning,”

Forbidding Mourning,”

and “Death Be Not

and “Death Be Not

Proud” –both by John

Proud” –both by John

DonneDonne

A 17A 17thth century poetic style

century poetic style

(promoted first by

(promoted first by John John

DonneDonne) that rejected courtly

) that rejected courtly

love and musical lyrical form

love and musical lyrical form

and instead focused on the

and instead focused on the

logical, intellectual and

logical, intellectual and

philosophical aspects of life;

philosophical aspects of life;

often contain conversational

often contain conversational

style, language play,

style, language play,

unexpected images, and

unexpected images, and

paradoxparadox..

Repetition of a regular

Repetition of a regular

rhythmic unit in poetry. Meter

rhythmic unit in poetry. Meter

is indicated using a ˘ to

is indicated using a ˘ to

denote an unstressed syllable

denote an unstressed syllable

and a / to denote a stressed

and a / to denote a stressed syllable.syllable.

Example:Example:

˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘

˘ / ˘ / ˘ / ˘ / /

I hold it true, whate’ er

I hold it true, whate’ er befall befall

MeterMeter

Min

or

Min

or

Chara

cters

Chara

cters

The less The less

important important

characters in a

characters in a

work of work of

literatureliterature

Examples:Examples:

Wulfgar in

Wulfgar in

BeowulfBeowulf; ;

Peter Peter

Cratchet in

Cratchet in A A

Christmas Christmas

CarolCarol; Ernest

; Ernest

and William in

and William in

Frankenstein

Frankenstein; ;

Ross and Ross and

Menteith in

Menteith in

MacbethMacbeth

Miracle PlayMiracle Play

A medieval form of literature that

A medieval form of literature that

dramatized the lives of saints

dramatized the lives of saints..

Examples: A play about the life

Examples: A play about the life

of the Apostle Paul; A dramatic

of the Apostle Paul; A dramatic

performance about John the

performance about John the

BaptistBaptist

Monolo

gue

Monolo

gue

A lyric poem or a speech in

A lyric poem or a speech in

a drama in which a speaker

a drama in which a speaker

addresses a silent or

addresses a silent or

absent listener in a

absent listener in a

moment of high intensity

moment of high intensity

or deep emotion for the

or deep emotion for the

purpose of revealing

purpose of revealing

feelings, motivations, etc.

feelings, motivations, etc.

Examples: The poems

Examples: The poems

“My Last Duchess” and

“My Last Duchess” and

“Porphyria’s Lover” by

“Porphyria’s Lover” by

Robert Browning;

Robert Browning;

Macbeth’s speech about

Macbeth’s speech about

the meaninglessness of

the meaninglessness of

life after the death of

life after the death of

Lady Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth.

The feeling or atmosphere that a writer

The feeling or atmosphere that a writer

creates for the reader, often with the use

creates for the reader, often with the use

of imagery, details, setting, connotation,

of imagery, details, setting, connotation,

etc.etc.

Examples: The eerie feeling that the

Examples: The eerie feeling that the

witches create at the beginning of

witches create at the beginning of

MacbethMacbeth; the gloomy setting of

; the gloomy setting of

Victor’s lab; the description of the

Victor’s lab; the description of the

door where Mr. Hyde receives a

door where Mr. Hyde receives a

checkcheck

MoodMood

Mora

lity Pla

y

Mora

lity Pla

yA medieval A medieval

form of drama

form of drama

in which the

in which the

characters characters

were were

allegorical allegorical

(symbolic) (symbolic)

figures such as

figures such as

Death, Greed,

Death, Greed,

Pride, Jealousy,

Pride, Jealousy,

etc.etc.

Examples:

Examples:

A drama A drama

portraying

portraying

an old man

an old man

character character

named named

Death who

Death who

teaches teaches

three three

rioters a rioters a

lesson lesson

about greed

about greed

Moti

fM

oti

f

The smallest recurring

The smallest recurring

element in a story

element in a story having the power to

having the power to persist in tradition, often

persist in tradition, often

related to the theme.

related to the theme.Examples: Water in

Examples: Water in

Macbeth; Scrooge’s

Macbeth; Scrooge’s

Journey to his past;

Journey to his past;

Death in Frankenstein

Death in Frankenstein

Myste

ry Pla

y

Myste

ry Pla

yExamples: A dramatic

Examples: A dramatic

performance of “Noah

performance of “Noah

and the Ark,” or “Job,” or

and the Ark,” or “Job,” or

“Joseph and His

“Joseph and His

Brothers,” or “Moses

Brothers,” or “Moses

Leading the Hebrews out

Leading the Hebrews out

of Egypt”of Egypt”

A medieval dramatic

A medieval dramatic

form that portrays a

form that portrays a

biblical story; often

biblical story; often

performed in churches

performed in churches

or the outdoors

or the outdoors

Narr

ati

on /

N

arr

ati

on /

N

arr

ato

rN

arr

ato

r

The telling of a story

The telling of a story

or the voice of a

or the voice of a story; the voice may

story; the voice may

be a character in the

be a character in the

story or a voice

story or a voice outside the action.

outside the action.Examples: Robert

Examples: Robert

Walton, Victor, & the

Walton, Victor, & the

Creature in

Creature in Frankenstein

Frankenstein; Mr. ; Mr.

Utterson in

Utterson in Dr. Jekyll Dr. Jekyll

& Mr. Hyde.

& Mr. Hyde.

NarrativeNarrative

Writing concerned with relating a

series of events; it can be imaginary

or factual.

Examples: A short story; a

novel; a newspaper account; a

soldier’s account of his stay in

Iraq; Hiroshima, a journalist’s

compilation of survivor

testimonies

Narra

tive Po

em

Narra

tive Po

em

A poem that

A poem that

tells a story;

tells a story;

narrative narrative

poems poems

contain contain

characters, characters,

plot, point of

plot, point of

view, and view, and

themetheme

Examples:

Beowulf;

the Iliad;

the

Odyssey;

Paradise

Lost; Rime

of the

Ancient

Mariner;

Natu

ralis

mN

atu

ralis

m

A form of realism in which

A form of realism in which

the writer conveys the

the writer conveys the

belief that everything is part

belief that everything is part

of the natural world and

of the natural world and

explainable by natural or

explainable by natural or

physical causes; characters

physical causes; characters

are victims of natural forces

are victims of natural forcesExamples: Doris Lessing’s “A Sunrise on

the Veld”; Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein;

William Golding’s Lord of

the Flies

Neoclassicism

Neoclassicism

An 18An 18thth century writing style that imitated classical literature

century writing style that imitated classical literature

with the use of strict form, logic, symmetry, restraint, clarity,

with the use of strict form, logic, symmetry, restraint, clarity,

& conciseness; purposes included instruction in moral and

& conciseness; purposes included instruction in moral and

social behavior; essays, epigrams, satire, and parody are

social behavior; essays, epigrams, satire, and parody are

favorite forms of this writing movement

favorite forms of this writing movement

Examples: Jonathan Swift’s “Modest Proposal”; “An

Essay on Man” by Alexander Pope

NonfictioNonfictio

nnProse writing about real

Prose writing about real

people, places, and events

people, places, and events

Examples: Autobiographies,

biographies, letters,

essays, diaries, journals,

memoirs, speeches; The

Paston Letters; Winston

Churchill’s speeches

Nove

lN

ove

l

An An

extended extended

work of work of

fictionfiction

Examples:

Frankenstein

; Lord of the

Flies; The

Strange

Case of Dr.

Jekyll and

Mr. Hyde;

Brave New

World; A

Separate

Piece

Oct

ave

Oct

ave

Eight lines of poetry; the

Eight lines of poetry; the

first eight lines of a sonnet

first eight lines of a sonnet

that may ask a question or

that may ask a question or

present a problem

present a problemExample: Shakespeare’s sonnet

29 opens by posing the

problem of despair;

might have a rhyme

scheme of abba, abba

or ababcdcd

OdeOde

An exalted , complex lyric that develops

An exalted , complex lyric that develops

a serious, dignified theme; often praise

a serious, dignified theme; often praise

people, nature, or commemorate events

people, nature, or commemorate events

Examples: Percy Bysshe Shelley’s

Examples: Percy Bysshe Shelley’s

poems in praise of the West Wind

poems in praise of the West Wind

and in praise of a Skylark (“_____ to

and in praise of a Skylark (“_____ to

the West Wind”)

the West Wind”)

Off

Rhym

eO

ff R

hym

eEnd rhyme that is not

End rhyme that is not

exact but near rhyme or

exact but near rhyme or

approximate.

approximate.

Examples: “come” and

“doom” in “The Frog

Prince” by Stevie Smith

Om

nis

cient

Poin

t

Om

nis

cient

Poin

t of

Vie

wof

Vie

w

The all-knowing

The all-knowing perspective of the

perspective of the narrator into the minds of

narrator into the minds of

more than one character;

more than one character;

allows depth and

allows depth and complexity not permitted

complexity not permitted

with the first-person or

with the first-person or

limited p.o.v.

limited p.o.v.Examples: “The Rocking Horse Winner” by D.H. Lawrence

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia

Words whose sounds echo their

Words whose sounds echo their

meaningsmeanings

Examples: buzz, gurgle,

whisper, murmur

OxymoronOxymoron

A “concise” paradox; two contradictory terms

A “concise” paradox; two contradictory terms

that are placed together for effect

that are placed together for effect

Examples: “cruel kindness,” or “brave

fear,” or “brilliant moron”