Literary Devices Essay

Alliteration Repeating the same letter or sound at the line of adjacent or closely committed words. AllusionA figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. BildungsromanA grammatical case of novel concerned with education, development, and maturation of a young protagonist. Essentially, a Bildungsroman traces the organization of a protagonists maturity (the passage from childhood to adulthood) by following the development of his/her mind and event.Breaking the fourth wallAn author or character addresses the audience directly ( in any case known as direct address). This whitethorn acknowledge to the reader or audience that what is macrocosm presented is fiction, or may seek to extend the world of the story to provide the illusion that they atomic number 18 included in it. An recitation is found in the film Ferris Buellers Day Off when the main character speaks to the audience by t cardinal directly into the camera. Chekhovs gunInsertion of an apparently irrelevant object early in a narrative for a purpose only revealed later.See betoken and repetitive designation. Cliff-hangerThe narrative ends unresolved, to draw the audience back to a rising episode for the resolution. Deus ex machina (From Latin a machination, or act of god)Resolving the primary conflict by a means unrelated to the story (e. g. , a god appears and solves everything). This device dates back to ancient Greek theatre, but throne be a clumsy method that frustrates the audience. This has come to mean that a force steps in to save the day or a helicopter shows up just as the hero must take off off a building.EpiphanyA sudden revelation or insight unremarkably with a symbolic role in the narrativein a literary work. First Person NarrationA text presented from the point of view of a character (esp. the protagonist) and written in the first person. Oftentimes, the first-p erson narrative is used as a way to directly convey the deeply internal, a nonher(prenominal)wise un communicatoryized thoughts of the narrator. Occasionally this narrator can be seen as unreliable. In well-nigh cases, the narrator gives and withholds in spirtation based on his/her own viewing of events.It is an authorised task for the reader to determine as much as mathematical about the character of the narrator in order to decide what genuinely happens. Important note See page 4 for point form recap. cheapback (or analeptic reference)General term for altering time sequences, taking characters back to the beginning of the tale, for instance Flash-forwardAlso called prolepsis, an interjected scene that temporarily jumps the narrative forward in time. Flash forwards often represent events expected, projected, or imagined to occur in the future.They may also reveal significant parts of the story that have not yet occurred, but soon will in greater detail. This has been exceed ingly popularized by several television shows. ForeshadowingHinting at events to occur later. See also Chekhovs gun. Frame story, or a story within a storyA main story that organizes a series of compendiouser stories or a short story that is used within another to add meaning to the other. enclose deviceA single action, scene, event, setting, or any element of significance at some(prenominal) the beginning and end of a work.HamartiaThe character flaw or wrongdoing of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall. HyperboleExaggeration used to evoke strong feelings or fabricate an impression which is not meant to be taken literally. ImageryForming affable images of a scene using descriptive words, especially making use of the humane senses. In medias resBeginning the story in the middle of a sequence of events. The Iliad and the Odyssey of mark are prime examples. The latter work begins with the return of Odysseus to his home of Ithaka and w presentfore in flashbacks tells of his ten years of wandering following the Trojan War.IronyThis discrepancy between expectation and reality occurs in three forms websiteal caustic remark, where a situation features a discrepancy between what is expected and what is actualized dramatic irony, where a character is unaware of pivotal information already revealed to the audience (the discrepancy here lies in the two levels of awareness between the character and the audience) and verbal irony, where one states one thing while meaning another. The difference between verbal irony and sarcasm is exquisitely subtle and often contested.The concept of irony is too often misunderstood in popular usage. Unfortunate passel and coincidences do not constitute irony (nor do they qualify as being tragic). Readers note Isnt it ironic? by Alanis Morisette contains several examples, but many of them are not ironic at all. JuxtapositionUsing two themes, characters, phrases, words, or situations together for comparison or contrast tar adiddle hookStory opening that hooks readers attention so hey will keep course session OverstatementExaggerating something, often for emphasis (also known as hyperbole) OnomatopoeiaWord that sounds the same as, or kindred to what the word means, e. g. , boom or squish OxymoronA term made of two words that deliberately or coincidentally imply each others opposite, e. g. terrible beauty ParadoxA phrase that describes an idea composed of concepts that conflict. A good example occurs in the first sentence of A bilgewater of Two Cities by Charles Dickens It was the best of times, it was the worst of times (1).ParodyRidicule by overstated imitation, usually humorous, as in MAD Magazine cockamamy fallacyReflecting a characters (usually the protagonist) mood in the atmosphere or inanimate objectsfor example, the storm in William Shakespeares King Lear, which mirrors Lears mental deterioration. PathosEmotional appeal, one of the three modes of persuasion in rhetoric that the author uses to exalt pity or sorrow towards a charactertypically does not counterbalance the target characters suffering with a imperative outcome, as in Tragedy.PersonificationUsing comparative metaphors and similes to give living characteristics to non-living objects. Plot twistUnexpected pitch (twist) in the direction or expected outcome of the plot. poetical justiceVirtue ultimately rewarded, or vice punished, by an ironic twist of assign related to the characters own conduct Self-fulfilling prophecyPrediction that, by being made, makes itself come true. Early examples include the legend of Oedipus. There is also an example of this in Harry Potter.SatireThe use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticise peoples stupidity or vices. Sensory detailImagery, sight, sound, taste, touch, smell pelt of consciousnessTechnique where the author writes down their thoughts as fast as they come, typically to create an interior monologue, characterized by leaps in syntax an d punctuation that trace a characters fragmentary thoughts and sensory feelings. An example is Ulysses. SymbolismApplied use of symbols iconic representations that carry particular conventional meanings.