Of Mice and Men
Literary Device
Literary Devices Chart
Definition
Example from
Of Mice and Men
setting
Time and place the story
takes place
Salinas river 1930’s
“A few miles south of
Soledad” (1).
simile
Comparing two things using
like or as.
“You’re like a kid Lennie.”
Pg. 3
dialect
Language or way of speech
of a particular region of the
country
“It wasn’t no good to pet”
Page. 10
direct characterization
Tells the personality of the
character
“He stepped short, quick
steps, of a fat legged man”
Pg 21
indirect characterization
Steal 5 different methods.
Speech, thought, effect,
actions, and looks
“Crooks scowled, but
Lennie’s disarming smile
defeated him. Come on in
and set a while” (69).
situational irony
The outcome of a situation
is the opposite of what’s
expected
Crook lets Lennie in his
room.
verbal irony
A person says one thing and
means another - sarcasm
dramatic irony
The audience knows
something that the
characters do not know
“Sure, said Crooks. And a
manure pile under the
window. Sure, it’s swell.”
pg:75
When Lennie walks in
Crooks’ room. (Lennie does
not know that he is
unwanted in there.)
imagery
Descriptive words that
appeal to the 5 senses
foreshadowing
Hints that something is
going to happen in the story
Literary Device
Definition
“A few miles south of
Soledad, the Salinas river
drops in close to the hillside
bank and runs deep and
green” pg-1
George tells Lennie in the
opening chapter that if he
gets into trouble to go back
and hide in the brush by the
river.
symbolism
Characters, Objects, or
Events that have an abstract
or figurative meaning
Example from
Of Mice and Men
George and Lennie’s dream
represents their freedom and
wealth.
personification
Adding human
characteristics to non-living
objects
“the afternoon sun sliced in
through the cracks of barn
walls” (pg. 84)
protagonist
the main character
Lennie and George because
they are the main people.
antagonist
Opposing character to the
main character
Curley/ Curley’s Wife
conflict
Struggle between opposing
forces
Lennie vs. Curley
Lennie vs. George
Candy vs. himself
Ranch men vs. society