Group-Member Names:
Film-makers use shots, lighting, camera angles, soundtracks, and special effects. Painters use brushstroke, layering, and composition.
Each form of art has its own set of common elements and techniques that help define it. The same is true of literature. To become an
astute thinker about literature (or any other art form that matter), you need to become comfortable at paying attention to and talking
about literary elements and techniques.
Through the handouts section of our Schoolwires page, go to one of the two websites that offer a beginners list of literary elements
and techniques. Choose two particular elements or techniques that you think are unique or interesting in your book club book. Fill
out the chart below.
Literary element or technique
Examples with page number
What is particularly interesting about what your
author has done with this element or technique?
http://fileserver.net-texts.com/asset.aspx?dl=no&id=1275
http://literarydevices.net
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Less Obvious/Surprising Strand
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Home of Literary Devices
Introduction
Commonly, the term Literary Devices refers to the typical structures used by writers in their
works to convey his or her message(s) in a simple manner to his or her readers. When
employed properly, the different literary devices help readers to appreciate, interpret and
analyze a literary work.
Two Kinds of Literary Devices
Literary Devices have two aspects. They can be treated as either Literary Elements or
Literary Techniques. It will be convenient to define them separately.
Literary Elements have an inherent existence in literary piece and are extensively
employed by writers to develop a literary piece e.g. plot, setting, narrative structure,
characters, mood, theme, moral etc. Writers simply cannot create his desired work without
including Literary Elements in a thoroughly professional manner.
Literary Techniques, on the contrary, are structures usually a word s or phrases in literary
texts that writers employ to achieve not merely artistic ends but also readers a greater
understanding and appreciation of their literary works. Examples are: metaphor, simile,
alliteration, hyperbole, allegory etc. In contrast to Literary Elements, Literary Techniques
are not unavoidable aspect of literary works.
To have a better understanding of Literary Devices, it is useful to look at their definition and
examples:
Common Literary Elements
1.
2.
3.
Plot: It is the logical sequence of events that develops a story.
Setting: It refers to the time and place in which a story takes place.
Protagonist: It is the main character of story, novel or a play e.g. Hamlet in the play
Hamlet
4. Antagonist: It is the character in conflict with the Protagonist e.g. Claudius in the play
Hamlet
5. Narrator: A person who tells the story.
6. Narrative method: The manner in which a narrative is presented comprising plot and
setting.
7. Dialogue: Where characters of a narrative speak to one another.
8. Conflict. It is n issue in a narrative around which the whole story revolves.
9. Mood: A general atmosphere of a narrative.
10. Theme: It is central idea or concept of a story.
Common Literary Techniques
1. Imagery: It is the use of figurative language to create visual representations of actions,
objects and ideas in our mind in such a way that they appeal to our physical senses. For
example:
• The room was dark and gloomy. -The words “dark” and “gloomy” are visual images.
• The river was roaring in the mountains. – The word “roaring” appeals to our sense of
hearing.
2. Simile and Metaphor: Both compare two distinct objects and draws similarity between
them. The difference is that Simile uses “as” or “like” and Metaphor does not. For example:
• “My love is like a red red rose” (Simile)
• He is an old fox very cunning. (Metaphor)
3. Hyperbole: It is deliberate exaggeration of actions and ideas for the sake of emphasis.
For example:
• Your bag weighs a ton!
• I have got a million issues to look after!
4. Personification: It gives a thing, an idea or an animal human qualities. For example:
• The flowers are dancing beside the lake.
• Have you see my new car? She is a real beauty!
5. Alliteration: It refers to the same consonant sounds in words coming together. For
example:
• Better butter always makes the batter better.
• She sells seashells at seashore.
6. Allegory: It is a literary technique in which an abstract idea is given a form of characters,
actions or events. For example:
• “Animal Farm”, written by George Orwell, is an example allegory using the actions of
animals on a farm to represent the overthrow of the last of the Russian Tsar Nicholas
II and the Communist Revolution of Russia before WW II. In addition, the actions of
the animals on the farm are used to expose the greed and corruption of the
Revolution.
7. Irony: It is use of the words in such a way in which the intended meaning is completely
opposite to their literal meaning. For example:
• The bread is soft as a stone.
• So nice of you to break my new PSP!
Function of Literary Devices
In general, the literary devices are a collection of universal artistic structures that are so
typical of all works of literature frequently employed by the writers to give meanings and a
logical framework to their works through language. When such works are read by readers,
they ultimately recognize and appreciate them. Because of their universality, they also
allow the readers to compare a work of one writer to that of the other to determine its worth.
They not only beautify the piece of literature but also give deeper meanings to it, testing the
very understanding of the readers along with providing them enjoyment of reading.
Besides, they help motivating readers’ imagination to visualize the characters and scenes
more clearly.
LITERARY ELEMENTS
Below is a list of Literary Elements, or the parts of a story. When you examine and analyze your
literary work for class presentation, ask the following questions. They will help you find the literary
elements of your story.
Theme
The story's ideas? Author's attitude towards those ideas? Author's "statement" about those ideas? The
story's message or main point? Your attitude?
Conflict
What people/forces/ideas/interests/values/institutions oppose each other? What decisions must the
characters make? Between what two things is he/she deciding? What do these things represent?
Characterization
What kinds of person/people are the character(s)? Their beliefs/hopes/dreams/ideals/
values/morals/fears/strengths/weaknesses/vices/virtues/talents? How do they conduct themselves?
What do they say and do to reval themselves? What do others say and do about the? What are your
opinions or feelings about them? Classifications of types of characters include: protagonist,
antagonist, foil, stereotype, flat, round, static, dynamic.
Symbolism
What concrete, specific objects have been used to represent abstract ideas? What colors, names,
settings, recurring objects have been referred to? What ideas do these represent?
Setting
Setting refers to TIME and PLACE: Time: of day, year, era/age? Place: city, country? Outside,
inside? Rich and opulent or poor and simple? Stark and barren landscape? Rainy or sunny? Beautiful
or adversarial? Dark or light? Dangerous or safe? The weather? how does all this affect meaning?
What feelings (atmosphere) are evoked just by the setting?
Style
The way the writer chooses to arrange his sentence structure (syntax) as well as the words (diction)
he chooses. What is the overall effect of the way he writes? Simple, involved, poetic, colloquial,
humorous, pedantic, child-like? How does it contribute to the author’s message and the overall effect
the author wishes to create?
Tone
The author’s attitude towards what (s)he is writing that translates into your attitude: or - what is the
feeling of the whole work and the writing/artist's craft? Joyful? Melancholy? Fatalistic? Angry?
Peaceful? Scary? Mysterious?
Figurative Language
What kinds of comparisons are made that add layers to the meaning of the poem or story?
11. A metaphor is a direct comparison: my love is a rose, or he was a snake.
12. A simile is indirect, mediated by "like" or "as": my love is like a rose, or he was as mean as a
snake.
13. Allusion is a reference to another literary or artistic work or cultural icon/event. IRONY Is
the writer's meaning DIFFERENT (often the opposite)from what is actually stated or actually
happening? Verbal What is SPOKEN or said (the words) is different/opposite from what is
meant:
Overstatement (Hyperbole)
Understatement (Litotes)
Double Entendre (pun): EX: "Sonny's Blues" Dramatic Does the audience/some
characters know more than another character? Is one or more character(s) speaking/acting
without knowledge others have, thus creating a double meaning? Situational The
EVENTS: do the events have a double meaning...the meaning of the situation as it
actually happened versus the situation that we expected to happen or would normally
happen? Does a set of circumstances turn out differently from what is anticipated or
considered appropriate? Is the action/situation surprising or unexpected? Is there
unexplained coincidence in the story? A surprise ending? Cosmic (or: "irony of fate";
a form of situational irony) is the universe itself, the cosmos, ironic? Is the situation
unjust to a person or group of people in a manner beyond their control? Is a good person
in a bad situation due to circumstances beyond his/her control in such a way
unfair/inappropriate tha this person must suffer? Is this person a victim of fate? PLOT
STRUCTURE Exposition Background information? About characters, setting,
situation? Complication When does the first conflict/problem ariseand develop ?
What other problems start to arise and continue to develop?
Crisis
What is the moment of decision (internal dilemma resolved) for the main character? When is the
character faced with his/her internal conflict and realizes she/he must make a decision?
Climax
When does the character MAKE his decision and ACT on it? What actions results from this
decision? What is the highest point of interest (in terms of action) in the story? When is the suspense
(regarding what the character will do to solve the problem) over?
Resolution
Tying up of loose ends
Other plot devices/terms include: flashback, flashforward, time lapse, suspense, foreshadowing,
cliffhangers, surprise endings, closed endings, open endings.
POINT OF VIEW
Who is the narrator? Does the narrator tell the story in first person or third person? How much of the
world can the narrator perceive (omniscient or limited)? How does the vantage point of the narrator
affect the meaning of the story? How would the story change if the narrator changed?
The story has an author, a narrator, and characters, not to be confused with each other. If the narrator
and a character in the story are one and the same, you have a story told in first person. If they are
separate, you have a story told in third person, of which there are three different types, depending on
the amount of knowledge the narrator has about the inner feelings and thoughts of the characters.
First Person
"I"; all is told/filtered through the storyteller's perception, an character in the story, but not always
the main character. Can know the thoughts/feelings of the narrator (the "I") but no others.
Third Person Omniscient
Use of third person pronouns (he/she/they), no "I" except in dialogue. All knowing, like God; can
get more than one, often many characters' thoughts and feelings, as well as their actions and words.
Perspective is not limited to any one character, can perceive in many different vantage points.
Third Person Limited Omniscient
3rd person pronouns again, but perspective is limited to ONE character's thoughts, feelings, vantage
point. Can not know anything in story other than what the one character knows.
Third Person Dramatic/Objective
(as in play/drama). The only information we receive is what the characters say and do; cannot read
anyone's mind, thoughts, feelings.
Unreliable Narrator
This narrator is not limited to one type (1st or 3rd), but is unreliable and conveys information to the
reader of which he/she (the narrator) is not aware. This could be because the narrator is a young
child, going insane, naïve, old and senile, or other reason.
OTHER LITERARY ELEMENTS
Allegory
Allusion
Alliteration
Assonance
Apostrophe
Characterization: Round, Flat; Static,
Dynamic; Protagonist, Antagonist, Foil Catharsis
Comedy/Tragedy Conceit
Diction
Fable
Imagery
Irony: Verbal, Dramatic, Situational,
Cosmic
Metaphor
Myth
Onomatopoeia
Paradox
Parody
Personification
Plot: Conflict,
Dilemma, Doubt, Tension
Plot Structure: Exposition, Complication, Crisis, Climax,
Resolution
Point of View: First person, Third Person Omniscient, Third Person Limited, Third
Person Dramatic or
Objective
Reversal
Recognition
Satire
Setting/Mood/Atmosphere
Simile
Symbolism
(Universal or Contextual)
Synesthesia
Theme
Tone
Tragic Flaw
Tragic Dilemma