Figurative Language is also called figures of speech. It changes the literal meaning of words • to express complexity, • to capture a physical or sensory effect, or • to extend meaning. There are a number of figures of speech. Some of the more common ones are:

Simile Making a comparison between unlike things, using “like” or “as.” Forrest Gump’s famous simile is “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

Metaphor Making a comparison between unlike things without the use “like” or “as.” An example is, “Your eyes are the windows to your soul.” – Immanuel Kant.

Hyberbole An exaggeration. I told you a million times to be quiet. For example: I told you a million times to be quiet. You never speak to me. The teacher gave us tons of work. He ate a thousand pounds of pizza.

Giving human qualities to an animal, thing or idea. Personification Giving human qualities to an animal, thing or idea. The wind screamed my name. The window flew open. The book jumped out of my locker.

Someone who tells the story. Narrator Someone who tells the story. There are 3 types: Protagonist - main character Observer - person who is indirectly involved in the story Non-participant - not at all involved, can be omniscient (knows everything)

Tone The attitude an author takes toward the audience, subject or character. The tone is conveyed through the author’s words and details. Think of when someone says, “Don’t use that tone with me!” Your tone can change the meaning of what you say.

A scene in a narrative that returns to an earlier time. Theme A theme is the main idea of a story, or the message the author is conveying. This message is usually about life, society or human nature. Flashbacks A scene in a narrative that returns to an earlier time.

Irony is a literary device for conveying meaning by saying the exact opposite of what is really meant. (Sarcasm is one kind of irony. It is praise which is really an insult. Sarcasm generally involves malice, the desire to put someone down, for example “This is my brilliant son who failed out of college.”

Dramatic Monologue • Dramatic says that it could be acted out, and is a form of drama, • while monologue defines it as a speech that one person makes, either to themselves or to another. • A dramatic monologue is written to reveal both the situation at hand and the character herself.

Literary Terms Theme Tone Mood Stanza Drama Foil Character

Mood Mood is the emotion that YOU feel while you’re reading. Some literature makes you feel sad, others joyful, still others angry.

Stanza When a poem is divided into groups of lines, often with a regular pattern, these groups are known as stanzas or verses.

Drama This is another word for play. That’s when characters tell a story in a theatrical performance.

This may be an unfamiliar term. Foil Character This may be an unfamiliar term. A foil is a person who is paired with another character to develop the latter’s traits and personality by contrast. A foil is much like the twin character in class, rank, and background, but has opposing characteristics that provide a mirror to those of the paired character.

Writing Purpose Response to Literature: You read a passage or a book [literature], and write an essay [response] based on that text.