Literary Devices and Terms: Write ‘em, Learn ‘em, Love ‘em

Allegory A story with more than one level of meaning – a literal level and one or more symbolic levels. An allegory can make a moral, religious, or political point.

Characterization Direct characterization is when a writer states a character’s traits. Indirect characterization is when a writer reveals a character’s traits through: – His or her actions, thoughts, feelings, words, and appearance. – Another character’s observations and reactions. The act of creating and developing a character.

Flashback A section of a literary work that interrupts the sequence of events to relate an event from an earlier time.

Foreshadowing The use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur.

Image A word or phrase that appeals to one or more of the five senses – sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell.

Imagery Descriptive language used to create sensory experiences and word pictures for the reader.

Irony A contrast between what is stated and what is meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. Not to be confused with COINCIDENCE: the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection.

Mood The feeling created in the reader by a literary work or passage. The mood may be suggested by: – The writer’s choice of words. – Events in the literary work. – The physical setting.

Moral A lesson taught by a literary work. Always eat your vegetables.

Personification When a nonhuman subject is given human qualities.

The perspective from which a story is told. – First person pov: “I”, “me”, “we”, “our”, etc. – Second person pov: “you”, “your” – Third person pov: “he”, “she”, “they”, etc Point of View

Setting The time and place of the action. The setting can provide a background for the action, be a crucial element in the plot/conflict, or create a certain mood.

Symbol Anything that stands for or represents something else.

Theme A central idea, concern, or purpose in a literary work. The insight that the writer wants to pass along to the reader.