Basic Figurative Devices Flashcards
(43 cards)
Symbolism
Something concrete represents something abstract.
Ex. Full moon =completion
Irony
- Verbal Irony: one thing said, opposite intended
- Dramatic Irony: reader knows vs. character doesn’t
- Situational Irony: expectation vs. Reality
Deus Ex Machina
Implausible event occurs to resolve a complication in the plot
Dilemma
Two undesirable choices a character must make
In Medias Res
No introduction, reader is plunged into action
Tone
Authors attitude towards his or her subject and audience
Unity
Author uses material in the best arrangement and order.
Verisimilitude
Appearance of being real or true.
Juxtaposition
Side by side contrast for dramatic effect
Paradox
Statement which seems contradictory or absurd yet makes good sense
Style
Author expresses his or her thoughts
-diction, sentence structure, imagery, etc.
Form
Shape or structure of a story includes
~techniques
~style
Techniques
Stories linked by devices such as exposition, dialogue, flashback, etc.
Omniscient POV
- 3rd person
- author is all knowing (tells us about characters)
- author interprets behaviours
Limited omniscient POV
- uses 3rd person but told from a character
- Narrates what the character feels but no other characters
Objective POV
The author records what is seen or heard but cannot comment about it
First Person POV
1st person
Author disappears into one of the characters
Character
- direct: author tells us directly what character is like
- indirect: authors shows the character in action
Must be (motivated, plausible and consistent)
Protagonist
Central character in the conflict
Antagonist
Force that opposes the central character
Flat character
Characterized by One or two traits
Stereotype character
Familiar and predictable (shy old maid)
Stock character
Occurs repeatedly in literary genre
Western=sheriff
Round character
complex and many sided
